Galatians 6:

INTRO

“The Scriptures were not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives." - Dwight L. Moody

Hook: Quote and Grandpap Halleran - a transformed life

Good morning, everyone! My Grandpap Halleran was easily the biggest influence on my walk with Christ. He was full of wisdom, quotes, and comfort. But, he also had jokes. He used to say, "You can pick your friends, you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friends' nose." This silly saying has a deeper lesson about respecting personal boundaries and focusing on our own responsibilities. Today, we will explore Galatians 6 to understand how to live a Christ-centered life by minding our own business in a meaningful, spiritual way.

Book: How a fruit-bearing community lives together

As Paul concludes his letter to the Galatians, he provides guidance on how to respond to the exclusive message of Christ. He outlines how a Christ-centered, sin-fleeing, fruit-bearing community should live. Let's delve into the text to see how we can apply these principles to our lives.

Look: (vested interest)

Took: (Wut R U Get’n Dun?) Map: (1-3) Restoring with mercy and (4-10) working hard (11-18) leads to a transformed life.

______________

BODY

1. RESTORING WITH MERCY (Galatians 6:1-3)

The understanding of our forgiveness in Jesus is displayed by our willingness to bear one another’s burdens “Some people make everyone happy wherever they go. Other people everyone happy whenever they go.”

Explanation: In Galatians 6:1, Paul writes: "Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path…”

God has a good path -

Let’s break that down into it’s 3 parts - a broken person, a godly person, and a relationship.

Galatians 6:1 “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin | you who are godly should gently and humbly | help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.”

A broken person - “overcome by some sin” pictures somebody running and being caught up to - this is a person who needs help today

A helpful person - “you who are godly” - likely referring right back to the fruit of the spirit at the end of Chapter 5 - this is someone who’s positioned to help today

A relationship - “help that person back on the right path” in the ESV and other translations uses the original word “restore” — the root of which comes from mending a broken bone, setting it straight. So, God calls us to restore - to set straight — to aim for full health — by way of gentle, humble helpful relationship.

But it doesn’t always go right

Last week and the week before we saw God’s emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives as we walk with God. Walking with God, following the way of faith means that as we rest in Jesus, we’re on mission with him.

Matthew 11:28–30 “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.””

But, as we saw last week, we battle two natures - the old nature and the new. The flesh and the spirit. Ourselves and our risen Lord. “The way of faith OR the way of the flesh” is the choice we should be aware of. God wants us to know that our growth and success comes from by walking with Him - staying in step with His Spirit - seeing needs around us and .

Galatians 5:17 “The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.”

And as we battle, if we’re not careful, we will end up following our flesh and becoming a burden to others around us like the pharisees were a burden to the Galatians. How were the pharisees a burden? They laid unnecessary weight on the Galatians. When they needed clarity, they got confusion. When they needed a reminder of what Christ had done, they were saddled with what they should do.

Matthew 23:4 “They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.”

We too can be careful to not do the same today or else when someone is struggling, we’ll be the one’s they’re hiding from and fighting with. We’ll lay burdens on them in our response to their need instead of helping them. Instead of bearing a burden for them, we’ll be a burden to them.

Crushing, fleshly attitudes that will undermine our best chances for bearing a burden for someone.

Gossip - talking about someone else’s struggles to others who have nothing to do with the matter

Advice without permission - jumping into someone’s problems without prayer or permission

Checking out - avoiding someone else’s struggles because we just don’t notice enough to actually care

Celebrating - glorying in someone else’s struggles because we are prideful and short sighted (at least I’m not as bad…)

There are many more - but we should be careful

Instead, we need to take heed of the end of that verse -

Galatians 6:1 “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.”

Galatians 6:2 “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”

We are called to take one another’s burdens - the highest form of selflessness

Galatians 6:3 “If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.”

God calls out our pride - none of us are “above it” - even God says so!

No matter the amount of time in church, one day or one lifetime

The understanding of our forgiveness in Jesus is displayed by our willingness to bear one anothers burdens

God is seeking for us to (1) gently and (1) humbly help others back onto the right path…

Micah 6:8 “The Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Illustration: Banana: Fruit of the spirit applied

Share some bananas and take help requests, prayer, etc - walk around the room!

Application: We are called to be a community that uplifts and supports one another. We have to pray with our eyes open! When we see someone struggling, let’s extend a helping hand with gentleness and humility. This fulfills the law of Christ. Then He can heal the broken bones.

Transition: As we support each other with mercy, we are also reminded of our personal responsibility in our walk with Christ.

2. AND WORKING HARD (Galatians 6:4-10)

God is calling us to walk with Him and to invest in His work (think: time, talent, and treasure) Put your own oxygen mask on first!

Man was made to work, because the God who made him was a ‘working God’.

Sinclair Ferguson

Galatians 6:4–10 “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct. Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them. Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.”

Explanation:

In Galatians 6:4–5 - “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.”

Get wrapped up in God and what He is doing in your life. Are you listening?

Compare yourself to Christ, not others - run with Him in mind

You can’t pick your friends nose...

Galatians 6:6–8 “Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them. Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.”

Paul was likely being undercut by the Judaizers - that he wasn’t worth supporting

They’re going to receive what they plant - namely division and rootless disciples

They wore people out! They made them tired, but…

Galatians 6:9–10 “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.”

He said opportunity, not energy! Let the opportunity energize you.

Endure - gardens grow slowly and God is promising a harvest of blessing

Blessing = fruitful, rooted, humble, Godly disciples

Illustration: Airplane oxygen mask

Application: We must take responsibility for our spiritual growth and then find opportunity to do good and make disciples.

Transition: As we show mercy (1-3) and work hard (4-10, we will see a transformation in us and around us .

Point 3:

3. LEADS TO A TRANSFORMED PEOPLE (Galatians 6:11-18)

In the final verses, Paul urges us to live like brand new creatures.

Explanation:

Galatians 6:11–13 “Notice what large letters I use as I write these closing words in my own handwriting. Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised want to look good to others. They don’t want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save. And even those who advocate circumcision don’t keep the whole law themselves. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast about it and claim you as their disciples.”

In Galatians 6:14-15, he writes: "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation." Paul emphasizes that our identity and boasting should be in Christ alone. Our lives should reflect the transformation that comes from being a new creation in Him.”

Galatians 6:16–18 “May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God. From now on, don’t let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus. Dear brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”

Illustration - Chair analogy

Application: Let’s live as new creations, boasting only in the cross of Christ. Our lives should demonstrate the change Christ has made in us, showing the world the power of His redeeming love.

Transition: As we conclude, let’s reflect on how these teachings from Galatians 6 impact our daily lives and relationships.

CONCLUSION

Wrap it Up: We are expected to throw our lives at the message of grace.

Have we learned what the message of grace in Christ means for our lives? As the conclusion of the whole message of the book, Galatians 6 teaches us to show mercy, work hard, and live new, transformed lives that are powered by our faith in Christ. By doing so, we will bear fruit and make Him known through the way we love and live.

Call to Action: Let’s commit today to live as Paul instructs in Galatians - showing mercy, working diligently, and living as new creations in Christ. In doing so, we fulfill the law of Christ and glorify God with our lives.

Gather - Don’t retaliate… restore Grow - Keep your eyes on your own paper Go - “Go public” with your faith

Prayer: Lord, help us to live out the principles in Galatians 6. Guide us to show mercy, work hard, and live lives that reflect Your transformation. We submit ourselves entirely to You. Amen.