Galatians 5:26-6:5
This Week’s Main Idea:
You were created for community—to be in the diverse family of God.
Icebreaker:
Who was your best friend when you were a kid? How did you become best friends?
Introduction:
God never intended that we should be alone. But because we live in a broken and fragmented society, the practice of community is a discipline in which we must engage. When we choose to relate to others, we not only model the perfect community of the Trinity, we also find that relationships are one of God’s gifts to us in order for us to become complete people. In our passage today, we’ll see the dynamic of Christian community and see some of the obstacles to our engagement in it.
Read Galatians 5:26-6:5
1. In this passage, we see three obstacles to our community. The fist obstacle is conceit. How, in your own words, does conceit keep us from true community?
2. Who are you tempted to ignore the most? How does that represent an attitude of provoking?
3. A third characteristic is that of envying. Why does envy put up a barrier to community?
4. Why do you think we struggle with comparison do much?
5. Look back at Galatians 6:1-5. What are some of the characteristics of a community of restoration you see in this passage?
6. Is it difficult for you to tell the truth to someone else when it means bringing their sin to light? What are some of the ways you need to guard your heart in doing so?
7. What about receiving that from someone else? How can you proactively ready your heart to receive these wounds from a friend?
8. Why is this ability to confront gently but directly an essential component to true community?
9. What are some of the attitudes that are hindering the development of community around you?
10. What are some of the ways you need to develop the relationships around you to pursue this kind of community?
11. What do we need to do in our group to make sure we are fostering this discipline of community?
Suggested prayer:
Lord, help me to love others enough to be able to tell them truth as a good friend. Help me to guard my heart against the kinds of attitudes that hinder the growth of community.
Other Scriptures to Engage with this week:
John 15:9-17, 1 Corinthians 12:12-30, Acts 2:46-47, Romans 16:17-20, Romans 12:4-5