From Slaves to Heirs – Teaching Plan
Key Thought: We have been adopted into God’s family as sons and daughters in Christ. As part of His family, we have access to the rights and priviledges and responsibilities that entails.
1. Have a volunteer read Galatians 3:26-29.
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a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. Why is it important to understand that we are children of God by faith? How do you relate to your children?
c. Personal Application : What aspects of children are we to emulate in our faith? What are ways we can take this idea too far? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your relatives states: “Why is baptism so important? It isn’t a sacrament; it’s just an outward expression of an inward change. So why does Paul stress it here?” How would you respond to your relative?
2. Have a volunteer read Galatians 4:1-3.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. What does it mean that the heir as a child is no different than a servant?
c. Personal Application :How childlike, innocent, and trusting is your faith in Christ?
d. Does growing in spiritual maturity add to or distract from that trusting faith? In time, do doubts enter? Share your thoughts.
e. Case Study : One of your friends states, “What does freedom in Christ mean? We are no longer in bondage under the elements of the world. What are these elements Paul refers to here?” How would you respond to your friend?
3. Have a volunteer read Galatians 4:8-12.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What elements of the world are treated as gods today that people who consider themselves Christian may be in danger of turning back to?
c. Personal Application: Are there any practices we have that might take away from our relationship with Christ? How could a wrong attitude toward our practices be problematic? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “Are the days, months, times, and years that people observed referring to pagan holidays, Jewish feast days, weekly Sabbath days, or something else? What does Paul mean here?” How would you respond to your neighbor?
4. Have a volunteer read Galatians 4:5-7.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. How close is your relationship to God? Is the closeness of the relationship dependent on God or on you?
c. Personal Application : What does it mean to you to be an adopted son and heir of God? What inheritance has God given you? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.
(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).
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