Gal 6:1-10

INTRO

When you think of the toughest of the tough what do you think of?

Nave Seals...

Hell Week consists of 5 1/2 days of cold, wet, brutally difficult operational training on fewer than four hours of sleep. Hell Week tests physical endurance, mental toughness, pain and cold tolerance, teamwork, attitude, and your ability to perform work under high physical and mental stress, and sleep deprivation. Above all, it tests determination and desire. On average, only 25% of SEAL candidates make it through Hell Week, the toughest training in the U.S. Military.

Elite group

Tested and ready

Mission Ready

When you think of one creature in the animal kingdom that works hardily together as a team what do you think of?

Ants

Proverbs 6:6–11 “6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. 7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.”

diligent

purposeful

No oversight necessary

What do navy seals, ants and christians have in common?

PRAYER

A - God our Father in Heaven we praise you for your goodness and faithfulness to us. You are the lamb who was slain and yet you also are the good shepherd. You bear our burdens, you never grow weary and you have given us the fruit of your labors and the power of your spirit.

C - Father we confess that we struggle to fulfill this law of Christ.

T - Thank you that Christ fulfilled the law for us

S - Jesus help us to truly bear with one another. Teach us how to test our work rightly. Let us give generously and ever live with passion for you, your gospel, and your kingdom.

MESSAGE

Main Idea: Paul urges Spirit-led believers to recognize and execute the practical responsibilities of the household of faith.

The bearing of loads until the very end!

Fulfill the Law of Christ or Reap of the flesh

Freedom in Service to Others

Gal 5.25-26 “25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Bearing and Boasting

Galatians 6:1–5 ESV

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.

When one of us is

The Reality of Burdens

Brothers = christians

“Caught” - in transgression = detected / to come upon suddenly

Woman caught in adultery…

James 1.2 “2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,”

1 Pet 1.6 “6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,”

The Imperative of Mutuality

BROTHERS - Gen 4.9 “9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?””

What to do

Restore them

Complete and adequate = setting a broken bone

Who is to do it

YOU who are spiritual

How it should be done

spirit of Gentleness

watchfully

The Myth of Self-Sufficiency

Body of Christ

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 “9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Burdens & Loads

burden = a hardship

load = your own stuff

Supporting Ministry

Galatians 6:6 ESV

6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.

What this should be

Gracious

Generous

Gift

Joy-filled expression of gratitude to God

What this should not be

Dutiful Legality / Guilt

Grease - abuse by the congregation

Gratuitous - abuse by the minister

What is it to you

Fellowship = koinoneia = “share all things” “things in common”

Sowing and Reaping

Galatians 6:7–10 ESV

7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

The Reality of Judgement

Do not be deceived = command

God is not mocked = statement

corn / barley / wheat

Gen 8.22 “22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.””

Jb 4.8 “8 As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.”

2 Cor 9.6 “6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

The Imperative of Obedience

Sow to the flesh reap corruption

Sow to the Spirit Reap Life

Law of Christ / Test your work

The Myth of Fruitless Faith

Let us not grow weary of doing good !!

sow and harvest the same day… ouch

So Then, as we have opportunity, Let us do good !!

CLOSE

PRAYER

Group Questions

What sets the church apart from other, charitable organizations and clubs, even religious ones?

How does the discussion about the “fruit of the Spirit” (5:16–26) relate to this passage (6:1–10)?

Have you ever needed to restore a brother/sister gently? If so, what was that like? Do you need to do so now? How should you go about it?

How is confronting the sin of other believers different from Jesus’ command, “Do not judge” (Matt 7:1)?

What are some examples of how one might “carry one another’s burdens”? What might hinder this from happening?

What is the difference between “burdens” and “loads” (6:2, 5)?

How is holiness a harvest?

Are you getting tired of doing good (6:9)? If so, how might you find fresh strength?

Are you looking for an “opportunity” to bless others? In what ways might you do that today?

Based on the truths in this text, how would you answer the following question: “If I study Scripture, pray, and listen to sermons throughout the week, why do I need the church?”