Galatians Study
An Inductive-ish Study of Galatians
The week of June 16-22, 2024
Ladies,
I am so pleased to begin this study with you. I know you’ll be patient with me as I facilitate in this medium for the first time. Please do hit “reply all” and share insight, struggles, questions and prayer requests along the way. We will all learn much more if everyone communicates back and forth, so post often! It is my prayer that we may all grow in love for each other as we grow in our understanding of Galatians.
If you’ve done an inductive study before you might be surprised by what’s left out of this one. I’m grateful for the women who taught me to study by this method, but I found the traditional workbook and lecture approach too much for me to continue daily in the long-term. What I’ll offer here is a stream-lined approach that has worked for my private devotions for years, but might not be exactly what works for you. Feel free to adapt what we do and take every assignment as a suggestion. Make the method fit your life right now. Remember that I’m just suggesting my method and we’ll teach each other the meaning of the text with the help of the Holy Spirit, reading, and trusted scholars.
A couple of experienced Precept leaders have joined the study, and I’m grateful for their input into this conversation. Kelli Gibbs has offered to help anyone who is new to this kind of study and I’m sure she’ll be a great resource for you. Again, this is my version of inductive light, so if you have time to take advantage of a deeper study you will certainly want to contact one of our other experienced ladies for input.
If you haven’t done an inductive study before, please know that everyone seems to hate part of it. If you are detail oriented and have difficulty seeing big picture ideas, you’ll hate the first week, when we just listen or read the entire text over and over to get big picture ideas from the book. If you are big picture oriented, you are going to hate the weeks when we make lists of keywords found in the text. I encourage you to stick it out, just this once, at least, until you see how looking at both helps you.
So for this week, please try to read or listen to the entire book of Galatians at least 4 times. I am planning to use my commute to listen for free using the YouVersion phone app. (If you need help with this, please ask the group and someone younger will reply!) While you are reading or listening, see if you can identify:
Who wrote the book?
Why did he write it? What is the main idea the author wants to communicate?
Who are the intended recipients of the letter?
If you have time, you might want to Google “Galatia” and see where it is and read about the background of the country, see what scholars have to say about when the book might have been written, and how the author came to know the Galatians.
If you have suggestions for more big-picture activities for this week, please send them to the group. I’m looking forward to hearing from you as we proceed.
Praying for you as we begin,
Susan
Week 2
Ladies,
Thanks for your input on the first week. I was helped by reading your comments, and look forward to more! It looks like we all came to very similar conclusions:
The Apostle Paul wrote the book to the Galatian church when he heard that people were persuading them to add law-keeping to the gospel. The main idea he wanted to get across was salvation by faith alone, and that is succinctly stated in a few key verses, including Galatians 2:16, 3:11, and 5:1.
So now that we have our big ideas in place, let’s look for keywords in the text, words that are repeated or ones that pertain to the main theme of the book. There is a lot of room for opinion here, so don’t get too entangled in finding the perfect words. When I do this, I try to pick my top ten words. More than that is more than I can process if I’m doing it regularly, but you may find that more words will give you a clearer picture of the text.
In my opinion, the first three words should almost always be God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit because we want to know everything God has revealed about Himself in every text we read. You can choose your next seven from the text. I will say that this is always hard for me, so AFTER you try to find keywords, you can confirm your choices with a quick Google search for “keywords in Galatians” or check it against my list. You’ll see my top ten choices in the workbook I made for you (see me on Sunday to get yours) but don’t let my choices override what you learned from the text – yours might be better.
Homework for this week – you might want to wait for your notebook to begin, which includes double-spaced pages of text:
- Pick a symbol or color to highlight each use of God, Jesus, or Spirit in the text. You can use different symbols for each, or grab your colored pencils and assign each word a different color. Be sure to add the colors or symbols you pick to the keyword chart at the front of your workbook to keep things straight in your mind.
- Highlight God, Jesus, and Spirit in the text. You can do this in one read-through if you like, but it will take me at least two to get them all marked- it’s easy to miss one.
