8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain. 12 Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, 19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. —Galatians 4:8-20

Big Idea: Embracing the true source of spiritual freedom empowers believers to live a

1. Responsibility of Freedom (v.8-11)

• a. Old life vs new life (v.8-9)
• b. Worthless principles of the world (v.9-11)
• c. Forfeiting freedom (v.11)

Divine favor and acceptance are not found in

2. A Relationship built on Freedom (v.12-16)

• a. Paul’s entreatment (v.12-14)
• b. A change in attitude (v.15)
• c. The truth is not your enemy (v.16)

We are living out a

3. Children of Freedom (v.17-20)

• a. The cult of the Judaizers (v.17)
• b. Zeal for the right things (v.18)
• c. Christ is formed in you (v.6-7, 19)

Let God produce the

Small Group Questions

1. What did God teach you through this passage and sermon? Share the work of God in your heart with the group.

2. What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind?

3. In what ways do people often turn to “worthless principles” of the world even after experiencing the freedom in Christ? How can we guard against this tendency?

4. Share an example from your life where you’ve experienced a spiritual battle between truth and lies. How did you overcome the lies with the truth?

5. Reflect on the idea of Christ being formed in you (v.19). What next steps can we take to live this out this week?