June 1, 2025 – Galatians 1:1-12

Lesson Date: June 1, 2025

Focal Scripture Passage: Galatians 1:1-12

AIM: To lead students to discover the foundation, uniqueness, and source of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to commit to cling to that one true Gospel and reject all other religious teachings.

 

Before class: Read the notes on Galatians 1:1-12 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.  Write the word “True” on the board or screen.

 

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Ask: “Have you ever had a house or other building built, or a part of your house remodeled?”  Ask the students to briefly name what they have had built or remodeled.  Ask: “Did the builder make the foundation out of sawdust, sand, or concrete?” (concrete).  Ask: “Why didn’t he build on sawdust or sand?” (because they are not solid or stable materials and the building would fall down, as Jesus said in Matt. 7:26-27).

Ask: “Did the builder use a tape measure to measure the materials, or just guess?” (tape measure).  Ask: “Why didn’t he just guess the measurements?” (because doing so would result in a crooked and uneven building).

Ask: “Did the builder get quality materials for your project from a reputable supplier, or just go out in the woods and gather some broken limbs and sticks?” (quality materials from a reputable supplier).  Ask: “Why didn’t he use scrap material?” (because it would look bad and probably fall apart).

Direct the students’ attention to the word “True” written on the board or screen.  Ask: “How would you define the word true?” (something that is accurate, factual, and correct).  Ask: “What is the opposite of true?” (false).  Ask: “Would you want your builder to use true and accurate measurements or false measurements?” (true measurements).  Ask: “What about your doctor; do you want him or her to give you true information or false information?” (true information).

Tell the students that the title of this lesson is The True Gospel.  Tell the class there is only one true Gospel of Jesus Christ, but there are also many false religious teachings in the world.  Tell them today we will discover the foundation, uniqueness, and source of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, so we can commit to cling to that one true Gospel and reject all other religious teachings.

 

