The Things That Make For Peace (Galatians 2:1-10)

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SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
In a world that is marked by divisions, conflicts, and wars, what are the things that make for peace? The followers of Jesus Christ are to be a people who, instead of finding ways to divide people, look for ways to bring people together. As followers of Jesus, we are called to orient our lives around making peace and spreading peace wherever we go. And the foundation for peace is the gospel. The message of faith alone in Christ alone is the only foundation for true peace.


GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.

1. In your own words, how would you define “peace”?
2. What are some big issues today over which there is a lot of disagreement?
3. What divisions among different groups do you see in our society today?
4. What divisions among Christians do you see in our churches today?
5. Have you ever been part of a church that split up? What was the reason for the split? What was the result of the split? Briefly share your experience.
6. Is there a particular group with whom you find it difficult to relate? Why might that be? How might you learn to relate to them?


INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
1. Briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.


2. Read Ephesians 2:11-22

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

• What does “circumcision” mean? Where does the practice of circumcision come from? Why was Paul addressing this issue here in verse 11?
• According to verses 11 and 12, what was the former condition of the Ephesians? Why do you think Paul is exhorting them to “remember” their past?
• What is the fundamental problem that Paul is addressing in this passage (verse 13)?
• What is the radical solution that Paul presents in verses 13-18?
• What are the new identities of those who are now in Jesus (verses 19-22)?
• Reread this passage. As you look back through your past, what is it that you remember of your former ways (verses 11-12)? Have you truly experienced Jesus as your peace (verse 14)? Have you truly embraced your new identity in Jesus (verses 19-22)? If you feel comfortable, briefly share.


3. Rich shared in his sermon that one of the things that make for peace is to give to the poor, as we read in Galatians 2:10: “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.”

• Why do you think financial giving to the poor brings peace?
• Have you experienced this in your own life?
• What are some ways that this small group can work together to financially give to the poor and those in need?
• What are some ways that this small group can work together to bring relief to those who have been devastated by the earthquake in Haiti?

Converted (Galatians 1:11-24)

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SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
Paul’s conversion is undoubtedly one of the most important world-changing events. There is no single event, apart from the life, death and resurrection of Christ, that so determined the course of Christian history. Paul’s faith was not a religion without Christ, but it was radically marked by a relationship with Christ. As we study Paul’s conversion, we learn that the very center of the Christian message is nothing other than Jesus Christ – “Christianity is Christ!”


GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.

1. Do you know of a remarkable conversion story like Paul? Briefly share.
2. Rich shared in his sermon that “every conversion is a miracle.” How does that shape how you view Paul’s conversion story as opposed to another conversion story that was not as dramatic? How does that shape how you view evangelism?
3. If someone didn’t get a chance to share their spiritual journey story last week, it might be good to make time for that this week.


INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
1. Briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.

2. Read Luke 19:1-10:

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

• What do we know about tax collectors (verse 2) in this time period? Based on this knowledge, what might we infer about Zacchaeus and his life?
• Why do you think Jesus responded the way he did in verse 5?
• How does Zacchaeus respond to Jesus? (verses 6, 8)
• Why do you think the people responded so negatively to this interaction? (verse 7)
• Jesus says in verse 9, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.” What do you think is the significance of Zacchaeus being called “a son of Abraham”?
• Jesus says in verse 10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” How does the story of Zacchaeus demonstrate this?
• How is the conversion story of Zacchaeus similar to Paul’s? How are they different?
• How is Zacchaeus’ story similar or different from your own response to Jesus? What are some lessons we can learn from the way Zacchaeus responded to Jesus?


3. Rich shared in his sermon about the top ten countries where Christians are persecuted today: North Korea, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, China, Pakistan, Eritrea, Egypt, India, Laos, Indonesia. Please consider setting aside some time during group to pray specifically for these countries and the Christians who are being persecuted there.

What’s Worth Fighting About? (Galatians 1:6-10)

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SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
In this week’s sermon, Rich began by sharing how our society is becoming more and more litigious. Today, just about anything can lead to a lawsuit. Even in the church, there is often great conflict over the most frivolous things. And in such a fight-drenched society, we must pause and ask ourselves, “What is it that is truly worth fighting for?” According to Paul, the answer is the gospel – a gospel that is marked by God’s call, grace, and humility.


GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.

1. How was your break from the small group? How did you spend your holidays?
2. In your own words, define “gospel.”
3. In this week’s sermon, Rich talked about the “idols” that we have created in our society – idols of possessions, power, and relationships. And one way you can know if you have an idol in your life is that when that thing is removed you are devastated, you are absolutely destroyed. Take a few minutes to reflect upon your life. What are the idols in your life? What is there in your life that if that thing is removed, you are absolutely destroyed?


INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
1. Briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.

2. Read Ephesians 2:1-10:

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

• Reread verses 1-3. What do you think Paul meant when he said, “you were dead in your transgressions and sins”?
• Paul goes on to say that all of us also lived among them at one time “gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.” Do you agree with that statement? Why or why not? Have you ever personally experienced this in your own life?
• According to verses 4-5, how does one experience freedom from the “death” described in verses 1-3?
• In your own words, define “love” (verse 4), “grace” (verse 5), and “mercy” (verses 4, 7, 8).
• What do you think are the “good works” that Paul refers to in verse 10?
• How might we misinterpret verses 8 and 9 if we didn’t also read verse 10?
• Notice how many times Paul writes either “in Christ” or “with Christ” in these 10 verses. Why do you think Paul is making such a big deal about the importance of being “in Christ” or “with Christ”?

3. If you have not yet done so as a group, this can be a great opportunity to share each other’s spiritual journey stories. Here are some questions that can help facilitate sharing:

• Did you grow up in a Christian home? What was that like?
• How did you start attending Vineyard Columbus?
• When did you first hear the gospel message? What was your reaction?
• As you examine the last year of your life, are you closer today to Jesus than you were a year ago or are you further away? Why might that be?
• Can you share about a significant moment(s) in your spiritual journey? Why was it significant? How did that impact you? What changed as a result of that significant moment?