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Summary

The book of 1 Peter was written by Peter (a disciple of Jesus) to multiple churches in Asia Minor. Most of the Christians receiving this letter were non-Jewish, and they were suffering from persecution from non-believers around them. Peter's letter serves as an encouragement by reminding them that they have been chosen by God and of the hope found in Jesus.  

Overview

Bible Project Video on 1 Peter

This week we discussed two main points: the person of Peter & what it means to be "elect exiles."

The Person of Peter

Through the following passages: Mark 14:66-72, Mark 8:27-33, John 21:15-17, we learn a few things about Peter. We first learn that Peter is honestly not a very good disciple of Jesus. In the eyes of the world, Peter is a failure. He has denied even knowing Jesus. Jesus has even called him "Satan" directly to his face for getting in the way of God's plans. (And these are just a few of many examples). But this is not the end of the story for Peter. The second thing we learn from the passages above is that God is using him. God chose Peter to lead the church after Jesus ascended to heaven despite all of his past failures. God loves to use broken people. 

"Elect Exiles"

In verse 1 of chapter 1 we see this phrase "elect exiles." This is who the book of 1 Peter is written to, and if you are a Christian this is you. In this world, God's chosen people do not quite fit in. Thankfully, this is not our permanent home, and one day when we are with God we will not have to struggle with this anymore. But for now, we are called to boldly proclaim the gospel in world where we are outsiders.

Discussion Questions

1. As Christians, we are “elect exiles.” Generally, we do not fit in too well in this world. In what ways do you feel like an exile in this world?
2. Maybe there are some ways that we are fitting into the world when we shouldn’t be. Are there any areas of your life that you could use some courage to stand out as a follower of Christ?
3. What is your reaction to Peter’s history and how God chose to use him?
4. How does the statement “In God’s economy, perfection is not necessary” make you feel?
5. What past failure or worldly object/idea are you allowing to be a large part of your identity?
6. What would it look like for you to let go of those failures and allow Jesus to fully define who you are?

This week we discussed two main points: 1) Why we should be joyful & praising God, and 2) How we should be thinking about trials in our lives.

Being Joyful & Praising God

Life's Trials

Discussion Questions

1. Re-read the passage. Any overall thoughts or questions?
2. What do you think it means to be born again?
3. How will knowing we have an inheritance in heaven affect our behavior and attitudes when we face trials?
4. What should our attitude be when we face trials? Is it crazy to say that we should be praising God for our trials?
5. What does verse 7 say about the importance of our faith in God’s eyes?
6. In what ways does this passage make you want to praise God more?
7. This week, how can you take a different approach on the trials you face?

This week we broke the text into two sections: 1) The hope we have in God (verses 10-12), and 2) Our holy calling (verses 13-21)

The Hope We Have in God (10-12)

Our Holy Calling (13-21)

Discussion Questions

Verses 10-12

1. Re-read the passage. Any overall thoughts or questions?
2. How does it make you feel that your faith is the same faith as the prophets? How could this impact your day-to-day life?

Verses 13-21

1. Re-read the passage. Any overall thoughts or questions?
2. How does the calling of "be holy" sit with you? How can the gospel empower us to be more holy?
3. Spend some time going through the list of ways Peter tells to respond to God’s grace. Put each one in your own words and discuss how you can practically do these things.
   1. Prepare our minds for action (13)
   2. Be sober minded (13)
   3. Set our hope fully on the grace of Jesus (13)
   4. Not be conformed to our old ways (14)
   5. Be holy (15-16)
   6. Fear God (17)
   7. Remember that we were ransomed (18)
4. If you have time, you can finish by discussing the importance of the order of Hope and then Holiness (as Peter does in the first chapter of this book). Discuss how we are to respond to God’s grace instead of try to earn it.

Overview

Previously in 1 Peter we’ve discuss the hope we have in the gospel and how we are called to be holy. Today we are continuing to look at how God calls us to act in this world, as we are living here as exiles.

Starting in verses 11 & 12. This is an encouragement to live in an honorable, gospel way. These verses show us that we must “abstain” (in verse 11) and “keep” (in verse 12). In other words, Christian living is compromised of both things we should and shouldn’t do. First, in verse 11, Peter is telling us to abstain from acting on impulse and desires of the flesh (malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, & slander as we saw earlier in 1 Peter). These are our old ways. In verse 12, he tells up that we should instead conduct ourselves in an honorable way. For the rest of our passage he talks in detail about how we can do that in 3 areas of life: society & government, employment, and marriage. We will see that all of what Peter is saying can be summarized with one word: submission (verses 2:13, 2:18, 3:1). It is also important to note that Peter is mainly talking to people that are being mistreated. It is not a full list of responsibilities of all parties involved. He is instead telling us how we can submit even in difficult situations.

