New Testament Churches

A Church Disturbed

The Churches of Galatia — Acts 13:13–14:28; Galatians 1, 3, 4, 5

Edward Rangel

What This Lesson Should Do

Where and how the Galatian churches began
How Paul and Barnabas established them in the faith
Four ways the churches were pulled from their foundation
The biblical answer: how much can we change?
Applying Galatians' warning to us today

Galatia was not one city — it was a whole region.

Paul's letter reached several congregations at once.

This letter went to the churches Paul and Barnabas planted.

Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe.

The gospel took root even as persecution followed close behind.

City after city, the pattern repeated.

In Antioch of Pisidia, nearly the whole city turned out to hear them.

Jealous leaders stirred up persecution and drove them out.

50 But the Jews incited the devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust of their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 13:50-52 · NASB

In Iconium, Paul and Barnabas spoke boldly despite a divided city.

A mob formed to stone them; they fled to Lystra.

Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands.

Acts 14:3 · NASB

In Lystra, Paul was stoned and dragged out of the city for dead.

He got up, went back into the city, and kept going.

19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.

Acts 14:19-20 · NASB

In Derbe, many disciples were made before the journey turned back.

Paul and Barnabas retraced their steps through every church.

Talk It Through

What churches is Paul writing to in Galatians?
What did these churches have in common at the start?

Paul and Barnabas returned to establish what they had begun.

Two things marked every church on the return trip.

strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."

Acts 14:22 · NASB

When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Acts 14:23 · NASB

Eldership is God's ordinary design for every congregation.

Every church, appointed by prayer and fasting.

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,

Titus 1:5 · NASB

"Appointed" translates a Greek word meaning chosen by a show of hands.

The church had a role alongside apostolic oversight.

Voting on a lawful matter is not itself unscriptural.

It cannot override the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3.

Some churches likely went a season without elders while men grew.

A shortage of years may be normal; a shortage of growth is not.

Talk It Through

What helps establish a church in the faith?

The churches sat between two worlds — Jewish thought and pagan Rome.

Paul was astonished that the Galatians were deserting the true gospel.

Galatians 1:6

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;

Galatians 1:6 · NASB

Judaizing teachers required circumcision as though Christ were not enough.

A gospel with additions is not the same gospel.

18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

Revelation 22:18-19 · NASB

To desert the apostles' gospel of the first century is to desert Christ.

How much can we change and still have the gospel of Christ?

Worship, baptism, organization, leadership, discipline.

Talk It Through

What kind of battle was going on in Galatia?
What changes turn the gospel into a different gospel?

They were abandoning the foundation the Spirit had laid.

Galatians 3:1-5

This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

Galatians 3:2 · NASB

Real growth builds on the foundation; it does not contradict it.

The building must not oppose what the Spirit began.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23 · NASB

They were focusing on the physical activities of the Old Law.

Galatians 5:1-2; 4:10, 21

You observe days and months and seasons and years.

Galatians 4:10 · NASB

An activity can replace the spiritual purpose behind it.

The Pharisees made the same mistake over washing pots and hands.

1 The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, 2 and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders; 4 and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper pots.) 5 The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?" 6 And He said to them, "Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 7 'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.' 8 "Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men."

Mark 7:1-8 · NASB

Their soundness was being questioned as leaven crept in.

Galatians 5:7-9

A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.

Galatians 5:9 · NASB

Leavening is influence, not necessarily direct imitation.

The same principle Paul applied to the Corinthians.

Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?

1 Corinthians 5:6 · NASB

Affection was cooling, and brethren were biting one another.

Galatians 4:13-16; 5:15.

24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24-25 · NASB

What Do We See in Conclusion?

Demand and stick with the original gospel.
Examine the influence of men carefully.
True growth shows in the fruit of the Spirit.
Look to the spiritual heart behind every activity.

Talk It Through

What is the true indicator of spiritual growth?
What is the danger of habitual, traditional service?
How does leavening work inside a congregation?

Examine whether your resistance to teaching is Scripture, or only preference.

No one announces the day they leave the faith.

Whoever needs to obey the gospel or return to faithful obedience—come.

We are ready to help; the invitation is open now.

A critical spirit and an unresolved grudge work exactly like leaven.

It rarely announces itself. It simply spreads.

Guard what you received. Refuse every addition and subtraction.

Galatians 1:6

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