Living by the Spirit. Did you notice the introduction’s account of how the words of the Christian hymn, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” by Robert Robinson were changed? I was relieved to see that in the Adventist church hymnal the author’s words in the third stanza remain intact: “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, … Continue reading –>
We open our singing time with Hymn 334, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” as is noted in the very first sentence of the lesson pamphlet this week. Sundays’ study of ‘Walking with the Spirit’ is unpacked in the following hymns: Hymn 315, “O for a Closer Walk!” Hymn 544, “O Let Me Walk With … Continue reading –>
(Gal. 5:22-24) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Gal. 5:22-23, ESV). In what ways does obedience to the Ten Commandments reflect the fruit of the Spirit as it is expressed in these verses? (See also Matt. 5:21-22, Matt. 5:27-28; Matt. 22:35-40.) The … Continue reading –>
Having introduced the conflict that exists between the flesh and the Spirit, Paul in Galatians 5:18-26 elaborates on the nature of this contrast by means of a list of ethical vices and virtues. The catalog of vices or virtues was a well-established literary feature present in both Jewish and Greco-Roman literature. These lists identified behavior to be … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: Because Christ has conquered the power of sin, the Christian life can keep the desires of the flesh at bay under the power of the Spirit in control. Lesson 12, September 16, 2017 1. Have a volunteer read Galatians 5:17-21. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important … Continue reading –>
“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would” (Gal. 5:17; see also Rom. 7:14-24). How have you, in your own life as a believer, experienced the harsh and painful reality of these words? The … Continue reading –>
Law isn’t very popular in our society – especially moral law. Doing your “own thing” is promoted in popular media and commercials. Postmodern culture is allergic to absolutes, and laws are absolutes. Law even seems to have a bad reputation in Christian circles. After all, Paul said that the Law is no longer needed after … Continue reading –>
Read Galatians 5:16. What does the concept of “walking” have to do with a life of faith? Deut. 13:4-5; Rom. 13:13; Eph. 4:1; Eph. 4:17; Col. 1:10. “Walking” is a metaphor drawn from the Old Testament that refers to the way a person should behave. Paul, himself a Jew, makes use of this metaphor often in his letters to describe the … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Gal. 5:16-25; Deut. 13:4-5; Rom. 7:14-24; Jer. 7:9; Hos. 4:2; Matt. 22:35-40. Memory Text: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16, ESV). One of the most beloved Christian hymns is Robert Robinson’s “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” Robinson, however, was not always a man of … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: “Genuine faith always works by love. When you look to Calvary it is not to quiet your soul in the nonperformance of duty, not to compose yourself to sleep, but to create faith in Jesus, faith that will work, purifying the soul from the slime of selfishness. When we lay hold of Christ by … Continue reading –>
