Following Jesus is a lifelong, everyday Journey.  What can we do when we grow weary in our pursuit of a simple, flourishing faith or when our lives go off course? We will answer that question this week as we close out this series from Galatians.  We will see in chapter 6 that we can help one another through accountability and encouragement to stay focused on the goal of the spiritual life. 

Group Discussion Guide

To view the Leader Guide for this week, click here.
To view a .doc version of this guide, click here.

Introduction

Last week, we discussed God’s desire for his people to follow where he leads us, not to try to follow our own way of living, whether that be trying to keep rules we impose on ourselves because we think that means we have more faith or to live without relying on the Holy Spirit. When we live by following God’s direction, we gain freedom in our lives that produces loving emotional and practical attributes (or Fruits of the Spirit) that help our relationships with those around us, as well as ourselves.  

Spend a few minutes discussing how your group put their personal action steps from last week into practice. 

After connecting with each other, begin your meeting with prayer.  

Key Verse for the Week  

*Read this verse, then encourage the practice of memorization through the week. 

 John 15:12 

 “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.” 

  **When practiced consistently, memorizing Bible verses an be an important spiritual practice that centers your mind around the truth that God has given us. 

Opening Thought 

 Humans were created with the intention to have needs. God made us this way so that when we come across a need we have, we rely on him to satisfy that need. A problem we have, however is that we also have a, sometimes unhealthy, self-importance, which makes us try to fulfill our needs by ourselves instead of turning to God. The Apostle Paul described that we can do things a better way: turn to Jesus, then serving one another. 

This leads us to our big idea for this week:  

Big idea for the week
We can freely serve each other

Connect   

• How would you define what it means to struggle? Using this definition, what does it practically look like to help someone who is struggling?  
• Why do you think empathy is an important trait to have and practice?  
• When have you felt the positive effects of others caring about your needs during a challenging time? How would your experience during this time have been different if others were not around? 

Unpack 

Go around your group and have someone read each of the following verses, then discuss the connected questions. 

Read

Galatians 6:1-5 

Discuss

• What does it practically look like to “gently and humbly” help someone “overcome” with sin or a burden to return to the way of Jesus?  
• Verse 5 in the verses you just read says, “you are not that important”. Why do you think this part was included?  
• Why do you think the Apostle Paul wrote that his audience should share each other’s burdens, then say they should take care of their own work? How is this not a contradiction? 

Read

Galatians 6:7-10  

Discuss

• Why is it important for you to be watchful and remind those around you to live like followers of Jesus? How do we do this without unhealthy judgment? 
• How can you invite the holy spirit to help you with challenges in your community? 
• What does it look like to “do good to everyone”? How can you be a person of perseverance in this effort? 

Read

Galatians 6:14-16 

Discuss

• How can you live with no interest in the world while also trying to care for those around you? Why is this important in our culture today?  
• How can you remember to live as a new creation of God daily? Why is it important to remember that we are a new creation? 

Apply 

Take a moment to discuss these questions as a group to decide what your personal action steps for the week can be: 

• How will you be open, available, and ready to share someone’s burden(s) this week? 
• How will you be intentional with how you live this week and over the next holiday season in order to extend yourself to someone else? 
• How will we as a group continue to use our freedom because of Jesus for the good of others? 

Closing 

Read this to your group and then move to the Prayer and Verses section: 

A simple faith is not about keeping rules or checking off boxes to know you’re a good Christian. Simple faith in Jesus leads us to live in freedom because we rely on the Holy Spirit, and that leads us to love others. We are called to bear one another’s burdens and remind them of their identity in Christ with love and grace. Let us not grow tired of doing good to others, but press on to live a life of simple faith that leads others to come to know Jesus. 

Prayer and Verses 

Ask for prayer requests and conclude your time with prayer, then share the Key Verse for the Week and Daily Devotional Verses with the group. 

Daily Devotional Verses  

Use the S.O.A.K. method to reflect on the verses below. 

Scripture: Read the verses several times. Reading out loud can be helpful as well. 
Observation: What can you see about the scripture you read? 
Application: What is God wanting you to believe, do, or feel, based on what you have read? 
Kneel in Prayer: This is a chance to talk to God about what you have read and ask him for help in living out what you’ve learned. 

Day 1: Galatians 6 

Day 2: Romans 12:15 

Day 3: 1 Corinthians 12:26 

Day 4: Philippians 2:3 

Day 5: Hebrews 4:14-16 

Day 6: Micah 6:8 

Key Verse for the Week 

John 15:12 

“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.”