Sep. 26, 2021

Abundant Physical Life

 Primary Text: Galatians 5:22-24                  September 25 & 26, 2021

 Previous Teaching:   Abundant Relational Life

 1)  The Model of Jesus

 2 Timothy 2:12-13:  If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. 

DQ 1) Why is it impossible for God to be unfaithful?

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 2)  Faithfulness & Unfaithfulness

 1 Peter 5:12:  With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God.  Stand fast in it. 

Acts 15:37-40:  Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.  They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.  Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 

DQ 2) Why is faithfulness critical to healthy relationships?

DQ 3) How does unfaithfulness in one relationship affect other

           relationships?

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 3)  Long-term Faithfulness

 Matthew 25:21:  His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master's happiness!' 

DQ 4) Is there anything that needs to change in your life to make

           you a person who is more faithful to Christ and people?

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 This Week’s Teaching

 1)  The Sinful Nature

 Galatians 5:16-21:  So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.  For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature….  The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.  I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Philippians 3:18-19:  For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame.  Their mind is on earthly things. 

DQ 1) Why does our sinful nature desire things that are contrary to

            the Holy Spirit and even potentially self-destructive?

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 2)  I Do What?

 Romans 7:18-20:  I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing.  Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 

DQ 2) Why do we do what we do not want to do?  Where is this

           conflict taking place?

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 3)  That Fruit Thing!

 Galatians 5:22-24:  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 

DQ 3) What is self-control?  Why is it critical to healthy Christian

           living?

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 4)  No Longer Slaves

 Romans 6:6-7:  For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.   

2 Corinthians 3:17:  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

DQ 4) How could greater self-control enhance your personal

           freedom?

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