Galatians Discussion Questions

Part 3: Fluency and Gibberish
Pastor Rick Henderson               March 1-2, 2025

The study guide is designed for your individual use throughout the week to get you thinking about the Bible passage and offers ideas for spiritual practices you might consider trying. These discussion questions are designed to help you further process aspects of the passage, as presented in the sermon, with your group.

1. Pastor Rick began the message by reminding us that we cannot be “gospel fluent” or even know God for who He truly is, unless we are regularly spending time in the Bible. Share with each other how you engage with Scripture in a meaningful way.

2. If you haven’t already done so, read through Galatians 3:1–22 (pg. 17 of the study guide). Discuss what God is saying to you in this passage.

3. The problem Paul focuses on in these verses is that the Galatians had listened to other voices and slipped back into old ways of life rather than living in the truth and way of Jesus. We are just as vulnerable as the Galatians to that error. What are influences/circumstances/concerns that are pulling you away from the way of Jesus?

4. Verse 5 contains Paul’s expectation that the church would see miracles through Christ’s work of transformation. Pastor Rick described ways he sees miraculous transformation taking place in our midst. What amazing work of God in your life or in someone that you love have you witnessed?

5. Pastor Rick sought to bring clarity to our series thesis and to the framework of “gospel fluency” by expressing what their antithesis might be. His antithesis to our series thesis, from Galatians 5:6—“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love”—could be “The only thing that counts is self-reliance expressing itself through law (ie. religious rule-keeping).” The antithesis to Gospel Fluency—know the content of the gospel; understand the implications of the gospel; apply the motivations of the gospel—could be “Gospel Gibberish”—know the Christian lingo; understand the expectations of church culture; apply the motivation of good intentions. How do these “anti-examples” help you understand what Pastor Rick is encouraging us to grasp in Galatians?
6. What else from this weekend’s sermon and study guide content do you want to discuss?

7. Look over the list of spiritual practices on pages 20–21 in your study guide. Share with your group one of these practices you will try this week to help you apply the truths we’ve discussed.

8. How would you like your group to encourage or pray for you over the coming week?