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Think Like Missionaries
In Lead Your Group to think Like Missionaries Mark Miller writes...
Historically, the Sunday School was age-graded for the primary purpose of outreach and evangelism. (more…)
Lesson Highlight: Galatians 5:22-23
In the "Biblical Perspective" notes on this verse, Dr. Marsh Jones writes:
The apostle used a metaphor to explain the behavior of a Christian. (more…)
Lesson Highlight: Galatians 5:16
In the Teaching Tips for this coming Sunday's lesson, Greg Blake writes:
The flesh and the Spirit are used here by Paul to talk about two regimes or domains, if you will. Life in the Spirit, or according to the Spirit, is a life where the Spirit is in control and has come to reside with the individual who has accepted God’s gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus. To “walk by the Spirit” entails a genuine decision. However, this is not a decision involving a strong effort of the will to overcome enormous obstacles in order to get something accomplished. Rather, Christians are called to entrust themselves to the Spirit, to God’s activity, and simply to follow His guidance. It is just the opposite of all the characteristics of life, or existence, accord- ing to the flesh, which will eventuate in death.
Lesson 5: "Flesh Vs. Spirit", Galatians and Ephesians, Adult Teacher's Insights, p. 29.
Lesson Highlight: Galatians 2:20
Dr. Marsh Wilkinson Jr, in his comments on this verse, writes:
The first part of this verse may be understood to mean a number of things, all of them plausible and not necessarily exclusive: (1) I am convinced that nothing but the blood of Christ can save me, and thus I have given up on the law and its system; (2) I am so dead to the world with its affections and lusts that it is as though I have been crucified with Christ; (3) I am one with Christ, and my will is completely His. Paul stated that he was not literally dead, yet he was not the same person that he once was, either. He had taken on Christ completely so that he had totally died to his own will and made the will of God one with his. He was still in the flesh, and yet he was living by faith and obtaining victory over sin. How did he do it? By the power of Jesus Christ, who loved him and died for his sins.
From Lesson 5: "Flesh vs. Spirit", Galatians and Ephesians, Adult Teacher's Insights, July 5, 2015.
The Spirit Leads
Read Romans 8:14-15
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (v. 15).
The family is one of the beautiful analogies used in God’s Word to describe the new life in Christ. The image stirs up emotions of closeness, sharing, and belonging. These emotions are magnified when an orphan is adopted into a family unit, and for the first time in life he experiences those feelings.
Sadly, that picture of the family is, for some, only a distant dream. Fathers are obeyed out of fear rather than from love and respect. Mothers shout and condemn rather than encouraging and supporting. In that kind of a home, “the spirit of bondage” has scarred the biblical analogy.
Even sadder, however, is that some Christians view God more like the dysfunctional father than as “Abba, Father.” They live in fear of punishment for an inadvertent sin, and their fear makes it impossible to draw close to their God.
Today, take a moment to draw close to Him. His arms are outstretched; His face has a welcoming smile. There is no freedom like the warmth and joy of the presence of God. (Gordon Snider)
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night.
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray.
I woke; the dungeon flamed with light.
My chains fell off; my heart was free.
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee. — Charles Wesley
Slavish fear is banished by the presence of Abba, Father.
This devotional entry is the Monday, July 6, 2015 entry from Opening the Word.
Flesh vs. Spirit
Lesson 5 - July 5
Focus Text: Galatians 2:17-21; 5:16-26
Central Truth: The Christian has died to sin so that he might live for Christ.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list evidences (both positive and negative) of a Spirit-led life.
Lesson Outline:
- Crucify the Flesh (Galatians 2:17-21)
- Walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-18)
- Works of the Flesh (Galatians 5:19-21)
- Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26)