Sermon Response Guide
PRIMARY SCRIPTURE:
Galatians 4:8-20 ESV
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
12 Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, 19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Key Points
- We don’t discover our ultimate, God-given identity by anything we do, but by what Christ has already done.
- Justification = being declared righteous
- Sanctification = being made righteous
- Justification and sanctification are distinct, yet inseparable, because God never justifies without also sanctifying.
Memory Verse
Ask God to write this word on your heart this week:
“But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?”
-Galatians 4:9 ESV
Questions for Reflection
Take time to reflect and respond to these questions on your own in the presence of the Holy Spirit, or with trusted friends or family members:
1: Read Galatians 4:8-11 and answer the questions below.
· Formerly, when you did not know God, what were you enslaved to that, by nature, was not God (v. 8)?
· What is the difference between coming to know God, and being known by God (v. 9)?
· What weak and elementary principles of the world are attempting to enslave you in this season of your life (v. 9)?
· What is so enticing about those principles of the world?
· What do you think Paul means when he writes to the Galatians, “I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain,” (v. 11)?
2: In what way(s) is the Bible more relevant to us today than our current news feed?
3: How has God used the Bible to show you how to experience true freedom in your own life?
4: At the end of the day, what is our ultimate, God-given identity in Christ Jesus?
5: How is God inviting you to respond to what God has revealed to you today?
Pray
Lord, we confess we are quick to forget who you are and who you have freed us to be in you. Help us remember your promise. Help us recognize your presence. Give us a renewed hunger for your word of truth. By your grace, may we find the courage and conviction to walk in your truth - that is, to walk with you.
References
For those interested in further study, our pastors want to share resources that have aided them in their sermon preparation (in conjunction with the Bible and the Holy Spirit):
· The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution by Carl R. Trueman