- On the notebook pages at the back of the workbook, make three lists, one for each keyword. Because these keywords are persons, also use pronouns. My entries look like this:
- Under Jesus, I might write:
- 1:1 Paul was made an apostle by the power/authority of Jesus
1:1 God the Father raised Jesus from the dead
- 1:3 Grace and peace come from Jesus
- 1:4 Jesus gave Himself up for our sins to deliver us from the evil age
- 1:6 The galatians were called in the grace of Christ
- When you finish your list, write a couple of lines at the bottom summing up what you learn about Jesus from the verses in the list.
Don’t be overwhelmed! Spurgeon said, “By perseverance the snail reached the ark.” Imagine yourself as a snail working through Galatians with stolen moments here and there, and you’ll have this done in no time.
Experienced inductive students: If you could post your first list for some of the newer people to see it might be very helpful to them. I’m not teaching this as thoroughly as I was taught and depend on you for input!
Week 3
Galatians Study, Week Three – June 30 to July 6
Ladies,
How are you holding up? That week of list-making was challenging! Let’s slow down this week and just do two keywords, “Law” and “Gospel.” I have a feeling these will be long lists, too.
If you have any questions, please share with the group. We’ll pool our knowledge and see if we can figure it out together.
Have you identified difficult passages as you’ve been reading? I’m having trouble with “offspring” and “offsprings” 3:16 seems to contradict 3:29, but I’m sure it’s my perception and not a real conflict. I’m looking forward to understanding it better as we work through it. In a few weeks we’ll read chapter by chapter using trusted outside sources to help us glean more from the text.
Praying for all of you,
Susan
Week 4
Good Morning, my sisters! I am so encouraged by conversations I've had with several of you this week as you are persevering in this study! I am meditating on the glorious truth Erika reminded us of, that we are indeed justified by faith in Christ without the burden of law-keeping in any form. It will be good to talk about how we might fall into that in our society/culture in a slightly different (but essentially the same) way than the Galatians did,
This week, let's mark Bondage/slavery/enslaved/captive/imprisoned and free/freedom, then make our list and summary for each. If you find more synonyms I have missed, please hit reply all and let us know. These are shorter lists and will allow a little time for catch-up.
I just started marking these keywords and was delighted to see how the previous lists have helped me better understand what I am reading this time through Galatians. I hope you have the same experience, or something even better as the Holy Spirit speaks to you through the Word this week.
Happy highlighting!
Week 5
Hi Ladies,
I hope last week was a little easier. We have just one more week of marking words! Please mark and summarize Grace, Faith, Promise and Justified.
If you haven’t highlighted your key verse, I encourage you to do so this week, and draw a little key symbol over it.
Starting July 21 we’ll be reading one chapter a week and hopefully discussing each chapter to make sure we understand it. I’ll throw out some discussion questions, and I’d love for you to do the same.
Finally, below please find some links to suggested resources for Galatians. I’m planning to listen to a sermon or online teaching to correspond with the reading each day, but you may choose to order a commentary or another book, or use your study Bible to help you along the way. I’m posting resources from men I trust, but please use your own discernment in choosing who to use to supplement your understanding of the difficult portions of the reading. Remember that we don’t always agree in every point with men (or women) we respect.
We will also be highlighting any commands that are given in each of these chapters to help us make personal application of the Scriptures.
Studying one chapter a week should take us through September 1. I’m not sure how to end the study, but we have a little time yet. I love Sara’s idea of an in-person meeting.
So glad you are still with us in this study,
Susan
Desiring God
A Look at the Book, 10 – 15 minute expositions of Galatians by John Piper
I’m excited about this series, which takes bite-sized sections of Galatians and explains them. There are 86 little videos that you can use like a commentary or listen to on your phone as you work. Here’s the playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAcB0f-21Xj2Mo1cBN7MWNTpSbq9v2RH7
John Piper Sermons on Galatians https://www.desiringgod.org/scripture/galatians/messages
Ligionier – R C Sproul
R C Sproul teaches through Galatians in these 10 audio messages
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/galatians
More resources (thanks for this link, Sara) https://www.ligonier.org/search?query=galatians
Grace to You – John MacArthur
Sermons on Galatians
https://www.gty.org/library/resources/sermons-library/scripture/1?book=48&chapter=0
FCC Resources on Galatians
Here’s a list of all the sermons on our sermon audio site for Galatians:
Week 6
Today we’ll begin a new section of the study. Please read chapter 1 all week to make sure we understand it. I’ll throw out some discussion questions, and I’d love for you to do the same.
