June 8, 2025 – Galatians 1:13 – 2:14

Lesson Date: June 8, 2025

Focal Scripture Passage: Galatians 1:13 – 2:14

AIM: To lead students to discover how dramatically Paul’s life was transformed by the grace of Jesus Christ, and to examine themselves to see if they have experienced a similar transformation.

 

Before class: Read the notes on Galatians 1:13 – 2:14 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.  Write the word “Transform” on the board or screen.

 

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Direct the students’ attention to the word “Transform” written on the board or screen.  Ask: “What does the word ‘transform’ mean?”  Allow time for some responses, which will probably center on the idea of change, including change in appearance, structure, or nature.

Tell the class that we sometimes use the word “transform” or “transformation” to describe a home remodel or even a change in one’s hair or wardrobe; but in both of those examples the change is merely outward and does not include an internal change in nature or structure.

Ask: “Are you aware of how an ugly caterpillar wraps itself in a cocoon and transforms into a beautiful butterfly?” (they certainly are).  Tell the class that is a true transformation of appearance, structure, and nature.

Ask: “Have you ever heard of John Newton?” (they probably have).  Ask: “What amazing transformation did he experience?” (God changed him from a sinful slave trader into a preacher of the Gospel, hymnwriter, and staunch abolitionist).  Ask: “What famous hymn did John Newton write?” (Amazing Grace).

Tell the students the title of today’s lesson is A Transformed Life.  Tell them we will discover how Paul’s life was transformed by the grace of Jesus Christ, and examine our own lives to see if we have experienced a similar transformation.

 