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review and Introduction to Galatians.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (Deadly Coveting; we discovered the downward course and fatal end of coveting in King Ahab’s life, and examined ourselves for signs of covetousness in our lives).
   • Ask if any volunteer would recite last week’s suggested memory verse (Heb. 13:5).
   • Tell the class that today we are beginning a study of the New Testament book of Galatians.
   • Be sure everyone has a copy of the new summer Sunday School Member Quarterly.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Galatians 1:1-2.
   • Ask: “How did Paul identify himself in verse 1?” (as an apostle).
   • Ask: “Who made him an apostle?” (Jesus Christ and God the Father).
   • Ask: “To whom did Paul write this letter?” (the churches of Galatia).
   • Direct everyone’s attention to the Map and point out the churches of Galatia (Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Derbe, and Lystra).
   • Explain the following:
     • Paul established those churches on his First Missionary Journey (Acts 13:1 – 14:28).
     • Later, false teachers came into the churches, teaching that Gentiles (those who were not Jews) could not be saved without keeping the Jewish Law (Acts 15:1).
     • These false teachers were known as Judaizers because they wanted to impose the Jewish Law on Gentile converts to Christianity (Acts 15:5).
     • Paul wrote this letter from Antioch in Syria (locate on the Map) in about AD 49, making Galatians one of the earliest New Testament books.
     • The words we read in the book of Galatians were written less than twenty years after the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ!
     • Direct everyone’s attention to the front cover of the quarterly, and tell them Paul wrote Galatians to clarify that salvation is by grace, not works.
2. The Foundation of the True Gospel.
   • Tell the students that just as a building needs a firm foundation, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is built on the foundation of true doctrine.
   • Read Galatians 1:1-5.
   • Ask: “What foundational doctrine do you see in verse 1?” (the resurrection of Jesus Christ).
   • Tell the class that without Jesus’ resurrection, there would be no Gospel; as 1 Corinthians 15:17 says, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.”
   • Ask: “Who did Paul greet in verse 2?” (the churches of Galatia).
   • Explain the following:
     • Another foundational doctrine is the church.
     • Christ loves the church and gave Himself for it (Eph. 5:25).
     • The Bible says the church is “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15).
     • God commands His children to faithfully attend their local church (Heb. 10:25).
   • Tell the students that verse 3 reminds us of another foundational doctrine, salvation by grace (Eph. 2:8-9).
   • Ask: “What foundational doctrine do you see in verse 4?” (Jesus died for our sins in accordance with the Father’s will; He died in our place, as our substitute [Isa.53:6]).
   • Tell the class that verse 5 points to another foundational doctrine: God deserves glory forever.
   • Summarize: The foundation upon which the true Gospel of Jesus Christ is built includes Christ’s resurrection, the church, salvation by grace, Jesus’s substitutionary death, and the eternal glory of God. Any so-called “gospel” that is not built on that foundation is merely false teaching.
3. The Uniqueness of the True Gospel.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Galatians 1:6.
   • Ask: “What amazed Paul?” (that the Galatians had so quickly abandoned the Gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ and begun following “another gospel”).
   • Explain the following:
     • Paul taught the people of Galatia about Jesus, and they were saved by grace.
     • He suffered great persecution in Galatia, including being stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:19).
     • Paul loved the Galatian believers and was concerned for their spiritual well-being.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Galatians 1:7.
   • Ask: “What did Paul say about the supposed other ‘gospel’?” (it is not the Gospel at all, but is a perversion of the true Gospel).
   • Explain the following:
     • The Greek word translated Gospel is euangelion, which literally means “Good News,” and is where we get our English word evangelism.
     • The Gospel is described in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, which says, “¹Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel … ³that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
     • Anything other than the true Gospel of Jesus Christ is a false religion based on works.
     • Remember, the Judaizers wanted to impose the works of the Jewish Law on Gentile believers.
   • Read Galatians 1:8-9.
   • Ask: “What did Paul say about those who preach any other so-called ‘gospel’?” (they are to be accursed and rejected; in other words, don’t believe anyone who preaches any other so-called “gospel”).
   • These verses make it clear that extra-biblical messages from angels, near-death experiences, and dreams must be completely rejected if they do not perfectly match with the doctrine of Jesus Christ delivered to us in the Bible.
   • Summarize: There is only one true Gospel, and that is the Gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, was buried, and rose again from the dead. Any other so-called “gospel” must be rejected.
4. The Source of the True Gospel.
   • Ask: “What right did Paul have to say that he had the true Gospel and others were perversions of the truth? Why do you think he knew he was right and others were wrong?”
   • Ask a volunteer to read Galatians 1:10-12.
   • Ask: “According to verse 10, was Paul trying to please men, or God?” (God).
   • Tell the class that if Paul wanted to please men, he could have avoided all the persecution he endured.
   • Stress the fact that it is far more important to please God than men (1 Thess. 4:1).
   • Ask: “According to verses 11-12, did Paul learn the Gospel from some other man?” (no).
   • Ask: “Where did it come from?” (it was supernaturally revealed to him by Jesus Christ).
   • Explain the following:
     • Shortly after Paul was saved, he went out into the Arabian desert to be alone with God (v. 17), during which time the Lord taught him the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
     • The Gospel came by revelation from Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 12:2-4).
     • 2 Peter 1:21 says, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
   • Summarize: The source of the true Gospel is God himself. Other religions were invented by men, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ was revealed to men by God and preserved for us in the Bible.

 

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Remind the students that the title of this lesson is The True Gospel.  Tell them today we have discovered the foundation, uniqueness, and source of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Ask: “What is the foundation of the true Gospel?” (Bible doctrine of Jesus).  Ask: “In what way is the true Gospel unique?” (it is different from all other religions, in that it teaches salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone).  Ask: “What is the source of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ?” (it was revealed by God, not invented by man).

Direct everyone’s attention once again to the word “True” written on the board.  Ask: “What is the opposite of true?” (false).  Tell the students that the Gospel is true, but all others are false.  Tell them the Gospel of Jesus Christ is Good News, but all others are bad news.

Remind the students that the Apostle Paul was deeply concerned that the believers in Galatia were being drawn away from the true Gospel and back into a religion based on works.  Ask: “If those early believers who were taught by the Apostle Paul himself could be drawn toward false doctrines, do you think there is any danger that we might be, too?” (yes).

Ask: “Are you listening to any doctrine or teaching that doesn’t focus on the grace of Jesus?  Do you seek advice from people who reject Bible doctrine?”

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Urge them to reject false teaching and false teachers, and to make a commitment to God to cling to the one true Gospel of Jesus.  Allow a moment for silent prayer, and then voice a closing prayer of commitment.

 

CONCLUSION: Express your excitement about this study of Galatians.  Encourage everyone to do the Daily Bible Readings found in their Sunday School Member Quarterly.  Ask: “Who could you invite to join us in our Sunday School class?”