A while back I started relaunching our woman’s ministry at church. My heart is for ladies to know God, know the Word, know themselves, and know eachother through this ministry.

We launched a 3 week Bible Study on Galatians.

Here is the flyover of the whole book.

If you would like to go through the study. You can do that too below.

Let’s begin by taking a flyover of some themes and important facts about the book of Galatians and let’s look at a practical takeaway toward the end of this section. Let’s begin: 

The central theme of Galatians is “How is a person saved and justified? By works of the law, or by faith?” This letter was written by Paul out of deep passion for those he wrote to and frustration.

3 themes we want to be aware of:

1. SLAVERY VS. FREEDOM:

Galatians 5:1, 4:6-9

Jewish men, he called them Judizers. The primary struggle was that they were telling the Gentiles that they had to come under the law of Moses – to become circumcised like a Jews, and follow the Jewish laws in order to be right with God. To be justified. In this letter Paul is defending the faith, primarily the belief that we are justified by faith and not works.

2. THROUGH JESUS CHRIST:

Galatians 1:1,1:11-12

Paul had founded these churches in Galatia and now others had come behind him, questioning his authority, and putting the Gentile Christians into what Paul called a yoke of slavery. We will find him dealing with issues of authority and truth in this book.

3. CONFLICT:

Galatians 2:4, 2:11-14

Not only is Paul talking about false believers that had been perverting the gospel of Christ and turning it into something else that Paul called “another gospel.” Paul also confronted Peter – who was an apostle of Jesus Christ. This is the same Peter that when he was with Jesus and the high priest send men to take Jesu, Peter was bold and ready to fight – even cutting off the ear of a servant. (John 18:10) but when they took Jesus and Peter was in the courtyard watching – a girl said, “you are one of them, you were with Him?” – and he denied Christ 3 times. We can see then that Peter struggles with how to stand in what He believes when those around him are in opposition or believe something else.

We picked up on something within this conflict theme. Something a little more practical for us – People Pleasing. A people pleaser: someone who cares a lot about whether or not other people like them, and always wants other people’s approval of their actions.

What can we glean from Paul about people pleasing: A people pleaser is not compatible with being a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)

The number 1 ingredient to pleasing people is fear. Fear of what another person or group will think. A people pleaser will – compromise. Compromise means to mitigate or do what you can to lessen the exposure to risk or hazard. (Galatians 2:11)

As you read this study – you will see Paul’s boldness. You can sense that Paul has never been a people pleasing kind of person. We will see his boldness in how he talks – (Galatians 3:1-3)

Notice what kinds of things he takes this kind of boldness with: Ask yourself: What is the context? What is he talking about? He is talking about our beliefs about how we are justified. (Galatians 3:11)

He shows great concern for them – that they are in dangerous territory with their faith. (Galatians 4:9)

He encourages them to stand true to the faith that he first brought to them regardless of those who come to oppose him. He tells them if they accept what they say and walk according to what they say, they will be severed from Christ. He makes it clear that these rules and laws do not justify you, only faith that works by love. (Galatians 5:2-6) So then, we can see that pleasing people is a work of fear but faith is a work of love. 

Even those who came to them to tell them they have to add these other things like circumcision to their faith were people pleasers. They didn’t want to be persecuted by the Jews. So they preached Jesus + the Law. – A false gospel! (Galatians 6:12)

Want to do the whole study? It is set up in daily chunks over the course of 3 weeks. You can go as fast or slow as you like with this Google Forms Bible study.

Click here: GALATIANS BIBLE STUDY

I hope you enjoy,

Starla