Society & Government

First, verses 13-17 emphasize submission to those in political office. This is quite counter-cultural and a bit challenging to hear. We do not like the idea of being mistreated by those in power. For context, rulers in Peter’s days were quite violently anti-Christian. Peter was later martyred under these rulers. But Peter tells us to submit to rules like these….but why? Verse 15 shows us that submission to authority is the strongest apologetic against the view that Christians are bad people. It’s one of our most effective way to introduce people to Jesus and show his love and grace to those around us. Peter didn’t always understand this. Remember when Jesus was betrayed, and Peter had brought a sword with him and cut off the ear of one who had come to arrest Jesus. Yeah, Peter is wiser now. He understands that his greatest weapon is now something stronger. He has power in the Holy Spirit to live a Godly life that points to Jesus. Furthermore, verses 16 & 17 then show us that freedom is for serving. We are to show proper respect for all rulers.

Employment

Then moving on to verses 18-25 we look at submitting in our employment. At first glance these verses appear inappropriate, especially when taking America’s rather awful history into account. First, it’s important to note that just because something is talked about in the Bible, does not mean God supports it. You do not have to read very far to come across grotesque things in the bible: murder, rape, etc. All things we know God hates. But the Bible is real. It meets us where we are at. The Bible does not pretend these things don’t exist in the world. Regarding slavery as it pertains to American history, this much can be said “God never permits his people to use slavery as a means of permanent exploitation, feeding off other and their children for generation after generation.” In 1 Timothy 1, Paul calls out “enslavers” as being ungodly, unholy, and profane. But it’s important to understand who Peter is talking to here. He’s not referencing North American slavery. In Rome in Peter’s time, there were 3 main classes: Roman citizen (full freedom and rights), the freedmen (who were restricted in some areas but not others), and the servant class (employed as helpers in the home/farm). It’s not a perfect example, but a modern-day equivalent could be something closer to someone who received education in exchange for serving 5 years in the military. So what is Peter actually saying here then? Peter is asking: do you have masters or bosses who cheat and lie? If so, do them all the good you can, even if it leads to suffering. Why? Because of verses 19-20. Your goodness is displaying the true graciousness of God to the world.

Marriage

Jumping down to chapter 3 verses 1-7, we see that Peter next talks about submission as it pertains to marriage. Before we jump in, I want to acknowledge that women have too often been mistreated by poor applications of this text. This is a terrible thing. But simply because this text has been misunderstood and applied wrongly, does not make it any less of God’s Word. This text is not saying that wives should: sin if their husband asks them to, always agree with their husband, or remain quiet in times of abuse. That is not what this text is saying. So what is it saying? Well Peter first tells wives, and women in general what not to do. He tell women not to have an extreme focus on external beauty. The worldly woman in Peter’s day was fixated on their hair, jewelry, and clothing. Peter doesn’t want Christian women to be overly concerned about this. The world today is still putting pressure on women is be EXTREMELY concerned with their looks, and Peter wants different for Christian women. Peter wants to free women from this. So what is proper conduct for women then? Verse 4 says the beauty Peter wants to focus on is found in the heart. Peter is asking women to focus more on preparing their inner self then their outer self. For this is more “precious” to God. I now have a couple questions for the guys in the room. Is this what we appreciate most in other women? Is this what we will tell our possible future sons to look for in a future wife? Peter then looked for a woman whose life modeled good works, and he chose Sarah, wife of Abraham. And if we know anything about Sarah, she was not weak, but strong. She was real. Willing to tell Abraham how things really were, at any moment. While culture may reject “a gentle and quiet spirit” as the first thing they think of is a weak women, we know that misses the mark as Sarah is very much not this way. While all of this may be frightening (as Peter references in verse 6), God can be trusted. Those who entrust themselves to God will find that he keeps his promises and provides for them. That has been one of Peter’s main messages throughout this letter. So then moving on to husbands in verse 7. Men, husbands, if the call upon the Christian wife is this challenging, then she sure deserves praise and adoration. She deserves care and love and honor. It is interesting that the word “your” in verse 7 is actually plural. This gives the ideas that husband and wife are making a practice of praying together. It’s also important to note at this point that the weaker vessel in verse 7, is discussing general physical capabilities. It is not discussing value or overall strength, but instead physical stature in a more general sense. Peter is getting at the idea men should protect their wives and treat them kindly. In a way, Peter is trying to make sure that these verses do not get abused like they so often have been.
So wrapping up, regardless of the situation, an unjust official, an overbearing employer, or a difficult husband, Peter wants you to know that God will deliver you. He can be trusted. And when you live in patterns of submission, you show yourself to be living a life modeled by Jesus. This brings us back to verses 21-25 of chapter 2. The motivation behind of all of this. We do not submit, because that’s the sole principle of our lives, but because Jesus submitted. This is just another way that we try to mimic Jesus in our lives and share his love and grace to those around us. Being treated wrongly is a great opportunity to exemplify Jesus and introduce him to someone with your deeds.

Discussion Questions

1. Any thoughts or questions?
2. What is most difficult about this passage for you?
3. Why is submission so difficult to us when we are being mistreated?
4. What does this say about Jesus and how he submitted for our own good? (Even though he was perfect)
5. In what ways do you feel you have been mistreated in the past as pertains to society & employment? How did you respond? What is the proper response?
6. Are there any ways that you can apply what we talked about tonight over the next week?

