Believing and Belonging | Gospel Freedom | Galatians Galatians 3:15–4:7

Before we begin

Table Communities are community gatherings for the purpose of:

• Building meaningful relationships through intentional time together
• Engaging in mutual discipleship through directing one another towards Christ with truth shared in love
• Multiplying grace through love, prayer and gifts of the spirit

The notes will guide you through praying together, reading scripture and engaging in intentional relational time together. There are also notes and practices for this month's habit of grace. We know that most groups will not have time to discuss the habit of grace during their time together, but they are available if time allows and are available for those seeking to intentionally engage with God's grace during the week. If that desire is within you, please read the notes on your own time or go through the habit of grace practices with a spiritual friend or your spouse, so as to build one another up in truth and love. Finally, this gathering is not about getting through all the note content, but rather this gathering is about building meaningful relationships, engaging in mutual discipleship and multiplying grace. Let those values shape the direction and pace of your time together.

Kick off with prayer

You can use the kick off prayer below (if you are not comfortable praying aloud), and give time for others to pray into the night together. 

Example prayer, if needed. Ideally pray freely as you feel called:

‍Father we praise you for gathering us together. Despite whatever weighed on our hearts as we entered this house, we pray that your Spirit guides our time together and free us from anything that is not of you. We pray that by the strength of your might we may speak truth in love to one another. We pray that we are led by the gifts of your spirit, so that we may build up one another and your church as a whole. As we read your word, we pray that we may be filled with the knowledge of your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner pleasing to you.  

Passage: Gospel Freedom | Galatians

We will read the text together seeking for God to give life to the text through his Spirit. "Lord please help us to hear your word and receive what you have for each of us"

Galatians 3:15–4:7

To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, "And to offsprings," referring to many, but referring to one, "And to your offspring," who is Christ. This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.

Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Passage Summary

In this section, Paul explains that the law was never meant to replace God's promise. Instead, it functioned as a guardian until Christ came. Now, through faith in Jesus, we are not merely rule-followers, we are adopted sons and daughters of God. This relational status gives us identity, access, inheritance, and the indwelling Spirit who cries out, “Abba, Father.” We are no longer slaves to fear or performance but heirs of grace.

Discussion Questions

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1. When you think of God as Father, what feelings rise up in you? Does it create a desire for you to draw closer to God?

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Facilitator Guide:
This question surfaces deeply personal and emotional associations with fatherhood—whether marked by joy, pain, or confusion. It opens the door for healing and helps participants reimagine God’s fatherhood through the lens of Christ.

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2. Why do you attend church, Table Community, read the Bible, or serve? Is it out of duty, fear of failure or judgement OR out of the joy of being loved? Consider how you feel as the time approaches to engage in any of these activities.

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Facilitator Guide:
This exposes places where gospel identity hasn’t fully taken root. It helps participants name areas of striving or cold obedience rather than joyful communion.

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3. Compare the two relational experiences of a child: (1) a Father who makes them feel they belong, they are secure and that he delights in them. The Father continuously confirms this with his actions and words. (2) a Father who is distant, who rarely expresses approval and is often critical of your actions and decisions.

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Facilitator Guide:
This question creates space for imaginative transformation—what it would look like to live from love rather than for love. It invites participants to step into gospel freedom emotionally and relationally.

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4. Based on your discussion from the last question, consider the child who knows their Father as a person of belonging, security and delight: How may this child respond in times of trouble, fear or confusion? 

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Facilitator Guide:
This question helps participants consider the beauty of having a Father to turn to in times of adversity, and the heartache of not having a place to go.

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5. The Spirit helps us cry, “Abba, Father.” Where in your life do you most need that intimate connection with God right now?

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Facilitator Guide:
This is a moment of gospel invitation. It draws people to vulnerable dependence and to seeing the Spirit not just as power, but as presence.

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Closing Prayer Prompt

Prompts:

• Thank God for adopting you through Christ.
• Confess where you’ve lived like a slave or orphan.
• Ask the Spirit to renew your experience of sonship and joy in the Father’s love.
  
  

"But before we begin praying, let's take one minute of silent reflection to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal..."

Silent Reflection (1 minute):

• Where am I forgetting that I am a beloved child of God?
• What would it mean to live like an heir instead of a slave?
  
  

Invite anyone to share briefly, then pray for one another—especially for courage, honesty, and freedom in Christ.

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