Galatians 1:1. 1Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead, 2and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
Think together: Have you ever written a letter to someone? Do you know how to address a letter or nice email?
Read together:
When you write a letter, a card, or a note to someone you might start by saying, “Dear (person).” Like, “Dear Grandma.” Or, “Dear Dad.” Sometimes when adults are writing a letter to someone that they don’t know they might write “To whom it may concern.”
The book of Galatians in the Bible is a letter (can you find it in your Bible?). But back in Bible days, people didn’t start letters by saying, Dear Galatians…. They started it the way the Apostle Paul does here – Paul…to the churches of Galatia…
First, Paul introduces himself. This letter is from Paul an apostle. Have you heard of the Twelve Apostles? They were the twelve men that lived with Jesus while he was on Earth. They loved Jesus and learned from him until he went back up into Heaven with God the Father after he rose from the dead. Well, Paul became an apostle after all of that happened. Jesus appeared to Paul out of Heaven and Paul became a Christian that day. We’ll talk more about that later.
After introducing himself as the writer of the letter, Paul tells us who the letter is for – the churches in Galatia. Galatia was part of a country called Turkiye. Paul had taught the people of Galatia about Jesus and many people received Jesus as their savior and became Christians. These brand new Christians are now the churches in Galatia.
Who wrote this letter? Paul the apostle.
Who did he write it to? The Christians in Galatia.
But most important is WHY Paul wrote this letter. Read verse three again. Paul says, grace and peace to you. Paul wants the Christians in Galatia to know that because of Jesus they will always have God’s grace and peace. His kindness and his calm. And if you have Jesus, you always have his grace and peace too.
Do something together: Write a letter to someone as a family to encourage them?
Because of Jesus: We can have God’s grace and peace?
With Jesus: We can share God’s grace and peace with other people too?
Pray: Father, because you gave me Jesus I have your grace and peace. Help me feel your grace and peace every day. Amen.
TLICfamily 