THE SUNDAY SCHOOL OVERVIEW WILL FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LESSON EACH WEEK. BIBLICAL TRANSLATIONS WILL VARY, BUT THE MAIN RESOURCE WILL BE THE TOWNSEND PRESS SUNDAY SCHOOL COMMENTARY, 96th EDITION. THIS FEATURE IS DESIGNED TO BE OF HELP TO THOSE WHO CANNOT ATTEND THEIR LOCAL CHURCH AND/OR SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson Title: FREEDOM IN CHRIST
Adult/Young Adult Topic: CELEBRATE FREEDOM!
Printed Text: Galatians 5:1-17
Key Verse: Galatians 5:13 (NIV)
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
Source: Townsend Press Sunday School Commentary – 96th Edition, 2016-2017
UNIFYING LESSON PRINCIPLE:
Rigorous self-discipline is appealing to some because it seems to promote mastery over temptation. What is the key to living a morally acceptable life? Paul urged the Galatians to stand firm in Christian freedom and to live by the Spirit, which leads to greater holiness, and not greater self-indulgence.
CONCLUDING REFLECTION:
The Galatians listened to the false teachers and were obviously enamored by what they heard that they allow themselves to be pulled away from the great Gospel that Paul had taught them. We run the risk of making that same mistake and rejecting the purity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in favor of a more works-based gospel. However, Paul’s teachings and cautions were not just for the people of Galatia in the first century, but for people of faith in all centuries.
PRAYER:
Lord, let the truth of your life-saving relationship fall fresh on our hearts and not our minds. Do not allow us to try to reason with your grace or even fully understand it. But, God, give us the humility and childlike spirit to simply accept it and be grateful to you for it. Lord, we want to live for you in every way, but we want to do it of our own understanding. Have mercy when we misunderstand your Gospel and forgive us when we misrepresent your truth. Please continually draw us nearer to you, because that is the only place where we desire to be. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Sunday School Review “Celebrate Freedom in Christ” was originally published on 955thelou.com