References

1. Helm, David R., and R K. Hughes. 1–2 Peter and Jude : Sharing Christ's Sufferings. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2015. Print.

Overview

Last week we focused on this main point: God’s new community will be known for submission. While this is a difficult topic, as submitting does not come naturally to us, we take a fairly large leap forward this week. We see that Peter takes this idea of submission, and discusses suffering. While submitting is definitely unnatural for humans, I think we can all agree that suffering is even more unnatural and something we like even less. And because of that, we need passages like this one to encourage us through our suffering.

We see in verse 9. "Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing." We are called to be a blessing to those around us, and more specifically those who persecute us. As we discussed last week, this is the ungodly ruler, the unjust employer, the difficult husband. These are the people Peter is calling us to bless, as we are persecuted by them. That’s quite the difficult idea to process, is it not? We then see in verses 10-12 an excerpt from Psalm 34. This Psalm is written by David. And it’s written at the time when he has just been appointed as king. The only problem is that Saul is also king and has no intention of stepping down. You could say that Saul has gone a little corrupt and would fall under the category of an “ungodly government official” as we discussed last week. To protect his position as king, Saul is track down David and trying to kill him (talk about an ungodly ruler). And while David is being hunted by Saul, he is able to open this Psalm by saying “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Later in the Psalm, David says as we read in verse 10:

“Whoever desires to love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;
let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

It’s amazing that David is able to teach us this while running for his life.

Peter then expands and explains this concept in verses 13-17. Peter basically tells us in these verse that this suffering provides an opportunity for our hope in God to shine. Let me just point out that this is no easy point to swallow. That suffering is good. Suffering is good for those around us, and it glorifies God. As Peter says in verse 17, "For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil." Peter than wraps up this section, as he normally does, with using Jesus as our example (and this is verses 18-22). Jesus suffered for doing good and it brought us to God. How could we do the same thing?

Discussion Questions

1. Any thoughts? Any questions?
2. When someone argues with or insults us, what is the natural reaction? How can you stop
   reaction?
3. What effect could this kind of godly response have on the person who is mistreating us?
4. Are you ready to tell others why you believe in Christ? (verse 15) If not, why not?
5. How could you suffer for good this week? How could this impact those around you?

References

1. Helm, David R., and R K. Hughes. 1–2 Peter and Jude : Sharing Christ's Sufferings. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2015. Print.

The Bible Project: Bible Study Series

The Bible Project: Podcast Series

We have frequently referenced Desiring God by John Piper in our Bible Study discussions. If you are interested in reading this book, it is free to download in PDF format at this link.

John Piper also has other books available for free. You can view them and download them at this link. One timely book you might consider reading is called Coronavirus and Christ.

This document contains a devotional-type booklet that takes you through 21 days of prayerful reflection. 

2021 NSO 21 Day Challenge

Stress and anxiety are something that everyone faces. We as graduate students are no different. For bible study this week we are going to read through the following passage and discuss two things: 1) What the Bible instructs us to do in times of stress & anxiety, 2) What God does for us in these times. 

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-13

Discussion Questions:

• What does God ask us to do when we are stressed or anxious?
  • Pray (v. 6)
  • Supplication- ask or beg for something earnestly or humbly (v. 6)
  • Come to him as you are in that situation (v. 6)
  • Rejoice (v. 4)
  • Think about the things of heaven (v. 8)
    • Honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, praiseworthy
  • Depend on him (v. 12-13)

• What does God do for us?
  • He is always with us (v. 5)
  • Guard your hearts and minds in Christ (v. 7)
  • Gives us peace (v. 9)
  • Gives us strength (v. 13)

Questions for further thought:

• Do these things come easily to you?
• Which of these things do you find most difficult to do?
• What does it look like to rejoice in difficult situations?
• How does thinking about the "things of heaven" allow you to experience God's peace?
• What does it mean for your heart and mind to be guarded in Christ?
• How have you experienced peace or strength in difficult circumstances in the past?
• How can you depend more on God this week/semester when you are feeling stressed or anxious?

For this Bible study, we asked members to submit "tough questions" they had about Christianity. Some supporting Bible verses were found for each question and then we discussed our responses to the questions for 5-10 minutes each. For each question you can find the scripture that was read along with the question. While contemplating and discussing these questions, we kept the following passage in mind: Mark 16:14-20. Jesus needs to be the center of our life. While other topics are important, Jesus on the cross is what saves us and unites us, and should therefore never be less important than any other topic. 

