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What is Real Freedom?

For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. GALATIANS 5:13-15, 26 CSB

We can be freed from…

Living for ourselves

Only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh… GALATIANS 5:13 CSB
Some say, “It’s Jesus and law” others say, “It’s Jesus and lawlessness”

Living for other people

But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another. GALATIANS 5:15 CSB
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. GALATIANS 5:26 CSB

We can be free to…

Give ourselves in love

For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. GALATIANS 5:14 CSB

How do we live in this freedom?

Become a slave to Christ

For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery. GALATIANS 5:1 CSB
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it. LUKE 9:24 CSB

Ask others, “How can I serve you?”

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. JOHN 13:35 CSB

Community Group Discussion Questions

  1. If you could be completely free in a place without laws or consequences, what is the first thing you would do?
  2. Read Galatians 5:13. When you have free time, do you tend to look for an opportunity to serve yourself or to serve others? Why do you think that is?
  3. Read Galatians 5:15. When have you “bitten someone’s head off” or used your words to destroy someone? What happened to that relationship as a result?
  4. Read Galatians 5:14. When you think about an average week in your life, how would you say you “love your neighbor as yourself”?
  5. Read John 13:35. Recall a time when you can remember someone seeing Jesus in you as you loved and cared for someone else?
  6. What is one thing you can do this week to show God’s love to a “neighbor” in your life in a way that has Jesus written all over it?

Personal Reflection Guide

Take a few minutes to settle your body, heart and mind. Then, have a conversation with God as you mull over this weekend’s message. Culture changes in so many ways, but one thing that remains a common thread is that fulfilling your dreams and desires is the means to freedom and happiness. Take a real look at yourself. Are you more fulfilled living for yourself or living for others? Can you ever really do enough for yourself to find true fulfillment? Jesus’ life was lived with others in mind and his actions put other people’s needs as a primary focus. As you examine your own life and how much time you spend trying to find personal fulfillment, how are you imitating Christ and loving others with your words and actions? If you sense you’re falling short in this area, take some time to talk with God right now about how you can make some intentional changes beginning today. Ask God to show you some specific ways in which you can resist seeking after self-fulfillment and how you can find true fulfillment in serving, caring for or loving someone else. Be honest with yourself and God as you chew on these challenges, remembering the only way to change is through an honest evaluation and clear next steps going forward. Take some time to share with another about this time with the Lord and the steps you are willing to take going forward.

My Notes