Hope Christian Church

When we walk away from grace we always lose

It’s like we’re in shackles….
…we lose our freedom

Peter is saying, “We lived our whole lives with this yoke and we couldn’t bear it! Why are you putting it on them?!”

When we walk away from grace we always lose

It’s like we’re bankrupt…
…we lose our wealth

Another way to translate this is...“Christ will be of no profit to you”

Idea: You become a debtor to the whole law

Legalism not only steals our freedom….
…it steals our spiritual wealth in Christ

When we surrender our lives to Christ we become spiritually rich.

When we walk away from grace we always lose

Like someone who runs…
…we can lose our spiritual direction

As a follower of Jesus…don’t run around like you’re….
…in shackles
….broke
….aimlessly running in the wrong direction

As a follower of Jesus who lives in God’s grace remember….
· You are free.
· You are spiritually rich.
· Keep spiritually running in a lane that leads to fulfillment in Christ.

Life Group Questions for 9-29-24

OPEN:

Can you think of a time when you had a job or were given a task and no matter how hard you worked, you could not complete it?

Read Galatians 5:1-9

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
2Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
7You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9“A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”

DIG:
Re-read Galatians 5:1 and read Galatians 5:13

'You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. '
Galatians 5:13

1. In verse 1, Paul talks about freedom. What do you think true freedom in Christ looks like? What do you think freedom in Christ does NOT look like?

Respond to this thought....
"Why does your 'freedom in Christ' look so much like my bondage before I came to Christ?" Respond.

2. What does Paul mean when he says, "Do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery"? How does this metaphor relate to the struggle between law and grace?

3. In verses 2-4, how does Paul describe the implications of seeking justification through the law versus faith in Christ? What are the consequences he warns about?

4. In Galatians 5:5, Paul writes, "For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope."

What do you think it means to "eagerly await" righteousness through the Spirit? How does this concept of hope influence our daily lives and our relationship with God?

5. Galatians 5:6 states, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." How do you interpret the idea that faith must be expressed through love? In what ways can we ensure our faith is actively demonstrated through our actions towards others?

6. How does Paul’s warning in verse 9 about "a little yeast" inform our understanding of how sin or negative influences can affect a community?

REFLECT:

1. Reflect on your own life—are there areas where you feel burdened by expectations or rules? How can you shift your focus back to grace?

2. What does living in the freedom of Christ mean for you on a daily basis? How can you actively pursue this freedom?

PRAY