week 8 2 corinthians seeing jesus as our strength listening guide week 8 … · 2020. 11. 3. ·...

Week 8 2 CORINTHIANS SEEING JESUS AS OUR STRENGTH

LISTENING GUIDE Week 8 Video

Introduction: Strength for Weakness

What are my weaknesses?

I. BOOK SUMMARY OF 2 CORINTHIANS

II. SEEING JESUS IN 2 CORINTHIANS 12:1-10

A. Paul Boasts about his Weakness (v 1-6) Pride creates a barrier to Christ’s power; Humility opens the door.

B. Christ’s Power is Perfected in Weakness (v 7-10)

1. Offer weakness to Jesus through prayer.

2. God’s Grace turns weakness to strength. “God treated Jesus as if he were sin itself. When God made Jesus to be sin, it was “for us,” for our benefit. And the benefit is that we are joined to him in faith; we become “righteousness”—the opposite of sin.” -- Kendell Easley, TGC

III. WALKING IN HIS WAYS

1. Be humble.

2. Read God’s Word

3. Pray

4. Confess

5. Repent

6. Believe

7. Repeat

Listening Guide Week 8| Fresh Love | © BridgePoint Women| 2020

Week 8 | 2 CORINTHIANS SEEING JESUS AS OUR STRENGTH

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What stood out to you most from this week’s homework or teaching video?

2. What is the difference between being a strong woman and being a strong woman in Christ?

3. Share a weakness of your own. What might it look like to offer it to Christ?

4. What do you find hardest about being content with weakness, with hardship, or with choosing to have the ‘disadvantage’ in a situation?

5. Share a time when you found God to be powerful in spite of your weakness.

6. Share an area of your life where you need strength. Pray as a group about these.

Prayers & Praise Use this space to keep track of ways to pray for your sisters from small group and to praise God for His answers.

Discussion Questions | Week 8 | Fresh Love | © BridgePoint Women| 2020

DAY 1: Freedom! Dear Sister – Today, I have my windows open on a crisp fall Texas morning. That fresh air and the sound of a distant lawn mower take me back to summers in the Midwest when I was a girl. Do you remember the thrill of the last day of school? Nothing ahead but lazy days of sleeping in, riding bikes, possible trips to a lake or national park or summer camp, late nights catching fireflies, reading for fun…no deadlines, no homework. That’s freedom! Any American from my generation and before knows that freedom is one of the values we esteem most highly. We cherish our independence in decision-making, in practicing our beliefs, in determining our course. Our hearts echo with William Wallace in the movie Braveheart:

Aye, fight and you may die. Run, and you'll live... at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin' to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM!!

What immediately comes to your mind with the word ‘freedom‘?

I’m speculating that many people would not associate Christianity with freedom – other than the freedom we enjoy practicing our religion according to our consciences or the loss of freedom we fear or feel when we watch changes in our land in recent years. I’m talking instead about personal freedom, an internal freedom within our spirits and consciences. Have you ever associated feelings of restriction, confinement, or obligation with your relationship with God, the church, or religion? Explain.

The book of Galatians has been called “The Charter for Christian Liberty” as well as “The Christian’s Declaration of Independence.” In this letter we will see Paul contend for a community of local churches to remain living in the freedom that is found in Jesus, a freedom to live in the pleasure of God apart from obedience to rules. In Galatians, we will see Jesus as our Freedom. As the book of Galatians is a shorter book (only 6 chapters), we can read it through together during this week as we study – as opposed to doing a brief overview of portions of the book. My

hope is that you’ll come to follow Paul’s logic, wrestle with his arguments, and embrace the beauty of the freedom he describes as our inheritance in Christ.

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Week 9 Homework: GALATIANS WEEK 1 | MATTHEW SEEING JESUS AS OUR FREEDOM

Week 9 Homework | Fresh Love | © Tamara S Gordon | 2020 Page 1

1’Braveheart’, Directed by Mel Gibson, ©20th Century Fox, 1995.

Background Today, let’s look briefly at some background information about the book. The authorship of this book is clear (Gal 1:1). Who wrote this letter? Why do you think Paul makes a point of his title ‘an apostle’ (which means ‘sent one’)?

