Failure to Thrive 25 Mar 18

(Message 3) Why is it so easy to do wrong things and difficult to do right things? Sometimes we can feel like we’re at war with our own self. We can easily fail in our own efforts to win in the battle between right and wrong, but Jesus has provided a much better way. Join us for our final Epic Fail message, Failure to Thrive. #gcepicfail

Bearing the Fruit of the Spirit:

Be filled with the Spirit
Tell others
Fellowship with God
Fellowship with others
Give

Scripture used: Galatians 5:1-6; Galatians 5:16-17; Matthew 5:48; Galatians 5:18-23

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When you first moved away from home, what did “freedom” mean to you? Free to do what? Freedom from what?
Read Galatians 5:1-6. Why was being circumcised or in this case, not being circumcised, such a big deal for Paul?
Re-read Galatians 5:1. Read Galatians 2:16 and John 8:36. What does it mean to be free in Christ?
Read Galatians 5:13-15.
- How have you seen Christian freedom abused?
- Read Matthew 22:34-40. How does the “greatest commandment” allow us to keep our freedom yet keep us from abusing it?
Read Galatians 5:16-18.
- What two aspects of our lives as believers in Jesus Christ are in constant conflict with each other?
- If we are made alive by the Spirit, why do we still struggle with sin?
- Do you ever wish God would completely remove a certain temptation from you? What would that require?
Read Galatians 5:19-26. Troy shared that sometimes he feels like he’s walking close to God and at other times he struggles when his flesh is weak. Read Romans 7:17-20.
- What is the cause of “the struggle”? Read Romans 7:21-25.
- What is THE difference between living in the flesh and walking close to God? Read Romans 8:1-4.
Re-read Galatians 5:22-25. How can you and God’s Spirit weed out the sinful nature and grow the “fruit of the Spirit”? What are some steps we can take daily to ensure that we are doing that?

Daily Scripture Reading:

Day 1: Galatians 5:1-12

Day 2: Galatians 5:13-18

Day 3: Galatians 5:19-25

Day 4: Galatians 6:1-6

Day 5: Galatians 6:7-10

Day 6: Galatians 6:11-15

Day 7: Galatians 6:16-18

DIGGING DEEPER VERSES:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19

v.16 Rejoice always

v.17 Pray continually

v.18 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus

v.19 Do not quench the Spirit

ABC’s

Author: 1 Thessalonians 1:1 indicates that the Book of 1 Thessalonians was written by the apostle Paul, probably along with Silas and Timothy.

Background: In this letter, Paul was trying to clear up some confusion going on in the church of Thessalonica. There were some misunderstandings going on about the return of Christ. He also takes time to write about Holy living.

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Context: Paul is instructing the believers in Thessalonica on how to live a holy life due to their relationship with Jesus Christ. He goes on to talk to them on how they had some serious misconceptions. The book ends with final instructions of living the Christian life.

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1, 2, 3’s

Step 1 – Observation: What does the passage say?

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Step Two – Interpretation: What does it mean?