Message Highlights

• Paul was accused of being a “man-pleaser” by religious leaders (Judaizers) who wanted to undermine his authority and the grace-based gospel he preached. They claimed he made salvation “too easy” to gain followers.

• Religion doesn’t produce righteousness—Jesus does. Paul’s former religious zeal and rule-keeping produced self-righteousness, not godliness. Only the transforming power of the gospel changed him from a persecutor to a true follower of Jesus.

• Truth comes from God alone, not from culture, tradition, or personal preferences. When we accept that truth comes from God, we must accept all truth—including uncomfortable truth that challenges us.

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Conversation Starter

When have you been criticized or misunderstood for standing on or living out biblical truth? How did that feel, and how did you respond?

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Core Discussion Questions

CONNECTION QUESTION
What stood out to you most from today’s message about Paul defending himself against accusations of being a “man-pleaser”?

CONTEXT QUESTION
Before this message, what was your understanding of why Paul shared his conversion story in such detail? How does knowing about the “man-pleaser” accusation change how you read Galatians 1?

CLARITY QUESTION
Pastor Anthony said, “Religion doesn’t change your life—Jesus does.” How did today’s message clarify the difference between religious rule-keeping and genuine transformation through the gospel?

APPLICATION QUESTION
Paul asks in verse 10: “Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God?” Have you struggled with pleasing people over God? What’s one area in your life where you need to begin choosing God’s approval over people’s opinions?

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Additional Questions (Optional)

• Pastor Anthony taught that “spirituality is not obtained outside of truth.” Where might you be trying to grow spiritually through preferences or feelings rather than the truth of God’s Word?
• Paul went from “advancing in Judaism” (v. 14) to being hated by his former peers when he followed Jesus. What might you need to be willing to walk away from to fully follow Christ?
• “When we accept that truth comes from God alone—we don’t accept comfortable truth and reject uncomfortable truth.” What’s one uncomfortable truth from Scripture you’ve been tempted to ignore or explain away?

Exploring the Scripture

Main Scripture: Galatians 1:10-24

Understanding the Context

The apostle Paul wrote this letter to churches in the region of Galatia (modern-day Turkey) around AD 48-49. These churches were under attack from false teachers known as Judaizers—Jewish Christians who insisted that Gentile believers must follow Old Testament law, including circumcision, in addition to faith in Christ for salvation. This “different gospel” (Galatians 1:6) was actually no gospel at all, because it mixed grace with works and made salvation dependent on human effort rather than Christ’s finished work.

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To discredit Paul’s message, the Judaizers attacked Paul’s character and authority. They accused him of being a “man-pleaser”—someone who watered down the gospel’s requirements to make it easier and gain more followers. They claimed Paul threw out historically important requirements to make Christianity appealing to Gentiles. This was a strategic attack: if they could undermine Paul’s credibility, they could more easily dismiss his grace-centered gospel.

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Paul’s defense in verses 10-24 is brilliant. He argues that if he were truly a man-pleaser, he would have stayed in Judaism where he was “advancing... beyond many of [his] contemporaries” (v. 14). His conversion cost him everything—status, approval, position, and eventually his life. Furthermore, Paul insists his gospel came “by a revelation of Jesus Christ” (v. 12), not from human sources. He didn’t consult with the Jerusalem apostles immediately after his conversion (v. 16-17), proving his message wasn’t shaped by human influence or a desire for their approval.

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This passage fits into the larger biblical narrative of God’s grace versus human religion. Throughout Scripture, we see the tension between those who trust God’s provision (like Abraham, who believed and it was counted to him as righteousness) and those who trust their own religious performance (like the Pharisees Jesus confronted). Paul’s story is the ultimate case study: a man who had achieved the pinnacle of religious success but counted it all as “dung” compared to knowing Christ (Philippians 3:8).

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Study Questions

Verses 10-12

To discredit Paul’s message, the Judaizers attacked Paul’s character and authority. They accused him of being inconsistent, opportunistic, and inauthentic. They labeled him a “man-pleaser”—someone who watered down the gospel’s requirements to make it easier and gain more followers (v.10). Here Paul begins to provide a defense to these accusations.

• Review Paul’s supernatural conversion from a legalistic Pharisee to a follower of Christ in Acts 9:1-19. Note the parallels between this account and his words in Galatians 1. 
  
  • How do Paul’s claims in Galatians 1:11-12 directly coincide with what was written about him in Acts 9:15, 19b-22? 
  • Understanding that the Judaizers would have received their own religious instruction primarily from rabbinic tradition and rote memorization, why would Paul’s statement in Galatians 1:12 have been particularly confounding to them? What could they not comprehend about Paul’s new faith as described in 2 Corinthians 3:14-16? 

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Verses 13-16a

Paul revisits his earlier life in Judaism and his persecution of the church to emphasize the dramatic change between his former course and his current calling. 

• To gain insight into Paul’s former life, read Philippians 3:5-6 and Acts 8:3, 9:1-2, 22:4-5, and 26:10-11. 
  
