Free at Last

Community Group

RECAP
Free at Last: Part 7

Galatians 4:1-7

R - Review
A summary of the sermon In this opening section of chapter four, Paul continues his emphatic protection of the gospels radical nature. Paul continues to instruct that if we mix something we must do into the good news declaration of grace, it will cease to be good news. The calling of the Christian then in Galatia, and now in Fort Lauderdale, is to x our eyes outside of ourselves to what Christ has done. In 4:1-3, Paul talks about what we were - slaves sold under the bondage of the laws crushing demands, enslaved to pursuits on our own to ascend to God, rather than having him descend to us. In 4:4-7, Paul talks about what we now are - slaves that have been transformed into sons, because God allowed his Son to bear the laws demands for us. In light of this great exchange, we as adopted children of God can cry out to him, Father! and hear in return, the words spoken to Jesus at his baptism - You are my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased!

E - Examine
Taking a closer look In verse 3, how did Tullian dene the elementary principles of the world? How would the idea Tullian says is contained in elementary principles of the world (the childish notion that we can unlock the meaning of life and attain justication through living better) apply both to Greek pagans and Jewish law-lovers?

C - Chat
Sermon quotes to spur on conversation and interaction When human works are added to the gospel it ceases to be good news. The more we succeed, the worse off we are (because the natural tendency of the heart is to become proud). - a paraphrase of Martin Luther The law never ceases saying Do but no amount of doing can ever illicit the word Done. The transformation from what we were to what we are is the result of what God did, not what we do.

A - Apply
Making the connection from thinking to action How are we tempted to return to the elementary principles of the world? What bothers us in real life about people who are heirs and are given an inheritance without working for it? Yet, how does the gospel refer to us in similar fashion? How does this challenge us?

P - Pray
A time to pray for each other

Copyright Adam Masterson and CRPC 2012