Whom does Paul include as ‘writing’ along with him (Gal 1:2)?

To whom is the letter addressed (Gal 1:2)? What interesting detail is noted about the writing of this letter in Gal 6:11?

While there is academic debate of exactly which churches in Galatia were being addressed and the timeframe of this letter – whether later in Paul’s ministry to churches in the north of Galatia, or earlier in his ministry to the same southern Galatian churches he visited on his second missionary journey – Paul is writing to a group of churches in a geographical and political area called Galatia in Asia Minor (near modern-day Turkey).2 The Galatians as an ethnic people had migrated centuries earlier from what is now Europe. You may notice the connection between ‘Galatia’ and ‘Gaul’ (which we associate with France before it was conquered by Rome) or ‘Gaelic’ (which you may associate with language from Scotland). They were a Celtic people, immigrants who were eventually conquered by Rome about a century before the birth of Christ. Another unique feature is that this letter is the only letter Paul writes to a collection of churches rather than one individual church. Paul is writing most likely from Ephesus, and so he includes in his “also from” the brothers in Christ from the Ephesian church. For many of Paul’s epistles, he employed a secretary to write for him, but in this particular letter, he writes directly for himself – and seems to be pointing out the love and concern he is showing in handwriting this letter--despite its length--without an assistant. Under what circumstances did you last write a truly hand-written letter (not typed)?

Why did you choose to hand-write rather than text, email, or type?

What words in Gal 1:6-9 provide clues to the tone of Paul’s letter?

This urgent letter will convey Paul’s strong desire to fight for the faith of the Galatians to remain true to the Gospel without trying to mix in any slavery to religious rules as a means to God’s pleasure. The outline of the book is as follows:

Chapters Topic Paul’s Tone 1-2 Gospel of Freedom Defended Support from Paul’s Biography 3-4 Gospel of Freedom Explained Exposition of Doctrine (Faith, Work, Law, & Grace) 5-6 Gospel of Freedom Applied Position, Power, & Performance in Liberty

Galatians 5:1 is the key verse for Seeing Jesus as our Freedom. Copy it here.

Until tomorrow, be praying for your heart and your mind to be open to fully comprehending the freedom Jesus died to give you and the power to live in it that comes from His Spirit.

Week 9 Homework | Fresh Love | © Tamara S Gordon | 2020

2This study relies on information from the book Talk thru the Bible by Bruce Wilkinson and Kenneth Boa, Thomas Nelson Publishing, 2002.

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DAY 2 – Authority to Preach Freedom (Galatians 1-2) When seeking medical advice, would you rely on Wikipedia? Or Facebook? Or would you want authority behind the words of wisdom you would follow? For the first two chapters of Galatians, Paul defends his authority before he lays out an explanation of the doctrine of freedom through the grace of Jesus. This world has so many differing and opposing opinions on truth. Have you recently thanked God for His reliable, inerrant, infallible Word? We have more textual proof for the words of the Biblical canon than for any other historical document by far. We can read the Bible for ourselves, not relying on someone else’s interpretation alone. We can even look at the Greek or Hebrew from reliable copies of the original text. The Galatians had listened to Paul at one time and had received Jesus with joy. Now new teachers were in town trying to lure them away to follow a different so-called Gospel (this sounds super familiar from 2nd Corinthians, right?!). It seems that the freedom of grace is always under the threat of rule-following propaganda. At this point in the early history of the church before the canon of Scripture had been closed, the followers of Christ were instructed by the authority of the apostles. The apostles were sent in the authority of Jesus placed on them at His ascension. Read Galatians chapter 1 in its entirety. Look for Paul’s defense from his conversion and calling as a basis for his authority. Gospel in a Nutshell Paul gives us a very succinct gospel retelling in Gal 1:3-5. Let’s break it down. What did Jesus, the promised Christ, do (v 4)? Why did He do it (v4)? Whose plan was this (v4)? What will result from this plan (v5)? What is now available to us as a result (v3)? Strong Words: No Other Gospel Now that Paul has stated the basic gospel, he comes right to the point. What does Paul claim the Galatians have done (v 6)?

