Here’s a study/discussion I put together. There are some scenarios for you to work through at the end to help you think through some practical implications. Some may seem a bit far fetched, though they are all probably more realistic than we might wish. Each will help us to think through a practical example of Christian living.
Read: Galatians 3:10; Galatians 4:4; Galatians 4:21-31; Galatians 5:3.
One application from Galatians is the danger of legalism
- In small groups come up with a working definition of legalism
- Together -discuss the dangers of legalism
- What might be a better approach to things?
- Some scenarios – what might be a legalistic solution to this? What might be a grace based approach? Is there anything else you might need to know?
- Alan is often seen offering Cassandra a life home from lift group. You’ve been asked to speak to them.
- Some people in church think that Christians shouldn’t ever drink alcohol. Some think it is okay. You are planning a birthday party. What do you do?
- You’ve been asked to give a talk to the young people at Cefn Lea next year the subject title is “what not to wear.”
- Your union has just voted for strike action. You’re unsure about whether or not you should participate. You think that the pay offer is unjust and that workplace practices put people at risk but you’ve also heard that some Christians think that you shouldn’t strike because the Bible says “If a man will not work, neither shall he eat” (1 Thessalonians 3:10).
- An older lady in the church asks you to speak to the young lads who are growing their hair long and wear T-Shirts promoting the devil’s music.
- During prophecy time in Sunday worship, Melchizedek stands up and says “I believe that we are in sin because we are meeting on a Sunday and the true Sabbath is the Saturday. We need a time of repentance and fasting.”
- It’s Julius’ baptism day. Just before the service he says to you “Please baptise me only in the name of Jesus and not in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” because in Acts they were baptised only in the name of Jesus.
- Ezekiel is looking rather concerned and seems to be measuring up your TV as you sit down for coffee. You ask him if he is okay. He expresses concern about the size of the screen and suggests your TV may have become a worldly idol to you.
- Esmerelda is in tears. You ask her what the problem is. She says that she has just realised that she has only been giving 7.5% of her income to the church for the past 10 years meaning there has been a shortfall in her tithe. She doesn’t think she can afford to make it up and feels deep shame and guilt.
Faithroots 