Here are the assignments for Chapter 1. Just do what you can and make the study fit what your life allows.
- Plan to read or listen to chapter one every day this week. Try using different versions, if possible, and see how they differ.
- Choose a verse from the chapter to meditate on - one for the week, or one per day. Copy it on a note card or a sticky note and put it somewhere that you'll see it often during the day.
- Mark any commands you see - I think highlighting them works well. Add that to your marking key at the front of your book. (I didn’t find any in Chapter 1)
- Listen to or read any commentaries, study Bibles or online resources that you think might help your understanding. Look up the definitions of words you aren't sure about. Note helpful insights on the text pages.
- Write down any questions you still have about the text, and consider posting them late in the week so we can all discuss them.
- Consider writing down a few lines to summarize the chapter. What was the main argument or point the author was making?
Finally, below please find some links to suggested resources for Galatians. I’m planning to listen to an online teaching by John Piper (see A Look at the Book below) to correspond with the reading each day, but you may choose to order a commentary or another book, or use your study Bible to help you along the way. I’m posting resources from men I trust, but please use your own discernment in choosing who to use to supplement your understanding of the difficult portions of the reading. Remember that we don’t always agree in every point with men (or women) we respect.
Studying one chapter a week should take us through September 1. I’m not sure how to end the study, but we have a little time yet. I love Sara’s idea of an in-person meeting.
So glad you are still with us in this study,
Susan
Desiring God
A Look at the Book, 10 – 15 minute expositions of Galatians by John Piper
I’m excited about this series, which takes bite-sized sections of Galatians and explains them. There are 86 little videos that you can use like a commentary or listen to on your phone as you work. Here’s the playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAcB0f-21Xj2Mo1cBN7MWNTpSbq9v2RH7
John Piper Sermons on Galatians https://www.desiringgod.org/scripture/galatians/messages
Ligionier – R C Sproul
R C Sproul teaches through Galatians in these 10 audio messages
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/galatians
More resources (thanks for this link, Sara) https://www.ligonier.org/search?query=galatians
Grace to You – John MacArthur
Sermons on Galatians
https://www.gty.org/library/resources/sermons-library/scripture/1?book=48&chapter=0
FCC Resources on Galatians
Here’s a list of all the sermons on our sermon audio site for Galatians:
Week 7
Hi Ladies,
Just a few more weeks of the study to go!
We'll do the same thing for chapter 2 as we did for chapter 1 - again, do what you can, and don't worry about fulfilling every task if it doesn't work for you.
Please read chapter 2 all week to make sure we understand it. I’ll throw out some discussion questions, and I’d love for you to do the same.
Here are the assignments for chapter 1. Just do what you can and make the study fit what your life allows.
- Plan to read or listen to chapter one every day this week. Try using different versions, if possible, and see how they differ.
- Choose a verse from the chapter to meditate on - one for the week, or one per day. Copy it on a note card or a sticky note and put it somewhere that you'll see it often during the day.
- Mark any commands you see - I think highlighting them works well. Add that to your marking key at the front of your book.
- Listen to or read any commentaries, study Bibles or online resources that you think might help your understanding. Look up the definitions of words you aren't sure about. Note helpful insights on the text pages.
- Write down any questions you still have about the text, and consider posting them late in the week so we can all discuss them.
- Consider writing down a few lines to summarize the chapter. What was the main argument or point the author was making?
Week 8
Hi Ladies,
This is going to seem repetitive! We’re down to our last three weeks. Hang Tough!
We'll do the same thing for chapter 3 as we did for previous chapters - again, do what you can, and don't worry about fulfilling every task if it doesn't work for you.
Please read chapter 3 all week to make sure we understand it. I’ll throw out some discussion questions, and I’d love for you to do the same.
Here are the assignments for chapter 3. Just do what you can and make the study fit what your life allows.
- Plan to read or listen to chapter three every day this week. Try using different versions, if possible, and see how they differ.
- Choose a verse from the chapter to meditate on - one for the week, or one per day. Copy it on a note card or a sticky note and put it somewhere that you'll see it often during the day.
