Topic: Book Study

Title: Finding Freedom in the Truth
Series: Freedom In The Gospel – Part 1
Text: Galatians 2:15-21

Knowing the truth of the Gospel is not just an abstract, intellectual exercise. The freedom we find in the Gospel impacts our eternity and transforms our lives.

General Questions:

  1. In Galatians 2:20, what does Paul mean when he says he has been crucified with Christ? Why is this so important to Paul?

Perspective Questions:

  1. In what areas of life are we sometimes asked to justify ourselves to others? Why is the impulse to earn favour, or prove ourselves to others (and to God), so deeply ingrained in our hearts? What are the flawed perceptions and misunderstandings that may contribute to these inclinations?

  2. How does knowing that “God accepts you because of what Jesus has done through the cross” differ from and challenge the world’s idea of self-acceptance? In what ways does this truth influence and change how we relate with ourselves? How about in terms of relating with fellow Christians around us?

Application Questions:

  1. Think of an area in your life where you struggle to live in freedom, and instead are more inclined towards either legalism or licentiousness. How would this area of your life be different if you lived from a position of being loved by God and put right with Him? How can the LG support you to live in this freedom?

Title: Handling God’s Truth with Care
Series: Freedom In The Gospel – Part 1
Text: Galatians 1:11-2:14

God has revealed His truth to us through the Scriptures. We are being entrusted by God to reveal His manifest wisdom to the world. What an awesome privilege and great responsibility!

Perspective Questions:

  1. Paul was certain that the Gospel he preached was from God because of his encounter with Jesus. How certain are you that what you believe is from God, and why? 

  2. After Paul’s life-changing encounter with Jesus, he went to the desert and stayed there for years, probably to process how his new understanding of Jesus fit in with what he already knew from the Old Testament. What can we learn from Paul’s posture to make the most of our life-changing encounters with God?

  3. Don’t judge a book by its cover. We trust that what is inside the book is a more accurate depiction of the book than its cover. What does a true believer look like? What are some markers of disciples of Jesus? (Read Romans 12 as conclusion)

Application Questions:

  1. What are some things that you preach that you know you need to practise more? What is hindering you from practising it? How can you deal with the obstacles?

  2. How can the lifegroup cultivate a culture where believers care enough about one another to warn or correct those who are inconsistent? What are some good handles to hold on to when dealing with such matters?  

  3. Living in Singapore, we are taught to tolerate, and perhaps even accept, versions of “truth” that are different from what we believe. How can we preserve God’s truth before people with different beliefs?

Application Questions:

  1. What are areas in your life where you had believed or tolerated half-truths or lies because it is difficult to follow God’s truth? How can you stop conforming to the patterns of the world and allow your mind to be transformed by God’s Word?

  2. We usually fall easily for half-truths and lies that appeal to us. How can you overcome the tendency to listen only to what you want to hear?

Title: Determining The Truth
Series: Freedom In The Gospel – Part 1
Text: Galatians 1:8-10

In age where all kinds of ideologies, philosophies, and lifestyles compete for our attention and allegiance, how can we determine what truth is? How can we discern right from wrong, sound teachings from heresy? What should we look out for?

General Questions:

  1. Would you consider yourself as someone who can tell the real from the fake when it comes to your Christian faith? Why do you say so? 

Perspective Questions:

  1. We tend to associate the truth of a message with the accolades, achievements, or acquisitions of the messengers, instead of evaluating the message for what it is.  On the other hand, it is sometimes useful to know the background of the messenger to help us to evaluate the message. How do you think we can, based on the facts available, discern whether the message is true and can be trusted?  

  2. What do you think is the difference between a “growing teacher” versus a “false teacher”? What attitudes should we adopt towards teachers or preachers who are imbalanced or make mistakes in their teachings, versus those who persistently propagate wrong teachings?

  3. Do you see the Bible as the ultimate source of truth to guide all aspects of your life, or are there other sources of ‘truth’ or wisdom that you hold on to? For example, think about the usual things that you say when you encourage people around you – is it usually based on worldly wisdom or on God’s truth? What do you do when what you believe contradicts with God’s truth? 

Application Questions:

  1. What are areas in your life where you had believed or tolerated half-truths or lies because it is difficult to follow God’s truth? How can you stop conforming to the patterns of the world and allow your mind to be transformed by God’s Word?

  2. We usually fall easily for half-truths and lies that appeal to us. How can you overcome the tendency to listen only to what you want to hear?