  • How would the divulgence of his previous actions have served as solid proof that both his conversion and his message were built solely on the grace of God and not his own doing? Reference Paul’s own words in 1 Timothy 1:12-16. 

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If Paul were truly a man-pleaser, he would have stayed in Judaism where he was “advancing... beyond many of [his] contemporaries” (v.14). His conversion cost him everything—status, approval, position, and eventually his life. Throughout the New Testament, we often find Paul defending the authenticity of his apostleship (Galatians 1:1, 1 Corinthians 9:1-2, and 1 Timothy 2:7). 

• What factors would have caused others to question him? How does this once again prove he was not “in it” to be a people pleaser? 

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In verse 15-16a, Paul states that God had set him apart before he was born (reference also Acts 26:16-18). 

• Compare this to Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5, Isaiah in Isaiah 49:1-3, and John the Baptist in Luke 1:13-17. 
• What does this language reveal about God’s sovereignty in calling and salvation? Reference also Ephesians 1:5-6, 9-10 and Romans 8:29-30.

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Verses 16b-24

Paul states that God designated him as a preacher specifically (but not exclusively) to the Gentiles (non-Jews). This is corroborated in Acts 9:15-16 and reiterated in Romans 11:13, 1 Timothy 2:7, Ephesians 3:8, and Romans 15:16. 

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To understand the inclusion of Gentiles into God’s plan and promise of salvation, review the following:

• Per the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12:1-3), what do Deuteronomy 7:6-9 and Romans 9:4 remind us about Israel’s place as God’s chosen people? 
• What does Romans 11:11-24 explain regarding the inclusion (not replacement) of Gentiles into God’s plan of redemption? What is Paul’s hope here for his fellow Jews who had rejected Christ? 
• Paul’s message was simple and clear as stated in 1 Corinthians 2:1-2. Why were the Judaizers so disturbed by the simplicity of his message and the inclusion of Gentiles who were not bound to Jewish law?

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Three years passed after Paul’s conversion in Damascus until the time he went to Jerusalem. Within that time frame, he made it clear that he was not mentored by anyone (v.16-17). Even when he did eventually travel to Jerusalem, he spent only 15 days there and saw only Peter and James (v.8-19). 

• Why would he feel the need to make this information known? 
• What was he trying to convey about the source of his revelation and teaching? 
• How would this information have fortified his argument against the Judaizers? 
• Because of his unique role as a preacher to the Gentiles, how might Paul’s influence and message have been diminished or questioned had he been discipled by Jewish apostles? 

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Because of his past, it was difficult for many to accept the genuineness of Paul’s conversion (Acts 9:13-14, 21, 26). 

• What were some factors that served to authenticate Paul’s true transformation? Reference Acts 9:23-25, 2 Corinthians 11:24-28, and 2 Peter 3:15-16. 
• Paul says in verse 24 that the churches “were glorifying God because of me.” How is this reminiscent of Jesus’ words in Luke 15:7 and why is this important to remember when we think someone is “too far gone” to be saved?

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Living It Out

Take some time this week for self-reflection: 

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In the book of Galatians, the apostle Paul teaches us that only the continual grace of God can transform us to be more like Jesus; not our works, intentions, or good deeds.

• As you look back on your life, can you identify the moment you first recognized this? How did that awareness transform you?
• How easy or difficult is it for you to accept the grace of God in your life? Are there areas of your life where accepting grace is more challenging than in others? Why do you think that is? 
• Take an honest inventory. In what areas of your life are you primarily seeking human approval rather than God’s? Think about specific situations where you compromise truth or obedience because of what others might think. Examples: What you post on social media, how you talk about your faith at work, financial decisions influenced by keeping up appearances, staying silent when God prompts you to speak, going along with sin to maintain relationships, etc.
• Who can you pray for this week to accept God’s transforming grace? 

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As a reminder, consider the following practical takeaways Pastor Anthony presented this week:

• Religion doesn’t produce true righteousness. 
  
  • How can Paul’s example of this truth shape the way you move forward?
  • Perform a quick heart check and ask God to reveal any areas where you are relying on your own works instead of the completed work of Christ.   
• Spirituality is not obtained outside of truth. 
  
  • What types of things might you be turning towards for your sanctification other than Christ? 
  • What can you do to turn away from these things and back to Jesus? 

• Truth comes from God. 
  
  • Culture, traditions, people, the world… their truth can shift and change. Where does real truth always come from and how can you distinguish the real from the false? 
  • Paul’s accusers wanted him to maintain the “old paths” of tradition. But some traditions are in fact not biblical. How can you discern between God-given truth that should never change and human traditions that need to be questioned or released?
  • How can you determine a truth teller from a wolf in sheep’s clothing?

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Prayer Prompt

Today's message said much about “Truth.” John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” Turn this verse into prayer: Lord, sanctify me through Your truth, and remove all falsehood from my heart.