Love God Greatly began the study of Galatians this week. Gosh where did the week go? I love reading and applying God’s word this way. So I will be doing this post late but with the assignment at the end of this post for next week. Unlike the Psalm 119 study, I will post my SOAP’s at the end of the week.
For any one new here is how to SOAP.
S – stands for SCRIPTURE.
Physically write out the Bible text for that day. You would be amazed at how much more you will notice and learn when you take the time to write out God’s Word!
O – stands for OBSERVATION.
This is where you take the time to discover the true meaning of the text. Make some observations: Who was this verse written for? Are there any commands? Cross reference the day’s verses because the Bible explains the Bible. Use commentaries for challenging texts.
A – stands for APPLICATION.
This is where you ask the Holy Spirit to give you application to your life based on what the text means. Sometimes this can be a very specific and personal thing such as, “I need to stop watching gory TV shows.” or could be more generic like, “I must choose joy in all circumstances.”
P – stands for PRAYER.
Physically write out a prayer. If the Spirit has revealed sin in your heart, confess it. Pray His Word. Thank Him for speaking to you through His Word.
Some days you will write a lot and other days not as much. Some days will be easy and other days will be more challenging to dig out what God is saying to us in His Word – but every day it is WORTH IT.
For an example of a SOAP study, go here.http://www.lovegodgreatly.com/lgg/how-to-soap/} smile emoticon
Monday
Galatians 1: 4-5
S (Jesus) who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen
O Jesus gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, this was the will of God, God deserves the glory forever.
A Have you accepted Jesus as you savior? Do you believe that Jesus is God’s son? He died to pay for our sins. Do you give God the glory and thank Him for sacrificing His only son so that we may have eternal life?
P Father God, thank you for Jesus. Thank you for rescuing us from evil. Your word says that the devil prowls around waiting to devour and yet because of Jesus we are rescued from evil because your word says the evil one cannot touch us. Thank you for your will that we have a plan of redemption through Jesus. In Romans 3:23 we all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God. So we need a savior. Thank you God that you gave your one and only son so that if I believed in him I would have eternal life according to John 3:16. I am in awe of You Father God to whom be glory forever and ever. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Tuesday
Genesis 1:6-7
S I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.
O Paul calls out the church in Galatia because they were willing to accept false teaching. There was false teachers preaching a different gospel which means good news. They were adding to the good news. It was no longer grace alone. In Ephesians 2: 8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. The false teachers were adding to salvation which was not the good news. This caused confusion, some of the church of Galatia were confused. If people add to the gospel, they are trying to pervert the gospel message.
A Do you live by the grace of Christ? Do you accept that Jesus is God’s son? Do you believe that we are saved by grace through faith? What do you do when you meet someone confused and trying to present a pervert gospel? Are you willing to be the only Jesus that person may meet? Do you know the good news message well enough to recognize counterfeit gospel messages?
P Father God, Help me to recognize false teachers of the gospel. Lord let me always to be willing to give a reason for my hope. Let me be able to recall your word quickly if I am asked about my faith. Lord please clear the confusion that is evident now in our world. Let me be willing to stand for the truth of the one true gospel which is Jesus dying on the cross for our sins and defeating death and rising on the third day. He paid for our sins. Help me to stand against those that are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen
Wednesday
Galatians 1:10
S Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
O Paul states his position that he is not trying to win the approval of human beings, if he was he would not be a servant of Christ.
A What are the reasons that you serve the Lord? Is it for the approval of others? Or, because God called you for the job where you are serving.
P Father God, Paul was so aware of his audience and the false gospel that was being preached was a concern. He was confident of Your Son that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Help me Lord to be a servant for you not because I want the approval of others but because I have your approval to do the job you are asking me to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thursday
Galatians 1: 15-17
S But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.
O Paul recognizes and realizes that he was called by God and set apart by God. God predestined and called Paul through grace. Paul is thankful that God chose to reveal Jesus to him. Paul knows he was to reveal Jesus to the Gentiles. He went to Arabia to prepare before returning to Damascus.
A God knew you in your mother’s womb according to Psalm 139, when did you accept Christ as your savior? Paul knew what God had called him to do, what is God asking you to do for him? Which of Paul’s teaching do you love the most?
P Father God, thank you for setting me apart in my mother’s womb. You called me and other women in this group to reveal God’s Son to those you have destined us to me. Lord you are active in the world and you have invited us to join you. Father God who do you want me to witness to today. In Jesus’ name. Amen
Friday
Galatians 1:23-24
S They only heard the report. “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy. And they praised God because of me.
O The message about Paul came by word of mouth. The man he used to be he no longer was Saul who persecuted those that believed in Jesus. They praised God for who Paul is now.
A If there was word of mouth report regarding you, what would the report say? Would it say you are a faithful servant of Christ? How are you serving God?
P Father God, thank you for the Bible and the book of Galatians. Thank you that Paul was faithful in his service to introduce the Gentiles to Christ. Thank you for the Holy Spirit that indwelled Paul and that he wrote the books he wrote in obedience to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Here is the reading plan for next week. I will post my SOAP at the end of the week.
