Now That Faith Has Come

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In pairs or groups of three, have participants answer, “Did you learn from your parents that you were supposed to wear your best clothes to church? What was appropriate or inappropriate in church?”

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). Read Galatians 3:23-29.

According to Galatians, the commandments or laws serve us as we grow up, but there comes a point when we can act appropriately without being reminded. Compare these words to your observations of how a child may behave. Can you affirm the same about how you act as you grow in faith?

The text mentions baptism and the meaning of being clothed in Jesus. In the early days of the church, believers were baptized naked and received a tunic when they came out of the water. Paul is saying that we are different when we are immersed in the life of the Spirit. What are some ways of showing these changes (Gal. 5:13-25, to be studied next week)? [These changes help us act in ways that may be different from our natural reactions.]

Do you remember any experience when you struggled to do what you felt was right? Did prayer and reflection on Christian principles help you? Is there a current situation where you need to ask God for help because what you have to do is hard but morally correct?

It is sometimes difficult to do the right thing. What are the major influences when you make a decision: Your study and understanding of the Bible? Your family? The values learned through the church? The programs on TV? Movies you have seen or books you have read? Are there confusing situations that are not easy to solve? How do you decide?

In the early days of the Christian church, there were people from different ethnic groups, men and women, and people from various social classes. Paul says that after baptism, all people belong to God and should be treated accordingly. To accept everybody, no matter how different they are, we must rely on the power of the Spirit given to us in baptism. Is there someone or a group of people you need to accept? Will you pray and ask your friends for prayers to change your attitude?

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End with the following prayer, a similar prayer, or the Lord’s Prayer:

Gracious and loving God, as we receive wisdom from this epistle, we ask you for the power of the Holy Spirit to help us overcome our differences and work for good in the world. Amen.

Rev. Carmen Gaud was the editor of Lecciones Cristianas and curriculum resources for different ages at The United Methodist Publishing House before becoming the International Editor for The Upper Room in Spanish.