Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it? I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith. GALATIANS 3:1-9 NLT

We are bewitched when we…

Look away from the good news and turn to good advice

Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? GALATIANS 3:2 NLT
The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. 2 PETER 1:8-9 NLT

Look away from the power of Spirit and turn to another source

I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. GALATIANS 3:5 NLT
Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 1 THESSALONIANS 5:19-20 NLT

We spiritually grow when we…

Remember where God found us

For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. GALATIANS 3:1 NLT
This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” — and I am the worst of them all. 1 TIMOTHY 1:15 NLT

Remember where God has us

Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith. The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. GALATIANS 3:6-7 NLT
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. PHILIPPIANS 1:6 NLT

Remember where God is

Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.” JOHN 14:23 NLT

Community Group Discussion Questions

1. If you had a magic wand, what part of your life would you like to magically grow?
2. Read Galatians 3:2. As you look back through your life, when have you grown the most spiritually? How much of it came from your effort and how much from God’s work in you?
3. What do you think makes it so tempting to try and force spiritual growth through our own effort instead of relying on God’s Spirit within us?
4. What might we be missing in our spiritual growth when we try to do it ourselves, rather than working with God’s Spirit within us?
5. Read 1 Timothy 1:15. When you think back to a moment when you heard the gospel and were changed, where did God find you or what were you specifically saved from?
6. Read John 14:23. In what ways does the fact that God has made his home inside you help or encourage you?
7. Read Phillipians 1:6. What work does God still have to do in you to make you more like Jesus and how can we help?

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a space to be alone with God so you can reflect on the message you just took in. In what ways do you find yourself struggling to believe that what Jesus did wasn’t enough? Where do you feel like you are coming up short? Are you saying all the right Christian words, doing all the right religious things? In what ways do you find yourself helping God out in the process of growing in your faith by feverishly working to fix yourself, by yourself? Is it exhausting? Is it working? Take a moment and ask yourself this question: “Why do I serve Jesus?” Would it look different to do things for Jesus out of love for him and gratitude for his love? And out of faith that he is enough? Allow yourself to look back over what he has done for you, personally, in your life. What did he save you from? Imagine that you are sitting with him, now. What words would you use to thank him? As you think about how you live your Christian life now, where would you ask him for help? Ask him, because he really is here with you right now. As you move through your week and continue to put effort into your Christian life, continue to thank God for what he has done, and ask him to teach you how to see and accept his help.