1. How should the church respond to racism and injustice? (Proverbs 6:16-19, Psalm 11:5, Proverbs 17:15, Matthew 25:31-46)
2. How to best explain the Trinity? (Luke 3:22, John 14:26, John 15:26, Job 11:7, Isaiah 55:6-9)
3. How do you approach strangers/follow students to lead them to Christ? (Mark 16:14-20, 1 Peter 3:13-15)
4. There are many many verses about unity in the church in the Bible. How does there being different denominations fit into God’s wish for a one united church? Does it? (1 Corinthians 1:10)
5. How to balance preaching God’s grace and justice? (Exodus 34:5-7 ESV, Deuteronomy 19:4-13)
6. Is homosexuality a sin? I have been hearing from modern christians that the forbidding of homosexuality is the thing of the past (old testament) that once Jesus came and saved us all we are free to choose love. It’s increasingly difficult to come to my own conclusions in today’s climate and would like some help on this. Thank you! (Leviticus 18:22-24, Romans 1:27, 1 Corinthians 6:9,18)
7. Are all religions connected? Why is Christianity the “right” religion out of all? (Exodus 20:2-6, Revelation 21:8)

Summary

The book of Ephesians was written by Paul to the church in Ephesus who were a diverse group of Jews and Gentiles from various backgrounds.  He shares the message that Jesus has come to create a new humanity that is unified across all dividing lines. Paul also explains what exactly it means to be a part of this new unified humanity.

Overview

Bible Project Overview on Ephesians

Themes

In our study we will be breaking Ephesians into 2 main themes throughout the fall semester.

• Theme 1 (Chapters 1-3): The Story of the Gospel
• Theme 2 (Chapters 4-6): How the Gospel Reshapes Our Story

Week 1: Monday, September 13th, 2021 – Ephesians 1:1-14

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-14

• What promises do you see God making?
  • God chose us
  • God adopted us through Jesus
  • We are forgiven
  • All things will be united in him
  • We are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit
• How are these promises hopeful?
  • We are God's chosen people not because of anything we did
  • God takes the initiative by pursuing us first
  • Our inheritance is "sealed," which gives us confidence as we go through life's trials 

Week 2: Monday, September 20th, 2021 – Ephesians 1:15-2:10

Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23

• In verse 17, what does Paul say about God
  • Paul manages to talk about all 3 parts of the Trinity in verse 17 (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
  • In the Spirit we gain wisdom
  • Through the Son we are connected with the Father
• In verse 18, what do you think about "his glorious inheritance in the saints"
  • First, it is important to realize that the saints are all of God's chosen people
  • Second, Paul is saying that the saints are God's inheritance 
  • God cherishes us, even though we sin

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

• Why did God save us?
  
  • God saved us because of his great love and mercy
  • God did not save us because of anything we did
  • We were saved while we were still sinning
• What implications does his grace have on the way we live?
  • When we understand God's grace, we want to respond by following him closer
  • Since we did not earn our salvation, we have no reason to boast
  • We are to give God the glory, instead of ourselves

Week 3: Monday, September 27th, 2021 – Ephesians 2:11-22

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

• What do you think it means to be brought near to God (verse 13)?
  • It means to have access to God (verse 18)
  • Christ died for everyone, regardless of how far you are from God.
• The status of circumcision no longer separate us as Christians, but what does in 2021?
  • Theological views, cultural norm, race, economic differences, denominations
• How did Jesus bring the Jews & Gentiles together?
  • By dying for all who believe, not just the Jews
• Who are the saints and members of God's household
  • We are, as Christians. Whoever puts their faith in Christ is a member of God's household.
• What does it mean for us to be a holy temple in the Lord?
  • In the Old Testament, the holy temple is where God meets with his people in joyful fellowship. Believers do not have to worship in Jerusalem today because they themselves have become the new temple of God.

Week 4: Monday, October 4th, 2021 – Ephesians 3:1-21

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-13

• What do we learn about Paul in this passage?
  • Paul is a prisoner (for Christ, not for Rome)
  • He was commissioned to go to the gentiles
• What is the mystery that Paul talks about?
  
  • Christ has come to unify Jew and Gentile in one body through the gospel
  • God's Spirit reveals His wisdom to us

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21

• What are some of the key themes of Paul's requests?
  • We should humbly adore God
  • We should be strengthened by the Spirit
  • We should be grounded in love
  • We should strive to comprehend the vastness of God's love for all of us
  • God reveals his wisdom to us

Week 5: Monday, October 18th, 2021 – Ephesians 4:1-16

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16

• How does Paul’s message from Ephesians 3 inform our interpretation of his instruction in verse 4:1-3?
• What words or phrases are repeated in this passage? What does this tell us?
• What is Paul’s central message in this passage?
• How do unity in the body of Christ and spiritual maturity relate to each other?
• How does Paul envision the church functioning?
• What insights does the text provide to help us walk in a “manner worthy of the calling?”

Week 6: Monday, October 25, 2021 – Ephesians 4:17-32

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-32

• What is Paul’s central message in this passage?
• Why does Paul follow up his call to unity and spiritual maturity with this passage about new vs. old life?
• What does the life of the “old self” look like and what does the life of the “new self” look like?
• What does Paul mean by “be angry and do not sin”, “do not let the sun go down on you anger”, and “give no opportunity to the devil”?
• Why does Paul say we should forgive one another?
• Do you follow the advice in question 4 in your own life? What is a situation where this advice applies to your life?