In what does he say Jesus called them (v 6)? What does Paul strongly say should happen if anyone (supernatural or even Paul – as if!) counters that gospel or comes up with some other so-called good news (v 7-9)?

(Make a mental note: this is the first we’ll see of a theme of ‘curses’ that runs through Galatians). Paul doesn’t pull any punches when he says, “If someone wants to rewrite the gospel in some different way, he should be damned.” (Pardon my language). He knows he could try to be nice and politically correct – he could say perhaps there are many ways to get to God – but he refuses on the grounds that it would be terribly false. Paul says if he were a people-pleaser, he wouldn’t be serving Jesus. What’s the last thing you did in following Jesus that ‘rocked the boat’?

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Called and Taught by God We love having lots of information sources – the internet, books, our favorite cable news, our friend who has expertise in an area, a mentor. Our understanding of the gospel is probably ‘informed’ by a number of different things throughout our lives. But Paul was different. In Gal 1:11-24, he retells his conversion story, his early training in the gospel, and the minimal outside influence others had on the message he would bring to the Gentiles. It’s a fascinating look at Paul’s biography. In verse 11, what does Paul say his source of gospel is NOT? In verse 12, from where does Paul say he DID in fact learn the gospel? How did you receive the gospel? We receive the gospel typically from someone telling us about Jesus; or maybe from reading or listening to media of some kind. Paul, however, has the unique experience of a direct revelation of Jesus on the road to Damascus. (See Acts 9 for more details on this). Rather than going to be taught by the other apostles in Jerusalem, where does Paul say he was instructed (see verse 17)? Paul is instructed by the Holy Spirit himself in the desert in Arabia! I have often wondered if this was related to his visions he talks about in 2 Corinthians 12. Even afterwards, he has very little interference from the other apostles before going on mission to Asia and Greece. Affirmed by the Apostles Read Chapter 2, looking for Paul’s apologetic of his authority to teach a gospel of freedom. Paul finally does appear before the council of believers in Jerusalem and presents the gospel as he has been preaching it to the Gentiles. Of what is Paul looking for confirmation (Gal 2:2)?

The question before the Council was concerning whether Gentiles required circumcision in order to be followers of Jesus. Paul holds up Titus as a test case; Titus is not required to be circumcised. How does Paul describe those who tried to press Gentiles into becoming circumcised (2:4)?

Justified in Opposing Peter See 2:11-14. Recalling that Cephas is another name for Peter, note what Peter was doing that was hypocritical and in effect was urging Gentiles to become Jews in order to be Christ-followers.

Personally Justified by Faith Look at 2:15-21. Although Paul had been a devoted Jew, what did he need in order to be in Christ (hint: middle of verse 16)? Copy verse 20 as Paul summarizes his own personal story of justification.

Reread that substituting your own name for “I”. This is the epitaph on the gravestone of our

former, fleshly selves and the dedication of the new life in us through the grace of Jesus: Christ in us, lived out by faith in the one who loved us and gave himself for us. Precious, powerful, Jesus!



DAY 3 – Faith and Freedom from Law, (Galatians 3-4) This week, an old Bob Kauflin (arranger for much of our current worship music) song has been bouncing around in my head: “From your dungeon a rumor is stirring; you have heard it again and again, but this time the cell keys are turning…O be ye glad.”3 When we set out the idea for this study, our purpose was to turn our hearts to Jesus, to examine a number of facets of Him for a season of study in order to come to love Him in a fresh, vibrant way. Today we’re going to look at one of my favorite aspects of our Christ: our rescuer who frees us from the damage and power of sin by taking on Himself the curse that should be ours. What’s more amazing about this is that in God’s beautiful plan, Jesus still comes out the victor over sin and death! Who could’ve dreamed this up? Today, we’re going to employ the commentary outline of Bruce Wilkinson and Kenneth Boa to walk us through Galatians 3 and 4. These chapters contain an 8-point line of theological defense for the freedom we have from sin because Jesus justified us by faith. The 8 points will belong to Wilkinson and Boa, and the study in between (the meat and cheese between the slices of bread) will be our own walking through the Scriptures. But first, get the flavor of the entire meal by reading chapters 3 and 4 in one sitting. 1. The Galatians began by faith, and their growth in Christ must continue to be by faith (3:1-5).

