Key Thought: Faith in Christ frees us from slavery to sin, death, and the devil. We are free to express our faith in loving and joyful service.

[Teaching plan for “Freedom in Christ” November 7, 2011]

1. Have a volunteer read Galatians 5:1-6.

A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. Why did Paul focus on circumcision as an example of being a debtor to the whole law?
C. Personal Application: Can people who focus on keeping the Sabbath as a means of being justified be guilty of being in bondage? Share.
D. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “What is the liberty we are to walk in? Is it to be free from the law, which brings bondage? What else would we be free from?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Galatians 5:7-11.

A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. What does Paul mean by stating that if he preached circumcision, the offense of the cross has ceased?
C. Personal Application: Why does preaching faith in Jesus instead of salvation by works bring persecution? Don’t most people believe in salvation by faith in Jesus? Why would it bring persecution?
D. Case Study: One of your friends states, ”Why does one person, one doubter, one persuader, cause so much trouble in a congregation from time to time? Can such a one cause the whole group to be led astray or troubled?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Galatians 5:12,13.

A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. Is Paul saying here that he wished that the ones teaching false doctrines would die? Share.
C. Personal Application: What occasions of the flesh trouble us that we are not in liberty to give in to? Share.
D. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “This liberty means that we are not under the Ten Commandments, but we are free from the law. We are not to condemn or chastise one another’s behavior, because we are all free in Christ from condemnation.” How do you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Galatians 5:14.

A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
B. Is it true that if I love my neighbor as myself, I would be fulfilling the law?
C. Personal Application: If we are trying to be Sabbath-keepers who keep the whole law out of love to God, but we treat and talk about our neighbors with less than selfless love; have we become Pharisees and hypocrites?.
D. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Note: “Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.” MH p. 149)

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