February 26: Christ Creates Holy Living (Galatians 5:18–6:10)

To engage the learners in a study of the Scripture text:

Read Galatians 5:18-26 and discuss the following questions with your group.

1. How would you explain to a new Christian (or a non-Christian) what it means to be “led by the Spirit,” “live by the Spirit,” “keep in step with the Spirit,” etc.?
2. What is the difference between Paul’s description of right living here and the legalism he denounced earlier in Galatians?
3. If “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (v. 24), why do many (if not all) Christians struggle with ungodly desires?

Read Galatians 6:1-6 and discuss the following questions with your group.

4. What connection do you see between “the fruit of the Spirit” and Galatians 6:1-5?
5. Without sharing names, have you seen this process done correctly—that is, when someone “caught in a sin” was gently restored? Have you seen this process done incorrectly, or not done at all?

Read Galatians 6:7-10 and discuss the following questions with your group.

6. As you reflect on your life, when have you experienced the consequences of “reaping what you sow”?
7. In what way is doing good to others draining? In what way is it energizing?
8. How do you get rejuvenated when you start to become “weary in doing good”?

To encourage personal application:

Divide into groups of two to four people—men with men and women with women—to discuss the following questions.

1. Which of “the acts of the flesh” (listed in Galatians 5:19-21 or otherwise) do you struggle with most? What can you do “keep in step with the Spirit” in this area of your life?
2. Which aspect of “the fruit of the Spirit” do you most desire to grow in? How would you like to put that quality to use in your life?

Have the small groups close by praying for one another according to what was shared.