Having begun their relationship with Jesus through faith, what are the Galatians now turning to pursue? What proof does Paul point to that their righteousness in Christ was real apart from following the Law?

2. Abraham was justified by faith, and the same principle applies today (3:6-9). How did Abraham receive righteousness?Who are Abraham’s true children? In whom would Gentile nations be blessed?

3. Christ has redeemed all who trust in Him from the curse of the Law (3:10-14). We’ll camp out on this section in our video this week, but let’s get a taste of it now. What are you if you decide to trust in the Law but don’t fulfill ALL of it? What did Christ become to redeem us from the curse of the Law? What was Christ because he hung on a tree? What do you think this means and why does it matter?

I’m realizing I could write all day on the topic of curses: everything from tree curses to spoken curses to why Zoomers are fascinated with ‘cursed images.’ So interesting! But I’ll spare you, Instead, if you’re interested, take an optional side trek to read some of Deuteronomy 28 to see the blessings for obeying the Law and curses for breaking the Law (yikes!). For more optional investigative ‘fun’, check out some cursed tree hanging stories in Gen 40, Deut 21:22-23, and 2 Sam 18 (for the full effect, I suggest playing ‘The Hanging Tree’ from The Hunger Games or perhaps “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” as your reading soundtrack).

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3Be Ye Glad, by Bob Kauflin, GLAD The Acapella Project, Album “Captured in Time”, ©Benson Records, 1982.

4. The promise made to Abraham was not nullified by the Law (3:15-18). Once a contract has been set and signed, does one party get to change it up or nullify it

usually? Who is Abraham’s singular offspring? Did the coming of the Law take the place of God’s agreement with Abraham? By what does Abraham’s inheritance come?

5. The Law was given to drive men to faith, not to save them (3:19-22). Here we get to the tricky spot that always tripped me up in my younger years. What IS the purpose of the Law, then, if it didn’t help anyone please God? Let’s look. What one word is given as the reason for the Law? What did the Law do to ‘everything under sin’? To whom was the promise given and by what in Jesus Christ? What does this mean that the Law came for the sake of transgression? The Law dame ‘to make men more fully conscious of the “sins,” by being perceived as transgressions of the law, and so to make them long for the promised Savior.’4

6. Believers in Christ are adopted sons of God and are no longer bound by the Law (3:23-4:7). What does the analogy in the section say we were under the law? What is our relationship now under faith? Praise Jesus! Our Brother has made us sons (daughters) and fellow-heirs of the promises! Copy Galatians 4:4-5 here.

7. The Galatians must recognize their inconsistency and regain their original freedom in Christ

(4:8-20) What are the Galatians shockingly turning back to? What motivates people to try to insert their rules over others?

For what is Paul anxiously awaiting?

8. Abraham’s two sons allegorically reveal the superiority of the Abrahamic promise to the

Mosaic Law (4:21-31). (Note this is an allegory, not a commentary on actual race/lineage). Through what was Hagar’s (the slave woman’s) son born? Through what was Sarah’s (the free woman’s) son born? Paul equates Hagar with Mt Sinai (the Law) and with what city? In contrast the heavenly Jerusalem is related to us how? As children of the free woman through faith not law, what will be ours?

Whew! We hiked step-by-step through some steep and important theology today. In the end, we see that the Law brings slavery and death, but faith in Jesus brings freedom and inheritance as children. How does this change your view of how you ‘perform’ today in your roles & duties?


4A.R.Fausett, Jamiesson, Fausett & Brown Commentary on Galatians.1871.

DAY 4 – Living in Freedom (Galatians 5) When I think of freedom in relationship to sin, I can categorize it several different ways:

1. Freedom from the eternal consequence of sin. 2. Freedom from slavery sin’s call (or freedom to follow Christ). 3. Freedom from the ‘tug’ of temptation. 4. Freedom from the weight of guilt and shame. 5. Freedom from the temporal consequences of sin.

