|
|
Galatians: Discipleship Lessons
by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
Print this Page
Sign up now for a free
Galatians Bible Study
Please share this webpage on Facebook or bookmark the site using
the buttons above. Thanks!

Apostle Paul (494-495 AD), ceiling mosaic, Archiepiscopal Chapel of St. Andrew
(oratory), Ravenna, Italy |
It’s amazing how many so-called Christians don’t really
“get it.” They think that the basis of Christianity is living a good moral life
and doing good works. And – so long as you don’t mess up your life entirely –
you’ll end up in heaven. And, oh yes, Jesus died for our sins, whatever that
means.
Paul’s Letter to the Galatians deals with this kind of
shallow understanding head-on. He had won the Galatians to Christ on his first
missionary journey, we believe, and then taught them more about Christ on his
second mission.
But now Paul hears that some Jewish-Christians have come to
the churches and begun to convince these Gentile believers that they can’t be
saved unless they’re circumcised and keep the Mosaic Law. What’s more, these
false teachers have undermined Paul’s reputation. His ministry with these
churches is in shambles. But what’s even worse is that these new Christians are
about to go backwards – from faith in Christ to faith in law-keeping.
As you study Galatians, you’ll begin to understand clearly
what the core of the gospel is all about. Galatians, after all, helped Martin
Luther come to the conviction that we are saved by faith alone. John Wesley, the
founder of Methodism, came into spiritual life (“my heart was strangely warmed”)
as he read Luther’s preface to his commentary on Galatians.
Galatians is also known for explaining what must substitute
for the law – learning to walk by the Spirit.
It is my prayer that as you study this foundational letter, you’ll be blessed and encouraged, too.
Here's the outline.
- No Other Gospel (1:1-10)
- The Independence of Paul's Gospel (1:11-2:10)
- Justified by Faith in Christ (2:11-21)
- Faith Is the Key, Not Law (3:1-3:25)
- By the Spirit We Cry, 'Abba, Father' (3:26-4:7)
- Freedom from the Law by the Spirit (4:8-5:12)
- The Spirit and the Flesh (5:13-21)
- The Spirit and Character (5:22-26)
- Sowing to the Spirit (6:1-18)
Here's how we'll study together.
-
This is our 36th online Bible study
since 1996. If you've participated in one before,
you know how God can use them in your life. If not,
then you have a treat in store for you. This is an
cross-denominational study designed to help you grow
as a disciple of Christ. -- Dr. Ralph F. Wilson.
About the leader.
|
Each Saturday I'll e-mail you the lesson for the week .
Then you'll read the Bible passage and use my notes to help
you understand it better.
- If you sign up for the daily questions version, on Sunday, Monday,
Tuesday, and Wednesday you'll receive a question
from that week's lesson to think about and answer. This is designed as a
"total immersion" approach to Bible study, since I believe God wants to use
these lessons to work real and permanent change in your life. (You can opt
out of the daily questions if you like, however, and just receive the weekly
lessons.) You'll be thinking about these passages constantly over these
weeks -- long enough for God to work his Word into your life and lifestyle.
-
You can respond to the questions and exercises using the Joyful Heart
Bible Study Forum -- and read others' answers to reinforce your own
understanding.
-
With each lesson you'll receive a link to a 20- to 30-minute audio
teaching that sums up the passage you've been studying that week. Some
who learn better from hearing than from reading really appreciate this.
- Then on Saturday, I'll send you the next week's lesson.
Please don't sign up for more than one of my Bible studies at one time. Each
of them is pretty intensive. Also, please don't sign up for your friends; let
them decide for themselves.
As of January 25, 2012, about 4,562 people had signed up from more than
107 countries around the world.
After you sign up below and confirm your subscription by clicking on the
e-mail link you'll receive, you'll receive the
first lesson on the next Friday.
Galatians Bible Study:
Discipleship Lessons
Copyright © 1985-2012, Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor joyfulheart.com> All rights reserved. A single copy of this article is free. Do not put this on a website. See legal, copyright, and reprint information.
Joyful Heart Renewal Ministries
JesusWalk®
Publications
Dr. Ralph F. Wilson, Director
Contact Information
|
|

My books are available
in paperback and Kindle from Amazon.
|