Scripture and Questions for Study and Reflection: Read Galatians 3.

1. How is religious legalism different from the Gospel?

2. Why do you think Paul brought up the example of Abraham in this chapter?

3. How was Abraham made righteous before God? What does that mean for us?

4. How long was it from the time of Abraham until the Law was given?

5. What was the promise God made to Abraham? In what ways are we heirs to that promise? What does that mean for us?

6. In what way was the Law a curse? How was that curse broken? Have you ever felt like you’re still under that curse? If so, how?

7. In what way was the Law a guardian, as Paul describes? How does thinking of the Law that way change the way you understand it and apply it?

8. Read verses 24 and 25. What do these verses mean to you? How do these verses align with your previous/current understandings of the Law?

9. Do you struggle with accepting freedom in Christ? Do you struggle with offering such freedom to others? If so, why?

10. What does it mean to be a child of God? How does one receive this status? How does (should) this impact our lives together in the Church?

Prayer for the Week:
Gracious and loving God, thank you for the Law and the role it plays in revealing to us your will for our lives. Thank you even more for setting us free from the curse of the Law and enabling us to live in freedom through Christ. Help us, Lord, to avoid our natural tendencies to revert back to religious legalism, and at the same time, protect us from our inclination to abuse the freedom Christ has given us. And convict our hearts of the truth that, although we all have our own unique struggles and shortfalls, our faith makes us one in Christ. Help us to break down all artificial barriers and simply live together for Christ. We pray all of this in the mighty name of Jesus, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.