The Priority of the Promise – Teaching Plan
Key Thought: The law at Sinai did not do away with the promise made to Abraham, nor did it alter the provisions of the law. It was given so that people could recognize their sinfulness and need of God’s promise.
1. Have a volunteer read Galatians 3:15-18.
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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 God’s covenant with Abraham compared to a final will and testament?
c. Personal Application : How does it assure you to know that God’s covenant is based on His promises and not yours? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your relatives states: “How was God’s covenant confirmed and why is it important that no one can add to it or disannul it after it is confirmed?” How would you respond to your relative?
(Note : Hebrews 9:15 states that it was Jesus’ death that confirmed the covenant. When a person dies, the will cannot be changed or added to, thus Sunday as a part of the new covenant would have to have been established BEFORE Christ died – not after.)
2. Have a volunteer read Galatians 3:24-29.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. How can the law be used to increase our faith in Jesus?
c. Personal Application : In what ways may we be challenged to lose sight of God’s truths by the influences of our environment and culture? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your friends states, “The Scripture says all are one in Christ Jesus. So God looks at all people as equal. So why doesn’t your church treat homosexuals and transgenders equally?” How would you respond to your friend?
3. Have a volunteer read Galatians 3:16-19.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What was God’s covenant really focusing on with Abraham here?
c. Personal Application: Have you ever tried to prove God or bargain with Him? God if you will do this, I will do that? How did it work out? Is it a good method? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “If the law was done away with by Christ, why do you still keep the seventh-day Sabbath? The law was added because of sin, now since Jesus died for our sins, it is no longer needed.” How would you respond to your neighbor?
4. Have a volunteer read Romans 3:31.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. If we are no longer under a school master, then why doesn’t faith abolish the law?
c. Personal Application : How does faith establish the law in your relationship with God? 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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