Title: Called For Truth
Series: Freedom In The Gospel – Part 1
Text: Galatians 1:1-7

Believers are called to live in the freedom of grace. Yet many fall away though they initially received Christ with sincere hearts. Even those who remain in the faith can find it hard to stay the course. Why is this so?

General Questions:

  1. In modern societies, some believe there is no absolute truth. What is the danger of such thinking? 

  2. Share an experience when you acted upon a fact you believe is true but in turned out to be false.

Perspective Questions:

  1. Believers are called to live in the freedom of grace.  What are some differences between living in freedom and bondage to sin?  What is some old way of thinking that believers may have that hinder our new freedom won by Jesus?

  2. In Gal 1:6-7, Paul talked about a different gospel that perverted the gospel of Christ. List some of these alternative, counterfeit gospels in society today. 

  3. Besides relying on Christ’s work on the Cross, some people go the “extra mile” to secure their salvation. Can you think of some examples? What is the danger of doing so?

Application Questions:

  1. We are called to the Truth.  This means we must be familiar with the Truth. In John MacArthur’s book “Reckless Faith”, he wrote that “Federal agents don’t learn to spot counterfeit money by studying the counterfeits. They study genuine bills until they master the look of the real thing. Then when they see the bogus money they recognise it.”  How can we treasure the Word of God and study it daily so that we will not wander from it?

  2. Disciple makers, what attitudes can we learn from Paul who fought for his precious Galatian converts to stay true to the Gospel? How can we live out these attitudes in our mentoring relationships?

The core message of the letter to the Galatians is this: God accepts us not based on our works but on Christ’s sacrifice for our sins. Christ has set us free from self-justification.

How can we live in this freedom and honour God with our lives? In this first instalment on Galatians 1 and 2, learn what it takes to stay true to the Gospel.

Series: Test Of A Disciple
Title: Being Confident in an Uncertain World
Text: Matthew 6:25-34

As we face an unpredictable future, we strive to take control of our lives. But when things get beyond our control, we spiral into anxiety. What, according to Jesus, is a better way to live in an uncertain world?

General Questions:

  1. Recall a time in your life that is the most uncertain. How did you feel? If you were to go through the same episode again, how would having God and the LG make a difference?

  2. Who is the most confident person you have met? Share an incident when his/her confidence stands out.

Perspective Questions:

  1. Are concerns about food, shelter and retirement valid? How is being concerned and taking responsibility different from worrying (spiralling into anxiety and wanting to take control)?

  2. Why do some believers worry despite knowing that God is their provider? What would assure them that God cares for them and looks out for their needs?

Application Questions:

  1. Matthew 6:33 is not a command and an assurance for the most committed Christians, but for every Christian. How do you think believers can live up to such a high bar set by Jesus?  

  2. Uncertain times can be good opportunities to share the Good News. When others see our confidence, they may want to know why we are different from those who are preoccupied with worries. How can you share the reason for your confidence to people around you today?

Series: Test Of A Disciple
Title: Being Authentic in a Superficial World
Text: Matthew 6:1-18

In this series, we look at the challenges of being a disciple living in the world with a polar-opposite worldview. The first sermon focuses on the test of being an authentic disciple in a superficial world.

General Questions:

  1. Would you agree that we live in a superficial world? What are some examples you see? What kind of pressure or temptation would a believer face trying to live out his/her faith in such a world?

Perspective Questions:

  1. What is the connection between authenticity and action? What does activity or inactivity say about our faith?

  2. If you could describe an authentic disciple in your own words, what would you say?

  3. What are some signs that believers may be doing spiritual things to seek the approval of man instead of the approval of God? 

Application Questions:

  1. Jesus challenges His disciples to prioritise God’s lasting reward over man’s temporal praises. Only those who practise spiritual activities with righteous motives and in righteous manners will receive God’s reward. How do you think believers can constantly examine and/or watch their motives?

  2. We live in the age of social media where it is easy and/or tempting to make our lives look better or more impressive than it really is online. How can we resist the pressure to keep up appearances? How can we use the technology of social media to honour God?

How do we know whether a teabag works? When we place it in hot water.

A teabag adds flavour to the water around it, yet retaining its nature. Similarly, the test of a disciple is their ability to engage and influence the world without being tainted by it.

Discover how we can obey Jesus’ countercultural teachings while remaining unsullied by the world we live in!