Reading Selections and Questions for Sunday, June 14, 2009.
1) Galatians 2:11-16
Who and what were causing the conflict between Paul and Peter? Why was this issue so important to Paul? What was Paul’s solution to the situation?
Acts 11:1-18
This passage contains Peter’s report to the circumcised believers in Jerusalem about what God had taught him about the Gentiles. Scholars debate whether this was before or after the episode Paul wrote about in Galatians, but most evidence points to before.
How did God get Peter’s attention? Why was Peter slow about learning this lesson? What evidence did Peter detail that assured him God had accepted the Gentiles by grace alone, without conforming to Jewish ways?
2) Galatians 2:15-21
What does it mean to be justified? Why is the path to justification so important? Why was the law not enough to justify us? What does it mean to be “crucified with Christ?”
Romans 6:4-11
What are the benefits of the crucifixion of our old selves? What does it mean to be “dead to sin?” Does the evidence of your life prove that you have been crucified with Christ and are dead to sin?
3) Galatians 3:1-5
Why is Paul so upset with the Galatian churches? How did the timing of their reception of the Holy Spirit contribute to Paul’s argument? Why did they compromise Paul’s original teaching so easily?
Ephesians 2:8-9; Psalm 143:2
How are we saved? Why did God choose to make it this way?
Galatians 3:23-25; Acts 13:38-39
What was humanity’s relationship with the law before Christ came? What was the purpose of the law? What is the role of the law now?
4) Galatians 3:6-14
Why did Paul use Abraham’s example? How was Abraham made right with God? How did that apply to the Gentiles in Paul’s time? How does that relate to us today?
Genesis 12:13; 15:4-6; 18:18-19
What were God’s promises to Abraham in these passages? What do you think the Jews of Paul’s day would say when these passages were pointed out? What do you think the Gentiles of Paul’s day would say about these passages?
Romans 9:30-33
What was the difference between the Gentiles’ and the Jews’ pursuits of righteousness? Which example most closely fits your life?
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