What is the Gospel? Week 11 // Galatians 5.16-25

A Fruitful Gospel

The Battle between Flesh and Spirit (5:16-18)

• No middle ground...what controls your life?
• Desires aren’t bad; present with both flesh and Spirit.
• Key Ideas for the Spirit
• Walk - way of life (Ezekiel 36)
• Led - guided by God; follow Jesus 

The Works of the Flesh (5:19-21)

• Work, not fruit
• Plural (chaotic, divided), not singular
• 8 terms about division/conflict
• 7 terms (plus general conclusion) about more common Fleshly sins, such as sex, magic, drunkenness, etc

The Fruit of the Spirit (5:22-25)

• Harvest; organic growth
• Singular (unified, integrated)
• Loosely divided into groups of 3
• No enforced or empowered by law

Works of Flesh ......... Fruit of Spirit

Man-made .................. Miraculous

Plural ........................... Singular

Chaotic ....................... Integrated

Divisive ....................... Unifying

Self-serving ................ Serving others

How do we walk by the Spirit?

• Kill/Crucify anything that hinders what God wants to do in and through me.
• Church (UP), Word (IN), Mission (OUT)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. How do you distinguish between healthy desires and fleshly desires?
2. What fruits of the Spirit come easily to you? Which are more difficult?
3. What does it look like to walk by the Spirit?
4. How specifically, can you respond to this passage?
5. How can we be praying for each other this week?

Scripture:

• Galatians 5:16-25