Week 5 | Set Free to Live Free

Big Idea: Jesus didn’t set you free so you could stay in chains — He set you free so you could truly live.

Scripture: Galatians 4:8-5:15

Introduction:

Illustration: The Shawshank Redemption - Brooks Hatlen's Release

In The Shawshank Redemption, Brooks Hatlen is an elderly man who spent most of his life in prison. When he’s finally released, he doesn’t know how to handle his freedom.

Tragically, after years of confinement, Brooks finds the outside world overwhelming, and he chooses to end his life because he doesn’t know how to live outside of the prison walls.

Imagine spending decades locked up. Your daily routine is controlled. You know when to wake up, when to eat, and when to go to bed. The structure becomes normal — even comfortable.

Now imagine being set free, but feeling completely lost because you don’t know how to live outside those walls. Brooks didn’t return to prison physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, he never truly left. He was still trapped — a prisoner in his own mind.

Brooks’ story is heartbreaking because he had been set free — but he didn’t know how to live free.

Transition: Sometimes we do the same thing spiritually.

Jesus has set us free, yet we find ourselves returning to the chains of sin, legalism, or old habits. Maybe it’s because we’re afraid of what true freedom looks like, or maybe we’ve just gotten so used to living in chains that we can’t imagine anything else.

Whatever the reason, the truth is this: Jesus didn’t set you free so you could stay in chains — He set you free so you could truly live.

Tension:

Have you ever had something hold you back that you thought you had already overcome?

Maybe you’ve tried to break a bad habit — gossip, anger, or comparison — but it keeps creeping back into your life. Or perhaps you’ve felt trapped by anxiety or insecurity, no matter how many times you’ve reminded yourself of God’s promises.

Some of us wrestle with shame — we know Jesus has forgiven us, but we still feel like we need to "make up" for our mistakes.

Even though we know Jesus offers freedom, it’s easy to slip back into old patterns. Why? Because those patterns — as harmful as they may be — feel familiar. Familiar feels safe.

The Galatians faced the same struggle. Paul had shared the gospel of grace with them — they had experienced the freedom Jesus offers — yet they were being drawn back to the mindset that they had to earn their salvation.

They were stepping back into chains when they had already been set free. Why do we do this?

Maybe we think we’ll be more acceptable to God if we “clean ourselves up.”

Maybe we’re afraid that freedom sounds too uncertain — that following rules and routines feels safer.

Or maybe we’re just unsure what it looks like to actually live out the freedom Jesus gives.

Ask the Students:

What are some things in your life that feel like "chains" right now?

Have you ever felt like you needed to perform, follow extra rules, or hide parts of yourself to feel like you belong with God or others

Where do you feel stuck — like no matter how hard you try, you keep ending up in the same place?

The truth is, we all face moments where we have to decide:

Will we stand firm in the freedom Jesus offers, or will we fall back into old chains?

Big Idea:

Jesus didn’t set you free so you could stay in chains — He set you free so you could truly live.

Truth:

Background of Galatians 4:8-5:15 The book of Galatians is Paul's passionate letter to the churches in Galatia, who were being influenced by false teachers called the Judaizers.

These teachers claimed that believing in Jesus wasn't enough — that followers of Christ also had to follow Jewish customs and laws to be truly saved.

Paul’s letter stands as a powerful declaration that the gospel is about grace — nothing more, nothing less.

Where We've Been:

Week 1: No Other Gospel (Galatians 1:1-10) — Paul boldly declared that if you add anything to the gospel, you lose the gospel. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

Week 2: Justified by Faith (Galatians 2:11-21) — Paul confronted Peter for acting like Jewish laws were required for salvation, emphasizing that we are justified not by what we do, but by faith in Jesus.

Week 3: Children of Promise (Galatians 3) — Paul reminded the Galatians that they are heirs of God’s promise, not through law-keeping, but through their faith in Jesus. We are sons and daughters, not slaves.

Week 4: Adopted and Secure (Galatians 4:1-7) — Paul described how God has made us His children, giving us the full rights of family members — secure in His love.

Now in Galatians 4:8-5:15, Paul is confronting the Galatians for drifting back toward a mindset of slavery — living as though their freedom in Christ wasn’t enough.

Read Galatians 4:8-11

Galatians 4:8–11 ESV

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.

Paul points out that they’ve regressed — they’ve traded their freedom for slavery again.

Before Christ, they were slaves to false gods. Now, by trying to earn their righteousness through rules, they’re stepping back into spiritual chains.

Read Galatians 4:12-20

Galatians 4:12–20 ESV

12 Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, 19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Paul’s deep concern shows in his personal plea — he wants them to experience the full freedom of the gospel, not a distorted version of it.

Read Galatians 5:1

Galatians 5:1 ESV

1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Paul’s message is clear: Jesus didn’t free you so you could jump back into bondage.

Read Galatians 5:13-15

Galatians 5:13–15 ESV

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

True freedom isn’t selfish — it leads us to love others and walk in step with the Spirit.

Paul warns that misusing freedom to indulge in sin isn’t true freedom — it’s just another type of slavery.

Application:

Identify Your Chains

Ask yourself: What are the things that keep pulling me back?

Is it the pressure to fit in?

A mindset of guilt or shame that makes you feel unworthy?

A desire to perform and prove your worth?

Challenge: This week, write down one area where you feel stuck in "chains." Pray for God’s help to break free from that mindset or behavior.

Take practical steps to identify triggers that lead you back into unhealthy patterns.

Ask a trusted friend or mentor to hold you accountable as you work toward breaking free.

Embrace True Freedom

Living free means walking in step with Jesus — not seeking approval, not relying on rules, but trusting His grace.

True freedom isn’t about doing whatever you want — it’s about living in step with the Spirit, showing love to others, and allowing God to shape your choices.

Challenge: This week, choose one way you can love and serve someone out of the freedom you’ve been given.

Maybe that’s standing up for someone being left out.

Maybe it’s apologizing to someone you’ve hurt.

Or maybe it’s stepping out in faith and trusting God with something that’s felt too scary.

Living free means living for something greater than yourself — it’s living for Christ and letting His grace shape your life.

Landing:

Let’s be real — living in chains is easy. It’s familiar. It’s predictable. But it’s not what Jesus intended for you.

Jesus didn’t endure the cross, conquer sin, and rise from the grave so you could live like a prisoner. He did all of that so you could be free — free to love, to worship, to grow, to walk in joy and purpose.

But freedom doesn’t just happen — you have to choose to walk in it. Paul’s words in Galatians 5:1 are a powerful reminder:

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."

Don’t fall back into the same old patterns — the chains of guilt, shame, people-pleasing, or sin. Jesus has broken those chains; you don’t need to put them back on.

So what does living free actually look like?

It means trusting Jesus is enough — you don’t have to earn His love.

It means knowing your worth comes from who Jesus says you are, not what others think about you.

It means choosing to love others, even when it’s hard — because freedom leads us to love, not to selfishness.

Final Challenge: This week, every time you feel tempted to step back into your old chains, remember this truth: Jesus didn’t set you free so you could stay in chains — He set you free so you could truly live.

When that thought of shame creeps in — stop, and remind yourself: I’m free. 

When pressure comes to compromise your faith — stop, and remind yourself: I’m free. 

When you’re tempted to believe that your worth is tied to your performance — stop, and remind yourself: I’m free.

You’ve been set free. Now go and live like it.

Pray.