Week 7: Monday, November 1st, 2021 – Ephesians 5:1-21

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-21

• What is Paul’s central message in this passage?
• What does it mean to you to be a “fragrant offering and sacrifice to God”? (1, ESV)
• This passage matches things inappropriate with what should be done instead (ex: 4, ESV: filthiness, foolish talk, crude joking exchanged for thanksgiving). Match up and discuss the ones that stick out the most to your group. 
• Verse 16 begins with “making the best use of the time…” (ESV) | “making the most of every opportunity…” (NIV). What does this mean to you/to Christians?
• What does it mean to “singing and making to the Lord with your heart”? (19, ESV)
• Think about this passage within the context of the book of Ephesians we have read so far, any new ideas or insights?
• What does this passage teach us about God? How does this passage relate to Jesus?

Week 8: Monday, November 8th, 2021 – Ephesians 5:21-33

Scripture: Ephesians 5:21-33

Notes:

• Keep 5:1 in mind, as it’s all part of the same letter. We should all be imitators of Christ. 
• Paul is overturning cultural norms of husbands ruling over household with power. He is instead commanding them to sacrifice themselves.
• A husband laying down his life for his wife is far from any kind of male tyranny or oppression.
• Sacrifice & belonging to one another are the main themes here.
• Check out: 1 Corinthians 7:3-5
• A circle of love & respect is created when these commands are followed. 

Questions:

• What instructions are given to wives?
• What instructions are given to husbands?
• What does it actually mean to love?
  • To give oneself up for somebody
• What does it mean to submit?’
  • To give oneself up to somebody
• What the difference?
  • Not much. Love & submission are essentially 2 aspects of the very same thing, which is sacrifice. The same sacrifice which is the foundation of a growing marriage.

Application Questions:

• What would a marriage look like if these instructions were followed by both the husband and wife?
• How can the Christian community build and support our marriages?

Week 9: Monday, November 15th, 2021 – Ephesians 6:1-9

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-9

Discussion Questions:

• Everyone’s relationship with their parents is different, what does honoring your parents look like to you? (Verse 2-3)
• Has the way you honor your parents changed over time? (Ex, from childhood to adulthood or from when you first became a Christian to now). If so, how?
• Discuss how verses 5-9 apply to our lives today; how do they apply to an employer-employee relationship?
• Does verse 7 change your perspective on your own work/research/study? How?

Full Circle Questions:

• Throughout Ephesians, Paul has summarized the gospel and taught about God’s promises. Discuss what connections you have noticed between the initial teachings and the applications to congregational, husband-wife, parent-child, and employer-employee relationships.
• What does this passage teach us about God? How does this passage relate to Jesus?

Week 10: Monday, November 29th, 2021 – Ephesians 6:10-24

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-24

Discussion Questions:

• What have we read in Ephesians so far that motivates us to “be strong in the Lord” (v10) and fight against evil around us (v12)? (bullet points from Blue Letter Bible)
  • Your standing as a child of God
  • God’s plan that he has made you a part of
  • God’s plan for you to mature in your faith
  • The conduct by which we are called to live
  • The filling of the Spirit and our walk in the spirit
• Break down the different pieces of the armor of God. Why is truth a belt? Why is righteousness a breastplate? etc. etc.
• What encourages you in this passage?
  • Be strong in god’s strength (v10)
  • Able to withstand devil’s schemes (v11)
  • Identifies the “armor of God” that equips you to face problems (v13-17)
• Do Paul’s words in this verse 12 change your perspective on the problems you see in your life and this world as a whole?
• Which pieces of the armor of God do you see as the strongest and weakest in your life?
• Does this passage challenge you to change anything about the way you live?

Summary

The book of Galatians was written by Paul when he was frustrated that Jewish Christians were teaching Non-Jewish Christians that they had to follow the laws of the Torah in order to be part of God's covenant family. Paul wants to preserve the message of the true Gospel – that we are saved by the blood of Jesus, the new covenant, and not by the laws of the Torah. Because Jesus has fulfilled the laws of the Torah, we are united as a large, multi-ethnic family and transformed by the Holy Spirit.

Overview

Bible Project Overview on Galatians

Themes

In our study we will be breaking Galatians into 3 main themes, studying a new theme each month.

• Theme 1 (Chapters 1-2): The True Gospel and Justification by Faith
• Theme 2 (Chapters 3-4): Jesus fulfills the laws of the Torah and unites us as one family
• Theme 3 (Chapters 5-6): Members of God's family are transformed by the Holy Spirit

These are the resources from Bible Studies of Galatians chapters 1 and 2 (put together by Rachel). Here you will find the questions we discussed together as a group and very brief answers to these questions. Please keep in mind that these answers do not cover all possible answers, and we discussed each of these questions in much more detail as a group.

