Real Lyfe

FREEDOM IN CHRIST

Galatians 5.1–15Christ Gives Freedom

Bible Sunday: lyfe Session 2

REAL LYFE

Introduction:

Freedom has two parts – we can be free from something and we can be free for something. If we want to experience a new freedom in Christ, then we cannot continue to live in our old way of life.

FREEDOM INCHRIST

REAL LYFE

SHINE WORD LYFE

WORD LYFE

SHINE

Discovering ways to share and be the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Christ followers are called to live distinctly different lives, to be more aware of the presence of God in our lives.

REVIEW How did it go? Was it helpful?

If you weren’t able to try the challenge, explore the question:

Where and how did you experience God last week?

Recap on your experience of the challenge. Ask the following questions:

Philippians 2.12-18 Lights in the World 12 My dear friends, you always obeyed when I was with you. Now that I am away, you should obey even more. So work with fear and trembling to discover what it really means to be saved. 13 God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him. 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing. 15 Then you will be the pure and innocent children of God. You live among people who are crooked and evil, but you must not do anything that they can say is wrong. Try to shine as lights among the people of this

world, 16 as you hold firmly to the message that gives life. Then on the day when Christ returns, I can take pride in you. I can also know that my work and efforts were not useless.

17 Your faith in the Lord and your service are like a sacrifice offered to him. And my own blood may have to be poured out with the sacrifice. If this happens, I will be glad and rejoice with you. 18 In the same way, you should be glad and rejoice with me.Contemporary English Verse - CEV

READ

Being and sharing the good news

Just LyfeImagery based on a heart of compassion. Enveloped in the new life of an egg.

Compassionate life

Word LyfeImagery based on an open bible.

Word-centred life

Still LyfeImagery based on simple praying hands together.

Prayer-�lled life

Spirit LyfeImagery based on a simpli�ed dove, the symbol of the Holy Spirit.

Spirit empowered life

Whole LyfeImagery based on the hands of Christ. Being Christ incarnationally.

Incarnational life

Real LyfeImagery based on a �ame.Virtuous life

‘The present moment holds

infinite riches beyond your

wildest dreams, but you

will only enjoy them to the

extent of your faith and

love… to discover

God in the smallest and

most ordinary things, as

well as in the greatest, is

to possess a rare and

sublime faith.’ Jean Pierre de Caussade

Christ has set us free! This means we are really free. Now hold on to your freedom and don’t ever become slaves of the Law again. 2I, Paul, promise you that Christ won’t do you any good if you get circumcised. 3If you do, you must obey the whole Law. 4And if you try to please God by obeying the Law, you have cut yourself off from Christ and his wonderful kindness. 5But the Spirit makes us sure that God will accept us because of our faith in Christ. 6If you are a follower of Christ Jesus, it makes no difference whether you are circumcised or not. All that matters is your faith that makes you

Read the following passage of Scripture two or three times slowly and silently. As you are reading, look out for ‘shockers or blockers’. A ‘shocker’ is something from the text that stands out or resonates with you. A ‘blocker’ is something that raises questions or something that you find hard to understand. You will also want to read through the ‘Setting the Scene’ information which provides you with some context about this passage.

REFLECT

Setting the Scene: Galatians is one of Paul’s most strongly

worded letters (see v12!) – he was incensed that some Jews who professed to be followers of Christ insisted that non-Jewish converts should observe Jewish law (including circumcision) in order to be saved.

Salvation (new life) is God’s free gift to all who believe in Jesus. Christ through his death and resurrection has set these

young converts free – not to live as they like, but to serve God.

According to Paul, Christ has dealt with our old life – we have been made new. Now we have to let the Holy Spirit control every part of our lives, enabling us to obey and glorify God.

What are the ‘shockers’ and ‘blockers’ for you in this passage?

Reflect on this story by asking each person in the group to share their ‘shockers’ and ‘blockers’ then take time to discuss it together. You can also use the questions below to keep your conversation focused on the theme.

love others.7You were doing so well until someone made you turn from the truth. 8And that person was certainly not sent by the one who chose you. 9A little yeast can change a whole batch of dough, 10but you belong to the Lord. That makes me certain that you will do what I say, instead of what someone else tells you to do. Whoever is causing trouble for you will be punished.11My friends, if I still preach that people need to be circumcised, why am I in so much trouble? The message about the cross would no longer be a problem, if I

told people to be circumcised. 12I wish that everyone who is upsetting you would not only get circumcised, but would cut off much more!13My friends, you were chosen to be free. So don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do anything you want. Use it as an opportunity to serve each other with love. 14All that the Law says can be summed up in the command to love others as much as you love yourself. 15But if you keep attacking each other like wild animals, you had better watch out or you will destroy yourselves.

How easy do you find it to trust God rather than worry – what has been your experience?

Are you worried or anxious about something right now? Why not stop and pray together?

Spend time this week intentionally focusing on God – fill your mind with Scriptures, music and other things that will continually draw your mind back to God in worship. Ask God to be present in all you do, invite him into every aspect of your day – whatever you are doing. ‘Practice the presence of God’ as much as you can. It may help to use drinking tea or coffee or some other regular activity, as a prompt to remind you to re-focus on God.

Freedom BringerWe are not set free to live as we like – we are set free to serve God and to bring freedom to others. Sometimes it means letting go of what I want, to serve the needs of others instead. Commit yourself to serve other people secretly and

FREEDOM IN CHRIST REAL LYFE

RESPOND

Focusing on GodDallas Willard writes: ‘The ultimate freedom we have as human beings is the power to select what we will allow our minds to dwell upon. It is in our thoughts that the first movements toward the renovation of the heart occur. Thoughts are the place where we can and must begin to change.’

Respond by taking on an activity or challenge this week – you might like to create your own, or you can use one of our suggestions below.

Challenge Ideas:

If you struggle to come up with your own challenge then why not try one of the following…

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Group Prayer:You might like to pray for each other regularly this week as you seek creative ways to experience new freedom. When you meet next time, you will spend a little time at the beginning reviewing your experience of your chosen challenge.

Freedom in Christ challenge: As a group, create a challenge to help you to experience new freedom in Christ this week

practically this week – don’t make a show of it and don’t make others your ‘project’ – just naturally and lovingly put yourself in the service of other people each day.

Reflecting on FreedomTake some time this week to reflect on how Christ has changed you. Think about how your ‘new’ life is different to your ‘old’ life and write a prayer of thanks to God. If there are things that still need to change – perhaps a wrong attitude, an area of selfishness, anxiety or bad habits (we are in many ways ‘unfinished’) – bring these to God in prayer and consider how God might want you to deal with these things.

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More to Lyfe?The lyfe website hosts over 30 free lyfe sessions for small groups, plus complimentary video interviews and other resources to help you discover a deeper life with God.

Visit: lyfe.org.uk today!