While speaking on the Holy Spirit in the past 11 verses, Paul has said that we should “walk by the Spirit,” be “led by the Spirit,” “live by the Spirit,” and “keep in step with the Spirit.” Spend some time discussing each of these exhortations. What is it Paul wants the church to understand/do here?
What does it mean to “keep in step with the Spirit?” What does this practically look like within the life of a believer?
Discussion Questions:
What does it mean that we belong to Jesus? Why is it important to understand this?
Spend a few minutes defining “the flesh.”
On Sunday, we learned that the passing of our flesh is gradual. Although it is crucified, its death is not complete. Why is that important for us to remember?
“4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” - Deuteronomy 6:4-9
“Family Discipleship is the family of God partnering with and equipping parents/guardians to help build in their children an authentic faith in Jesus.”
Often times whenever we hear the words “evangelism” and “discipleship,” our default mode is to think outward (something we do with those outside of our homes). Why is it important to think about these things as something we do within our home, as well as outside of our homes?
Why is it important to see that God calls us to “love him” and “learn his commandments” before he commands us to teach our children?
Where and how can we teach and disciple the next generation?
How is family discipleship a church wide endeavor?
Why do you think Paul calls these virtues “fruit of the Spirit” and not “works of the Spirit?”
Timothy Keller made the point that Christian growth is gradual and inevitable. How should both of these truths shape the way we interact with one another?
If you were to examine your own life, can you see the Spirit of the Spirit growing in your life?
Paul describes the works of the flesh as evident. Why do you think there is so much confusion in our culture over what is and is not sin? How do we navigate this confusion as believers?
Reread verses 19-21. In looking at the vices described, what do you see most prevalent in your own life?
Paul says that those who do these things “will not inherit the kingdom of God.” How would you counsel someone who starts to doubt their salvation because of their struggle with the sins listed?
1.) What does it mean to “walk” by the Spirit?
2.) Why are we so drawn to the desires of the flesh?
3.) Do you think this battle between Spirit and flesh is part of the Sanctification process?
4.) How can you do both: walk by the Spirit, and be led by the Spirit? (V. 18)
What does it mean that we’ve been called to freedom?
Why is it important to understand that we are to not use our freedom as “an opportunity for the flesh?” How do we do this?
What does it practically mean to “serve one another through love?”
Paul uses the law to support the call to serve one another in love. Does this contradict the argument that he’s been making against the law up until this point? Why? Or why not?
Discussion Questions:
What does the “Christian race” practically look like? What does it mean to “obey the truth?” What truth is Paul referring to here?
What does verse 10 mean?
Why does Paul use such strong language in verse 12? Also, does Paul’s example here teach us that there is a time and a place to use strong language?
If you were to survey your heart, do you feel like the warning/rebuke here applies to you?
1. In verse 2, accept = to put trust in, what are you tempted to put trust in rather than Jesus?
2. Verse 4 mentions “you have fallen away from grace” what does that mean?
3. Since faith energizes our love, how have you seen God at work around you this week? How could you join Him in that work?
Paul, a Jew, refers to a group of Gentile believers in Galatia as “brothers.” Why is that important? And how should that shape the way we view and treat one another within the church?
What does it mean to be a “child of promise?”
Why is it important for us to protect the truth of the gospel?
In speaking on the freedom we have in Christ, Timothy Keller says, “Despite its divine source, our freedom is fragile and can slip from our grasp.” How do you find yourself slipping back into slavery?
How would you summarize the point Paul is seeking to make here in these verses?
How would these verses been a blow to the false teachers at this time? How would these verses have been comforting to the churches in Galatia?
Abraham tried to manufacture God’s promise on his own terms and his own timing. Do you ever act similar in a similar manner?
Why is the doctrine of grace so important to the health of the church?
How is the fact that God used Paul’s bodily ailment as an instrument to advance the gospel both encouraging and convicting?
Paul reminds the church that his “condition was a trial to them.” Yet, we see that the church did not “scorn of despise him.” How should that shape the way we view service?
In looking at these verses, how is the way Paul acted toward the church different from the way the false teachers acted toward the church? What can we practically learn from looking at these differences?
On Sunday we saw Paul use two different words when it comes to knowing God. Why is it important to understand that knowing God is both intellectual and intimate?
Read Matthew 7:21-23. How are these words both terrifying and comforting?
How is “observing days and months and seasons and years” similar to worshipping pagan gods?
How is legalism a form of idolatry?
How does “vertical peace” lead to both “internal peace” and “horizontal peace?”
Read Romans 12:14-21. How does the gospel shape the way we interact with both believers and nonbelievers?
Why is it so difficult to bless our enemies?
Romans 12:18 says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” What does the caveat “so far as it depends on you” mean for us today?
Think about your relationship with your non-Christian friends, family, or co-workers. What are some ways that you can better live out what these verses are describing?
What does it mean to have peace?
Why is it important to believe that Jesus wants us to have peace?
Has there been a time in your life where you have had peace in the midst of trials? Explain.
What is something that brings you joy during Christmas?
How does joy help us worship God/
What can our church family do this Christmas to share the big announcement of Jesus with others, like the shepherds did?
Why is it important to think about love at Christmas time?
How have we seen God love our family?
Who is someone we can love love to during Christmas? How?
Did everything God said about Jesus’ birth come true? How do we know?
How does the birth of Jesus give us hope?
What are some reasons it might be hard to trust and hope in God?
Discussion Questions:
Why is it important that Paul calls all Christians “sons of God” in this passage?
How do you feel about being an adopted son of God?
Why is it important that we believe the bad news about ourselves before we believe the good news of the gospel?
What emotions do you feel when you think about the fact that you are an adopted “son of God?”
What does it mean to “put on Christ?”
When it comes to the family of God, why is it important to understand that unity doesn’t equal uniformity?