I Introduction
As we move to concrete examples of what the Christian life ought to look like, we need to remember where we are in Paul’s letter. In Galatians 5 and 6, we are learning about the consequences of our justification. We are learning how to respond to the grace that God has shown us in Christ.
Thus far we have had warnings about circumcision and peer pressure at the beginning of Galatians 5. Then an encouragement to live in the freedom that Christ has won. The law of God now serving as a blueprint for godly living rather than a checklist for salvation. Speaking of God’s law and the command to love, we have also been reminded that there is a struggle going on in our heart. The desires of the flesh remain even after our conversion. They have not gone away, and so we need to keep in step with the Spirit if we are going to make progress in godliness. We need to make sure we are there where the good news of Jesus Christ is faithfully explained, week by week, so that we can marvel at his beauty. So that we can be reminded of what he has done in our place, so that we can be changed and equipped by God’s Spirit for works of loving service.
II Not competition but loving service
A Explain: What does Paul assume about the Christian life? What do we need to be taught about family living?
B Explain: How do people typically behave in social settings? Is there an appropriate place for competition in God’s church?
C Explain: What will church life look like if we think we are rivals? Will there be any desire to help one another?
D Explain: What will church life look like if we know that we are family? How will this influence the way we look out for each other?
E Explain/Apply: How should we respond when we observe a believer caught up in sin?
F Explain/Apply: How can we help to bear financial burdens? How can we support each other emotionally? Give examples.
III Proper boasting and individual responsibility
A Explain: Why does Paul tell us about the specific loads that we need to bear as individuals?
B Explain: What is our individual load?
C Explain: Instead of comparing ourselves to other believers, to what must we make comparisons?
D Explain/Apply: What is the kind of boasting that God wants from me?
E Explain/Apply: How will reflection on what God has done for us in Jesus Christ spur us on to joyful burden bearing?
Concluding prayer
Heavenly Father,
We thank you for adopting us as your sons and daughters. We know that by nature we are deserving of judgement and condemnation because of our failure to keep law, our failure to love you as we ought and to love our neighbour as ourself. Truly we have done nothing to merit life in your presence. We do not deserve to be part of your church. Everything we have we have received only because of Christ, because he is our brother who came to obey your law in our place and die the death we deserve for our sins. Thank you that we can be adopted as children because of him, that we can know your love, be part of your family, call you our Father and look forward to eternal life in your presence.
Having made us your children, help us now to reflect on your work in us, to see the changes that you are making by your Spirit, to marvel at the manners in which you are conforming us into the image of your Son. We want to keep in step with your Spirit, we want to do the good works that you have prepared for us to walk in. Give us the strength we need to gladly bear each other’s burdens. Make use more and more eager to serve. We do not want our church family to be a place where we compete with each other, where we think we need to prove ourselves. Already we are all adopted children, help us to live in the light of that reality, to treat each other as brother and sister in Christ.
Thank you for the various ways that you have helped us do this in past. The prayers that have been said, the food that has been given, financial contributions, time spent in each other’s presence, moments of sorrow and joy, may we continue to look out for each other. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.