Week 1: Monday, March 1, 2021 – Chapter 1

• Background Context: Read Acts 15:1-11
  
  • What is the cause of the feud we read about in the passage?
    • Jewish Christians think that Non-Jewish Christians should adopt their laws (circumcision)
  • Why did Jewish Christians think it was so important that Non-Jewish Christians become circumcised?
    • In order to become part of God's covenant family, they must adopt Jewish laws.
  • What is Paul's reaction to these men? Why does he react this way? (we will talk more about this after reading chapter 1).
    • He dissents. He doesn't believe this is in accordance with the Gospel message.
  • What do the Jewish and Non-Jewish Christians have in common according to Peter?
    • Given the Holy Spirit
    • Aren't capable of living up to the high standards of the old testament laws due to their sinful nature
    • Saved through grace of the Lord Jesus
• Scripture Reading: Chapter 1
  • Spend several minutes reflecting on this passage. What is something that stood out to you from the passage? What is something you have a question about?
  • We read in Acts 15 that Paul was upset, but here is where we really get to see that. Why is Paul so angry?
    • People are not listening to the Gospel message of Christ that he delivered and are instead adopting a distorted gospel.
  • How can the people be sure that Paul's account of the gospel is the true account?
    • He gives his credentials in verses 11-24 – he was commissioned himself by Jesus to go to the Gentiles. He was not commissioned by man because he didn't even meet any other apostles until he was already well into his ministry.

Week 2: Monday, March 8, 2021 – Reading New Testament Letters

This week we viewed the Bible Project's resources on the Historical Context and Literary Context of New Testament Letters. 

Historical Context:

• Consider how they all fit into the larger story line of the Bible.
  • Notes from Video:
    • Apostles were heralds talking about the arrival of God's kingdom and Jesus.
    • It was bold thing to say in Rome because peoples allegiance was supposed to be to Rome.
  • Questions:
    • In what ways is Paul trying to announce the arrival of God's kingdom and Jesus to the Galatians?
      • We are justified through what Jesus has done for us, not by the works of the Torah.
    • What is bold about what he is saying?
      • It went against the ancient Jewish customs and definitely was not a popular opinion.
• Consider the culture of the Roman empire.
  • Notes from Video:
    • Rome conquered and enslaved and required heavy taxes
    • In Rome there was a hierarchy where men rose to the top but women and slaves were worth nothing
    • But the Christian communities were different; everyone was treated with equal dignity
    • Through Jesus, God gives His love to everyone without regard to their status
  • Questions:
    • In what ways is what Paul saying counter-cultural?
      • Paul wants the body of Christ to be a united family through our shared salvation through Jesus.
    • Do we see a hierarchy in Galatians?
      • Jewish Christians placing themselves above Non-Jewish Christians
    • How does Paul want the Christian community to live differently than those around them?
      • He encourages us to break bread with those who are different than us.
• Consider the situational context of the letter.
  • Notes from Video:
    •  Division in the church between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians
• How are the New Testament letters applicable to us today?
  • Notes from Video:
    • These letters led to transformations in ancient culture with the good news of Jesus, and we can see how that same good news can transform our culture as well.
  • Questions:
    • Even though this letter was made for the Galatians, what can we glean from it years later and in a different culture?
      • Lessons about valuing others that are disadvantaged in our current culture, transforming our current culture with the good news shared in the letters.

Literary Context

• Creating the Letter
  • Notes from Video:
    • Writing letters cost a lot of money, so they were all crafted very carefully
    • Written as a whole literary work – meant to be read beginning to end so we can know how each part contributes to the whole 
    • Paul didn't work or write alone – he was always a part of a missionary team.
    • Letters were read aloud because most people didn't read. They often sound like written speeches
  • Questions:
    • How does knowing the way in which these letters were crafted (intentional thought and delivery, meant to be read beginning to end) impact the way we look at this literary work?
      • These letters weren't just brief personal correspondence, they were well thought out masterpieces.
  • Action Items:
    • We encourage you to read through the book of Galatians on your own, all in one sitting. Even better, listen to Galatians being read aloud to you; this was how the message was designed to be heard.
• Format (sections of a New Testament letter)
  • Notes from Video: 
    • opening
    • prayer of thanks/greeting (Main idea introduced the prayer)
    • body of letter (Body repeats and unpacks the idea introduced in the prayer)
    • conclusion (greetings, travel plans, a final request, or a prayer)
  • Questions:
    • When we consider the opening and prayer for this letter, are we able to identify what Paul might foresee as the main point of the letter?
      • This is one of the shortest openings in all the NT letters – Paul is really trying to get to the point due to his frustration and the urgency of his message.
      • "God gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age." – Paul saw the evils of distorted gospels and wants to redirect us to what Jesus has done on the cross first and foremost, because that is what is most important.
• How to read New Testament Letters
  • Notes from Video:
    • transition words are clues to the progression of the letter
    • Each paragraph has its own main idea
    • To make the most of reading New Testament letters, break it down into smaller parts and find the message of each paragraph, trace repeated ideas and transition words to see how it all fits back together, and then see how the apostles brilliantly combined the pieces into a literary whole.
  • Questions:
    • If we break apart the paragraphs from Chapter 1, can we identify the main themes of the paragraph? Can we identify any transition words? Repeated ideas?
  • Action Items:
    • Apply what you have learned about how to read the New Testament letters as we continue this study on Galatians each week.