Yesterday, we saw that Jesus bought our freedom from slavery to sin and eternal death by becoming the curse for us and bringing us into ‘sonship’ (daughter-ship) which gets rid of our slavery to sin. While we are on this side of heaven, we will still experience the ‘tug’ of sin, but it’s pull will diminish as we walk more and more closely with Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit. The weight of guilt and shame is cast upon the shoulders of Jesus – since my ‘goodness’ never buys my favor with God, my ‘badness’ can never lose it! When I do feel a twinge of legitimate guilt, it only serves as a gauge to remind me to confess, repent, and entrust myself to the power of the Spirit once again; the guilt can never remain to accuse me if I hide myself in Jesus and claim the covering of His righteousness over me. I have experienced tremendous relief and freedom in the area of guilt and shame in recent decades. What restless nights I’ve wasted dwelling on things Jesus has already carried for me! What do you do to combat the accusations of Satan as he tries to convince you of your shame, guilt, and worthlessness?

Are there any steps you should take to handle such accusations more effectively? Explain.

What about the temporal consequences of sin? We are sometimes graciously freed from consequences in God’s mercy; we sometimes are graciously held as we walk through them. As daughters and heirs, we are never left to deal with them hopelessly and without help. Galatians 5 gives us much insight in the area of Practical Living in Freedom. This is the chapter where we find the ever-popular Fruits of the Spirit (along with the much less frequented Deeds of the Flesh – you won’t find a devotional about that list very often!). Read through chapter 5. Freedom from Legalism (Gal 5:1-12) What is Paul called to do in Gal 5:1? What advantage does Paul say it will be to be circumcised (v 2)? Instead, what will circumcision then obligate the Galatians to (v 3)? Write Paul’s argument from 5:2-6 in your own words.



Freedom from License (Gal 5:13-15) Since we are free, we could by definition do whatever we want, sinning freely and living selfishly. After all, those sins are covered and paid for, right? This kind of living is called ‘license’ – I think of it as similar to having a license to drive; while my newly-licensed teenagers MAY drive in various places at various times in various ways, not all of their driving WANTS are beneficial. What does Paul say to do instead (5:13)? What does he imply is a likely result of living in license in the Body of Christ without loving our neighbors? The Real Power in our Freedom (Gal 5:16-26) Who is the enemy of our ‘flesh’ (our fallen, sin-prone self that hangs out while we live in this body)? What does the Spirit free us from (v 18)? Verse 20-21 list a variety of things that naturally result from our unchecked flesh. Note a couple that you have participated in at some time.

Look instead at the beautiful list of things that are produced by the marvelous work of the Holy Spirit in us (verses 22-23). These are a harvest of fruit that graces the life of the believer and benefits others as we keep ‘in step with the Spirit.’ List some fruits that you have seen the Spirit produce in you recently.

Ever wondered what that little phrase ‘against such things there is not law’ means? Gunner Gundersen explained recently ‘In a community where the Holy Spirit has broken through, no other laws are even needed.’ What a beautiful picture of life in the Body of Christ as it is intended to be lived: like a small slice of the Kingdom of God on earth. Praise God for the empowering gift of the Spirit! For so many years, I did not at all understand this gift of the Holy Spirit; I’m sure I have tons to learn still. But then I was tangled in the trappings of legalism. I thought that while I was justified by faith, I now needed to go back to living like a ‘slave’ to the Law. I thought I could ‘muscle up’ the fruits of the Spirit by focusing on one at a time. What freedom I experienced when someone taught me about walking in the Spirit! I began asking the Holy Spirit to empower me, to live through me, on a day-to-day, even moment-to-moment basis: just a simple prayer on the fly throughout my day. Have you experienced the freedom of walking in the power of the Holy Spirit? Describe the Spirit’s relationship to your daily life now. Ask the Spirit to empower you now, and express your worship to God for His incredible gift.

