This lesson was written during a time of discernment and transition in the life of my church. But speaks to us clearly and succinctly about getting real, getting serious about the implication of being a spiritual person or a spiritual community. The translations are from The Message which is rapidly becoming my favorite version of the bible.
Get Serious!
Galatians 5:25-26 Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.
1. What is Paul’s caution to us, the people who have chosen the life of the Spirit? Do you think it is true and how have you seen it play out in your experience? Karen Armstrong writes some of the same thoughts in The Case For God:
Religion will not work automatically, however; it requires a great deal of effort and cannot succeed if it is facile, false, idolatrous, or self-indulgent. Religion is a practical discipline, and its insights are not derived from abstract speculation but from spiritual exercises and a dedicated lifestyle.
2. What does “work out its implications in every detail of our lives” mean to you? Can you relate to it in thinking about other responsibilities we have either chosen or agreed to take on like parenthood or a relationship? What are some issues that need to be overcome and aids/motivators for moving in this direction?
3. Paul seems to direct his comments to us as individuals but do you think that working out the implications in every detail of our lives applies to our church? Are there ways in which we might better incorporate the Spirit in our congregational life?
4. What additional caution is given, how can we get off-track as we seek to live a spiritual life? Why is comparing ourselves with others an issue? Can you think of examples that illustrate this point?
Paul gives us some examples of living the life of the Spirit
Galatians 6:1-3 Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.
4-5 Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.
6 Be very sure now, you who have been trained to a self-sufficient maturity, that you enter into a generous common life with those who have trained you, sharing all the good things that you have and experience.
1. How do you interpret Paul’s advice on dealing with someone who has problems? How should we deal with them? Can you think of examples when this has been and has not been the manner in which a situation was dealt with?
2. What do we need to be careful to remember as we deal with problems others have? Who should we be critically evaluating, ourselves or those who need our help?
3. How should we deal with those who are oppressed? Who in our community might be considered oppressed? What gives us pause when we think about people who might fit this description?
4. What seems to be the given in verses 4-5? Do you think that you have a God given assignment? What are some things that might sidetrack us if we compare ourselves with others? How might doing our creative best apply to us and the life of our congregation today?
5. When you think of the word trained, who and what do you think of in terms of your spiritual life? How might his advice on sharing be understood?
Don’t Get Off-Track
Galatians 6:7-8 Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.
9-10 So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.
1. In verses 7-8 Paul speaks to planting and harvesting, does your life’s experience support his observation? What is the key to planting a crop of real life? How might we practically grow in living by God’s Spirit?
2. One of things that might naturally manifest itself in an aging congregation is fatigue, a lack of energy in our congregational life. How might these words apply to the life of our congregation today? What practical advice does he give us for maintaining our get up and go? What would you like to see us as a congregation do to build and maintain spiritual energy?
Closing Prayer
We ask that the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory, make us intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, our eyes focused and clear, so that we can see exactly what it is he is calling us to do, and grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for us, his followers. Amen. From Ephesians 1:17-19
Next Week’s Scriptures: Amos 7:7-17 or Deuteronomy 30:9-14, Psalm 82 or Psalm 25:1-10, Colossians 1:1-14, Luke 10:25-37
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