Week 3: Monday, March 15, 2021 – Chapter 2

• Review:
  • During Week 1 we….
    • Read background on the feud between Jewish Christians and non-Jewish Christians in Acts. Jewish Christians thought that new Gentile Christians had to follow the laws of the Torah to be true members of God's covenant family.
    • Read the first chapter of Galatians where Paul expresses his frustration that they have adopted a gospel other than the one he taught them, and he gives his credentials to show them the credibility of his message.
  • During Week 2 we…..
    • Looked at the historical context of New Testament Letters
      • We talked about the overall storyline of the bible and how Paul is spreading the good news of Jesus's fulfillment of the old testament in the letter
      • We talked about the Roman empire and the culture of the time
      • We talked more about the situational context of feud between Jews and Gentiles
    • Looked at the literary context of New Testament Letters
      • What went into writing the letter
      • The organizational format of the letter
      • How to read the letter paragraph by paragraph and find transition words to trace the message through the whole letter and see how all the pieces fit together.
  • Now we will be reading chapter 2, which is broken into three sections:
    • The other apostles accept Paul's teaching to the gentiles.
    • Paul calls Peter out for being hypocritical toward gentiles in Antioch.
    • Paul says we are justified by faith through Jesus and not works of the old testament law.
  • Re-watch Bible Project Video for background
• Read Sections 1 and 2 (verses 1-14) of Chapter 2 and discuss as a group
  • A couple minutes for reflection on these sections (think about the main ideas of the paragraphs, what stands out, and any questions)
  • Section 1 (verses 1-10): Paul interacting with the other apostles
    • Notes:
      • Paul meets the apostles and tells them what he has been teaching the Gentiles
      • He continues to assure us that they didn't add or take anything away from the gospel he was teaching (showing that it was God's true gospel)
      • The apostles accepted him and his teachings to the Gentiles.
    • Questions:
      • Why does Paul want to talk with the apostles?
        • "to make sure that I was not running or had not run in vain"
        • He was seeking the opinions of other godly men to see if they thought his teachings had gone astray of God's true gospel – accountability
      • How did Paul handle those whom he perceived were not preaching the true gospel?
        • He makes sure we know that he did not let those people influence him or lead him astray
      • How do the true apostles react to Paul's teachings?
        • They approve of them and change nothing about what he was teaching the Gentiles. They believe his was commissioned by God to teach to the gentiles the same way that Peter was commissioned by God to teach the Jews. They ask him to remember the poor.
  • Section 2 (verses 11-14): Paul calls Peter out for being hypocritical in Antioch.
    • Notes:
      • Peter used to eat with the gentiles, but when Jewish Christians came and demanded circumcision, he stopped eating with them to please those Jewish Christians.
      • The rest of the Jews and even Paul's  travel companion Barnabas were led astray by the hypocrisy.
      • Paul calls them out and asks them if they can't live like they ought to as Jews, then how can they make the Gentiles live like Jews?
    • Questions:
      • What does Peter do that makes Paul call him out?
        • He stopped eating with gentiles because of pressure from the "Circumcision party"
      • Why does Paul find Peter's actions so hypocritical?
        • It is against Jesus's teachings (and therefore inherently not Jewish/Christian) to treat the gentiles this way. It is hypocritical to require them to live like a Jew when they themselves cannot reach that standard.
      • Why do you think it was so easy for everyone, even Barnabas, to get caught up in this, too?
        • reluctance to let go of custom, crowd mentality, etc.
• Read Section 3 (verses 15-21) of the chapter and discuss
  • A couple minutes for reflection on these sections (ask everyone to think about what stood out to them, and what they might have questions on)
  • Section 3 (verses 15-21): Justification by Faith alone, not works
    • Notes:
      • No one can be justified by the works of the law – we are justified through Christ alone
      • We sin and cannot upkeep the law, but Christ is not a servant to sin – he died to conquer it. It is a good thing we are not justified by the law, but through Christ.
      • If we insist keeping the law for our justification, we are undermining what Christ did for us. He would have died for no purpose.
    • Questions:
      • What does it mean to be justified?
        • from the Bible Project Video: to be justified is to be declared righteous, meaning you are in right relationship with God, forgiven and given a place in God's family
      • What message does Paul think this "circumcision party" is sending to the growing Christian community?
        • They are promoting justification by works instead of justification by faith and making less of what Jesus has done for us on the cross.
      • How does insisting on circumcision for Gentile Christians undermine what Jesus did for us on the cross?
        • We sin and cannot upkeep the law, but Christ is not a servant to sin – he died to conquer it. If we insist on keeping the law for our justification, we are undermining what Christ did for us. He would have died for no purpose.