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DAY 5 – The Community of Free People (Galatians 6) What changes in an environment in which brothers and sisters are sinners covered by the righteousness of Christ and are co-heirs of the Kingdom empowered by the Holy Spirit? A lot! Such a place would be like a haven in a world embattled. Forgive me for another Tolkien reference, but I imagine such a place to be a lot like Rivendell in Middle Earth: filled with beauty and order; a place of rest and healing; and yet a place of productivity and action in which war councils and campaigns can be launched with wisdom, kingdom purpose, and selfless duty. Paul moves very quickly from the deeds of the flesh contrasted against a community governed by the fruit of the Holy Spirit. In such a place – and in only such a place – can we envision the community described in Galatians 6. Read that chapter now. Houses of Healing (Gal 6:1-5) Paul now addresses the brothers and sisters in Galatia. What should be done for someone who is caught in a sin? How should the restoration be done? Who should do the restoration? Picture this. A community of people who are sinners covered in the righteousness of Jesus will eventually have sin crop up because…well…we’re still human, still walking around battling our ‘flesh’ as we walk through this fallen world. However, rather than pounce on that sin in condemnation (which would be fitting for people under LAW, not for free people of the promise), this fellow heir would be restored gently. This can happen because the brothers and sisters are ‘spiritual’ – that is, empowered by the Holy Spirit – and therefore producing the peaceable fruit of the Spirit including love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Can you see the beauty and healing that comes with the Spirit-filled humility in this community? Because they are humble, what do these Spirit-filled sisters realize is possible and therefore carefully guard against (last phrase of verse 1)? In carrying one another as we fall into sin, what are we doing for one another (v2)?

How is verse 3 related to all of this?

Verse 4-5 make me chuckle a bit. I believe they are saying, “Bear each other’s burdens; but also don’t be busy picking at your sister because you have things of your own from which to repent.” Have you ever been part of a small group of believers who truly bore each other’s burdens in a Spirit-filled way? Explain.

Our relationships within the church can be such a beautiful taste of the Kingdom of Heaven. Harvest Bounty (Gal 6:6-10) A natural part of this little slice of the Kingdom of God would be productivity, a good harvest for the labor and love invested there. Paul begins with the example of student and teacher.



How should the student respond to the teacher who shares knowledge and wisdom?

I must admit this feels a bit self-serving to include this verse in a situation in which I am in a sense teaching or at least facilitating your studies. Nonetheless, let’s look at it as an example of those who receive a benefit from another’s labor. The one who benefits shares ‘all good things’ with the one who gave first. Perhaps in the example of the student and teacher, the pupil will share the excitement of discovery or knowledge applied to become wisdom. Just this evening my friend Jacque texted me to share encouragement from her time in the word this week. I feel refreshed; I shared in her harvest! Think of your church relationships. From whom do you receive benefit? How can you share some of your harvest with that person? Make a plan to share from your abundance and thus let the Holy Spirit share freely within the church.

When we ‘sow’ or plant from the Holy Spirit’s store of power and goodness, what will we harvest (verse 8)? .

Verse 9-10 offer such good encouragement. What is the path to a harvest even when it may be some long season of hard work ahead? .

When should we do good to others, especially those in our faith household? .

Is there anything the Holy Spirit is encouraging you to take action on in His power? Note it here.

The Cross of Freedom (6:11-18) What was motivating the Judaizers, the people who wanted to impose the Law on the Galatians (v 12-13)? What was Paul looking toward in contrast (v 15)? In what along does Paul boast (v 14)? In an echo of Gal 2:20, what is Paul’s relationship to the world and the pride it offers?

What is the result of the ‘rule’ of the new creation (v 16)?

When we dream of freedom, isn’t what we’re really, truly longing for peace and the mercy of God on our failures? For me, that is true freedom, a wide open space, rest for my weary soul, a joyful lightness that draws me into the future with hope. End today by reading Isaiah 53, noting the blessings Jesus brought to us through the curses He carried for us. Worship Him and rest in His amazing love. In the name of the One who bought our Freedom,

Tamara

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week 8 2 corinthians seeing jesus as our strength listening guide week 8 … · 2020. 11. 3. ·...

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