- Mark any commands you see - I think highlighting them works well. Add that to your marking key at the front of your book.
- Listen to or read any commentaries, study Bibles or online resources that you think might help your understanding. Look up the definitions of words you aren't sure about. Note helpful insights on the text pages.
- Write down any questions you still have about the text, and consider posting them late in the week so we can all discuss them.
- Consider writing down a few lines to summarize the chapter. What was the main argument or point the author was making?
Week 9
Hi Ladies,
I pray you are still reading Galatians and that the Lord is blessing you through His Word.
I know this is a late entry to the discussion, but I found a book of lessons on Galatians by Tim Keller that is free on Audible if you have a subscription. It's been a blessing to me as he teaches through and asks good discussion questions. If you have a study buddy, his questions could be a good way to get the conversation rolling.
We'll do the same thing for chapter 4 as we did for previous chapters - again, do what you can, and don't worry about fulfilling every task if it doesn't work for you.
Please read chapter 4 all week to make sure we understand it. I’ll throw out some discussion questions, and I’d love for you to do the same.
Here are the assignments for Chapter 4. Just do what you can and make the study fit what your life allows. I will note that I found that writing a one-line summary of each paragraph in chapter 3 was helpful. I didn't feel the need to do this in 1 and 2, but 3 was difficult!
- Plan to read or listen to chapter four every day this week. Try using different versions, if possible, and see how they differ.
- Choose a verse from the chapter to meditate on - one for the week, or one per day. Copy it on a note card or a sticky note and put it somewhere that you'll see it often during the day.
- Mark any commands you see - I think highlighting them works well. Add that to your marking key at the front of your book.
- Listen to or read any commentaries, study Bibles or online resources that you think might help your understanding. Look up the definitions of words you aren't sure about. Note helpful insights on the text pages.
- Write down any questions you still have about the text, and consider posting them late in the week so we can all discuss them.
- Consider writing down a few lines to summarize the chapter. What was the main argument or point the author was making?
Week 10
Hi Ladies,
Please read chapter 5 all week to make sure we understand it. Feel free to post questions for discussion.
Here are the assignments for Chapter 5. Just do what you can and make the study fit what your life allows.
- Plan to read or listen to chapter five every day this week. Try using different versions, if possible, and see how they differ.
- Choose a verse from the chapter to meditate on - one for the week, or one per day. Copy it on a note card or a sticky note and put it somewhere that you'll see it often during the day. Let us know which one you picked.
- Mark any commands you see - I think highlighting them works well. Add that to your marking key at the front of your book.I counted 5 commands in chapter 5. Do you agree?
- Listen to or read any commentaries, study Bibles or online resources that you think might help your understanding. Look up the definitions of words you aren't sure about. Note helpful insights on the text pages.
- Write down any questions you still have about the text, and consider posting them late in the week so we can all discuss them.
- Consider writing down a few lines to summarize the chapter. What was the main argument or point the author was making?
Week 11
Ladies,
I'm so grateful for your participation in this study! It's lovely to discuss what we are learning both online and in person and the accountability has been very helpful to keep me in the Word on days when my flesh isn't so willing.
Please read chapter 6 all week to make sure we understand it. Feel free to post questions for discussion.
Here are the assignments for Chapter 6. Just do what you can and make the study fit what your life allows.
- Plan to read or listen to chapter six every day this week. Try using different versions, if possible, and see how they differ.
- Choose a verse from the chapter to meditate on - one for the week, or one per day. Copy it on a note card or a sticky note and put it somewhere that you'll see it often during the day. Let us know which one you picked.
- Mark any commands you see - I think highlighting them works well. Add that to your marking key at the front of your book. If I understand the grammar of commands correctly, I counted 8 commands in chapter 6. Do you agree?
- Listen to or read any commentaries, study Bibles or online resources that you think might help your understanding. Look up the definitions of words you aren't sure about. Note helpful insights on the text pages.
- Write down any questions you still have about the text, and consider posting them late in the week so we can all discuss them.
- Consider writing down a few lines to summarize the chapter. What was the main argument or point the author was making?
Please think about suggestions you have about how the next study might be run better.
Susan
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