Week 4: Monday, March 22, 2021

• Review from previous weeks
  • Week 1: Chapter 1 of Galatians
    • Paul is appalled that the Galatians have adopted a different gospel and think they have to make non-Jewish Christians be circumcised.
    • Paul gives his credentials to make sure we understand his gospel message was the true gospel message.
  • Week 2: Historical and Literary Context of New Testament Letters
    • Historical Context: context in the Bible, context in the culture, context of the argument
    • Literary Context: importance of letters, how the letter is structured, how to read the letter
  • Week 3: Chapter 2 of Galatians (Part 1)
    • Paul tells us that the other apostles agreed that what he was teaching to the Gentiles was the true message of the gospel.
    • Paul calls Peter out for being hypocritical and not eating with non-Jewish Christians
  • Week 4 (this week): Chapter 2 of Galatians (Part 2) and Reflections
    • Justification by Faith
    • Thoughts on Chapters 1 and 2
• Read Galatians Chapter 2, Verses 15-21
  • Reflect on what you read. What is the main point of this passage? What stands out to you? What do you have questions about?
  • Discussion based on personal reflection
• Listen to the Bible Project Podcast Episode "Family Once More" (9:38 – 23:10)
  • This provides a good summary of what we discussed in the first two chapters
  • Wrap up the first major theme "The True Gospel and Justification by Faith"

These are the resources from Bible Studies of Galatians chapters 3 and 4 (put together by Kaleb). Here you will find the questions we discussed together as a group and very brief answers to these questions. Please keep in mind that these answers do not cover all possible answers, and we discussed each of these questions in much more detail as a group.

Week 1: Monday, April 5, 2021

Week 2: Monday, April 12, 2021

• What does Paul say about the relationship between the law and the promises God gave to Abraham (and so all people)? How does he make his case?
• Why was the Law given? What functions did the law serve?
• What major conclusion does Paul make to tie wrap up this chapter?
• What points from this chapter support this conclusion?
• What ideas do Paul confront in order to prevent beliefs that oppose this conclusion?
• How are we like the Galatians?
  • Are we foolish?
  • Do we put up barriers that divide God's family?

Week 3: Monday, April 19, 2021

Resources:

Week 4: Monday, April 26, 2021

These are the resources from Bible Studies of Galatians chapters 5 and 6 (put together by Vaughn). Here you will find the questions we discussed together as a group and very brief answers to these questions. Please keep in mind that these answers do not cover all possible answers, and we discussed each of these questions in much more detail as a group.

Week 1: Monday, May 3, 2021

Focus: Galatians 5: 1-15

Resources:
https://bibleproject.com/learn/galatians/ (video from 6:40 to the end)

Discussion questions:

Verses 1-6
- What about trying to satisfy the laws of the old testament “severed us Christ”?
- How were we slaves prior to coming to Christ? How is life different now?
- It certainly isn’t circumcision, but what do you think culture today wrongly assumes as the way Christians are saved?

Verses 7-12
- What does verse 9 mean?
- How can we protect ourselves, our family and our church from false teachings?

Verses 13-15
- How does Jesus simplify life for us?

Week 2: Monday, May 10, 2021

Resources: This week we studied the Bible Project's Bible Study on the Holy Spirit.

Week 3: Monday, May 17, 2021

Focus: Galatians 5:16-26

Introduction: 

• The power of the Holy Spirit: John 16:5-15
• Jesus said that it would be better for us to have the Spirit in us, than for us to have Jesus himself beside us.  This shows the absolute power of the Holy Spirit, and we need to be careful to not overlook or forgot this.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are your overall thoughts on this passage? Does anything new or interesting stand out?
2. This passage seems like it strays away from most of what Galatians has been about (Paul doesn’t talk about circumcision for a whole 11 verses!!!). How does this passage still relate to what we have been discussing (the law, Jesus putting an end to the law, etc.)?
3. What do you think about verse 18? What do you think it means? “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”
4. Practically, what should we do if we find ourselves falling into one of the sins listed in the passage?
5. Can someone put the end of verse 23 in their own words? What does is mean that “against such things there is no law”?
6. If you feel comfortable sharing, what are some ways God is producing fruit of the Spirit in you recently? (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control)

Week 4: Monday, May 24, 2021

1. What do you think Paul means when he says “you who are spiritual”?
2. What do you think verse 4 & 5 means?
3. What do you think verse 6 means?
4. What do you think verse 14 means?

As we are reading the book of Galatians, it is helpful to learn more about how to read New Testament Letters. Please view the videos below and consider how you can apply what you learn from the video to Paul's letter to the Galatians. You can find our discussion on these videos under Chapters 1-2, March 8th meeting.

Historical Context of New Testament Letters: Video by the Bible Project

Literary Context of New Testament Letters: Video by the Bible Project

Here are some helpful resources from our study on Stress and Stress Management prepared by Trevor:

Reference Material: Bible Project Limits of Labor Podcast

Bible Readings: 

• The Vanity of Toil: Ecclesiastes 2:17-26
• Joy in Trials: James 1:2-4

Benediction: John 14:17

Takeaway: Think about your work and research as a graduate student. How does your work serve the Kingdom of God? What are some ways you can lay your stressors on God this week?

Further Reading: Ecclesiastes 7, which talks about wisdom.