Week 6 brought another strong group together at Bruegger’s in Cary after a good beatdown at Shakin’ Not Stirred. 8 PAX got coffee and other things and circled up for prayer, only a minute or two late.
Shut In and I decided it’d be good to get some structure and consistency built into The Refinery rather that the two of us repeatedly trying to come up with a good topic from week-to-week. So, we chose Galatians. Over the next few weeks/months/however long it takes us to get through it, we’ll be going verse by verse through the book of Galatians. Today, we got through the entire first chapter. Here are a couple thoughts and takeaways (in no way are these coherent or in line. Just thoughts that the PAX had during our discussion):
In regards to v. 6-10:
- How often do we hear people use the Gospel as a tool to perpetuate their own personal agenda? We see arguments all over social media using Bible verses to make a case (or making cases against Bible versus), but is that what the Gospel is? Are we listening to what the Gospel tells us? Or are we getting bogged down by rules and legalism rather than basking in the grace, peace, and love that Jesus taught about.
- It must have been hard for the Jews to abandon the traditions they had once revered in order to live out this new Gospel, the message that Jesus came to teach. They were comfortable with the Law of the OT. The temptation was to fall back on those traditions when things got difficult with this new brand of faith.
- Who are we trying to please? Are we still trying to win the approval others? Its so hard not to!
In regards to v. 11-17:
- Paul was preaching only what he had received from Christ. Not what he heard from men
- Paul uses the example of his own life to illustrate the power of transformation. Saul was the chief persecutor of the Jews, yet God revealed Jesus to him and his life flipped in an instant. Do you know anyone like that? Someone who you never could have imagined God would use to serve others?
- Can you imagine having that sort of flip occurring in your own life? How scary would that be
In regards to v 18-24
- Paul’s reputation preceded him. Though they’d never met him, people knew who the guy was that used to kill all the Christians before becoming one…
- Man, God can use ANYONE to do His good will.
- Why does Paul think he has to mention that he’s not lying? haha – Let me be honest, we would never do something like that nowadays, would we? (hope you are catching the sarcasm here)
Prayers: Burt’s brother-in-law, Swag and his family, the CFO still in California, a prayer request I talked about (but can’t explicitly say it since I’m writing this at work haha)
Come out next week, we’ll be in Galatians 2
