God's Gift of Grace (Galatians 6:11-18)

11 NOTICE WHAT LARGE LETTERS I USE AS I WRITE THESE CLOSING WORDS IN MY OWN HANDWRITING. 12 Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised want to look good to others. They don't want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save. 13 And even those who advocate circumcision don't keep the whole law themselves. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast about it and claim you as their disciples. 14 As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world's interest in me has also died. 15 It doesn't matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. 16 May God's peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God. 17 From now on, don't let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus. 18 Dear brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Why were false teachers forcing their legalism upon the Galatians? (v.12-13)
2) What did the Apostle Paul write about himself? (v.14)
3) What matters in God's kingdom, according to the apostle? (v.15)
4) Who are the "new people of God"? (v.16)
5) What did the apostle no longer want to be troubled by? Why? (v.17)
6) How did Apostle Paul close his letter to the Galatians? (v.18)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) What are you most proud of in your walk of faith?

LIFE LESSONS
8) By the Lord's design, children of God can never boast about earning our salvation, because it is a gift of God.

The Truth of the Gospel (Galatians 2:1-10 KJV)

1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with [me] also. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. 3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed [to be somewhat] in conference added nothing to me: 7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as [the gospel] of the circumcision [was] unto Peter; 8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) 9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we [should go] unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. 10 Only [they would] that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) How many years passed before Paul went to Jerusalem again and who did he take with him? (v.1)
2) Why did Paul go a second time to Jerusalem? (v.2)
3) What does Paul write about Titus and about the Jewish believers? (v.3-6)
4) What did the Jewish believers come to understand about Paul's divine assignment? (v.7-8)
5) Who extended the right hand of fellowship to Paul and Barnabus? (v.9)
6) What did the Jewish believers want those assigned to the Gentiles to do? (v.10)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) Has the Lord assigned you to share the Gospel with any specific group of people (e.g., senior citizens, the homeless, etc.)?

LIFE LESSONS
8) Christians are to share Christ with whomever the Lord sends our way.
9) The Lord often gives certain believers a burden to share the gospel with a specific group of people.