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Be sure everyone has a copy of the new summer Sunday School Member Quarterly.
   • Tell them we are studying Galatians, which is one of the earliest books of the New Testament, written in AD 49.
   • Remind the students that the Apostle Paul wrote it to the churches of Galatia (locate on the Map) to clarify that salvation is a gift of grace, not achieved by doing good works.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (The True Gospel; we discovered the foundation, uniqueness, and source of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and committed to cling to that one true Gospel and reject all other religious teachings).
2. Paul’s Life Before Christ.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Galatians 1:13-14.
   • Tell the class that before coming to Christ, Paul (who was then known by his Jewish name Saul) was a devout Jew and even a Pharisee (Phil. 3:5), the strictest sect of Judaism.
   • Ask: “What does verse 14 say about Paul’s standing among the Jews and his commitment to Judaism?” (he was at the “top of his class” and extremely zealous).
   • Ask: “According to verse 13, what did Paul do?” (he persecuted the church of Jesus Christ and tried to destroy it).
   • Ask everyone to hold their place in Galatians 1 and turn to Acts 9.
   • Read Acts 9:1-2, 21.
   • Ask: “What do those verses tell us about Paul (Saul)?” (he arrested and killed Christians).
   • Tell the students to hold their place in Acts 9 and turn back to Galatians 1.
   • Summarize: Before he met Christ, Paul (Saul) was a devout Jew, zealous for the works and rules of the Old Testament Law, and committed to destroying the followers of Jesus.
3. How Paul Came to Know Christ.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Galatians 1:15-16.
   • Ask: “According to verse 15, when did God work in Paul’s life?” (when it pleased Him, in His perfect time).
   • Ask: “What does verse 15 say God did for Paul?” (set him apart before he was even born, and later called him by His grace).
   • Ask: “According to the beginning of verse 16, what did God do?” (revealed His Son Jesus to Paul).
   • Ask: “Why did God do that?” (so Paul could preach Jesus to those who didn’t know Him).
   • Ask everyone to hold their place in Galatians 1 and turn back to Acts 9.
   • Read Acts 9:3-6, 20.
   • Ask: “According to verses 3-4, what happened while Paul (Saul) was traveling to Damascus to persecute Christians?” (he saw a blinding light, fell to the ground, and heard a voice calling his name).
   • Ask: “What did the voice ask him in verse 4?” (Why are you persecuting me?).
   • Ask: “How did the voice identify Himself in verse 5?” (He said He was Jesus, whom Paul was persecuting).
   • Ask: “What did Paul call Jesus in verse 6?” (Lord).
   • Tell the class this was the moment Paul humbled himself to God and was saved by grace.
   • Ask: “What does verse 20 say Paul did after being saved?” (he preached to the Jews that Jesus is the Son of God).
   • Tell the class this was Paul’s salvation experience that he described in Galatians 1:15-16.
   • Explain the following:
     • Paul’s salvation was planned before he was born (Eph. 1:4); the same is true for us.
     • God called Paul to come to Jesus (John 6:44); the same is true for us.
     • Paul’s salvation took place at a specific time and place; the same is true for us.
     • Paul yielded to Christ as his Lord; the same is true for us.
   • Tell the students to hold their place in Acts 9 and turn back to Galatians 1.
   • Summarize: The Lord Jesus Christ supernaturally appeared to Paul (Saul) on the Damascus Road, revealing Himself to be real and alive, and becoming Paul’s Savior.
4. Paul’s Life Was Transformed by Christ.
   • Read Galatians 1:17-24.
   • Tell the class that these verses summarize some of Paul’s activities after he was saved.
   • Ask: “According to verses 18-19, who did Paul see when he went to Jerusalem?” (Peter and James, the half-brother of Jesus).
   • Ask: “According to verse 20, was Paul telling the truth?” (yes, with God as his witness).
   • Ask: “Where did he go next?” (the regions of Syria and Cilicia, which was the site of Paul’s hometown of Tarsus; locate on the Map and see Acts 9:30).
   • Ask: “According to verse 23, what had the churches of Judea heard about Paul?” (that the very one who had previously persecuted them was now preaching the Christian faith he once tried to destroy).
   • Ask: “What was their reaction to this news?” (they glorified God).
   • Ask: “How drastic was the transformation Jesus made in Paul’s life?” (He transformed Paul from a persecutor of Christians into a preacher of Christ).
   • Tell the students that when Jesus comes into a person’s life, He dramatically transforms it.
   • Summarize: After coming to know Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, Paul began proclaiming that Jesus is the Son of God.
5. Paul Preached Salvation by Grace, Not Works.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Galatians 2:1-3.
   • Ask: “According to verse 2, why did Paul, Barnabas, and Titus go to Jerusalem?” (to tell the church leaders about the Gospel he was preaching to the Gentiles).
   • Tell the students that this important meeting is known as the Jerusalem Council.
   • Ask: “Did the church leaders insist that Titus, who was a Gentile believer, be circumcised?” (no).
   • Tell the class the background of this passage is found in Acts 15. Ask them to hold their place at Galatians 2 and turn to Acts 15.
   • Read Acts 15:1-5.
   • Ask: “What was the problem?” (some of the Jews insisted that Gentiles must be circumcised and keep the Jewish Law, or else they could not be saved).
   • Tell the students to turn back to Galatians 2.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Galatians 2:4-5.
   • Ask: “Did Paul yield to the false brethren who insisted on circumcision?” (no, he stood up for the truth of the Gospel that salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus).
   • Read Galatians 2:6-10.
   • Tell the class that the Jerusalem elders confirmed that salvation is by grace, apart from any man-made works such as circumcision; (Acts 15:6-31).
   • Ask a volunteer to read Galatians 2:11-14.
   • Explain the following:
     • After the Jerusalem Council meeting, Paul and his companions returned to their “home base” of Antioch in Syria (locate on Map).
     • Later, Peter went to visit the church at Antioch.
     • While he was there, Peter ate and fellowshiped with the Gentile believers.
     • When other Jews came from Jerusalem, however, Peter withdrew from the Gentiles.
     • Other Jewish believers in Antioch followed Peter’s example.
   • Ask: “What did Paul do?” (he publicly rebuked Peter for his hypocrisy).
   • Tell the students that Paul was so committed to the Gospel of grace that he even rebuked Peter, one of the most prominent leaders of the church, for his hypocrisy.
   • Summarize: After Christ saved his soul, Paul was totally committed to preaching salvation by grace through faith in Jesus, resisting the false teaching that right standing with God can be earned by doing good works.

 

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Tell the students the title of today’s lesson is A Transformed Life.  Tell them we have focused on the dramatic transformation that occurred when Paul trusted Jesus.

Ask: “How would you describe Paul’s life before Christ?” (he was a very committed and strict Jew who hated Jesus so much he wanted to imprison or kill Christians).

Ask: “How did Paul come to know Jesus Christ as his Savior?” (God chose him before he was born, and then at the proper time He called Paul, who humbled himself to Jesus).

Ask: “How was Paul’s life transformed by Christ?” (Jesus changed him from a legalistic Jew who hated Christians into a preacher of the Gospel of grace by faith in Jesus).

Ask: “What about you?  Has your life been transformed?”

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Ask them to silently answer the following questions:

1. “What was your life like before Christ?”
2. “How did you come to know Jesus Christ?”
3. “How has Jesus made your life different?”

Tell the students if they cannot honestly answer the second and third questions, they probably are not saved.  Tell them if that is the case, they should admit and turn from their sin, acknowledge that Jesus is Lord, and humbly place their faith and trust in Christ and Christ alone for salvation.  Allow a moment for silent prayer, then voice a prayer of thanks that Jesus transforms our lives.

 

CONCLUSION: Tell the students if any of them just received Jesus, they should make that public right away and come forward during the hymn of commitment at the end of this morning’s worship service.  Ask everyone to memorize Galatians 2:20.  Remind them that after Paul was saved, he started telling others how they could trust Jesus to save them, too.  Encourage the students to try to tell someone about Jesus this week.