Set Free

L.R. Riddle

Freedom • Sermon • Submitted 4 months ago • Presented 4 months ago

Freedom

0 ratings

· 12 views

Through Christ we are set free

Notes

Transcript

Scripture:

Galatians 5:1 NLT

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

Galatians 5:13–15 NLT

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.

Galatians 5International Children’s Bible

Keep Your Freedom

5 We have freedom now because Christ made us free. So stand strong. Do not change and go back into the slavery of the law.

13 My brothers, God called you to be free. But do not use your freedom as an excuse to do the things that please your sinful self. Serve each other with love. 14 The whole law is made complete in this one command: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”[b] 15 If you go on hurting each other and tearing each other apart, be careful! You will completely destroy each other.

References:

Galatians 5International Children’s Bible

Keep Your Freedom

5 We have freedom now because Christ made us free. So stand strong. Do not change and go back into the slavery of the law. 2 Listen! I am Paul. I tell you that if you go back to the law by being circumcised, then Christ is no good for you. 3 Again, I warn every man: If you allow yourselves to be circumcised, then you must follow all the law. 4 If you try to be made right with God through the law, then your life with Christ is over—you have left God’s grace. 5 But we hope to be made right with God through faith, and we wait for this hope anxiously with the Spirit’s help. 6 When we are in Christ Jesus, it is not important if we are circumcised or not. The important thing is faith—the kind of faith that works through love.

7 You were running a good race. You were obeying the truth. Who stopped you from following the true way? 8 Whatever way he used did not come from the One who chose you. 9 Be careful! “Just a little yeast makes the whole batch of dough rise.” 10 But I trust in the Lord that you will not believe those different ideas. Someone is confusing you with such ideas. And he will be punished, whoever he is.

11 My brothers, I do not teach that a man must be circumcised. If I teach circumcision, then why am I still being treated badly? If I still taught circumcision, my preaching about the cross would not be a problem. 12 I wish the people who are bothering you would castrate[a] themselves!

Background Research:

Key takeaway: Galatians 5:1 and 5:13–15 share a unified theme: Christ sets believers free, but that freedom must be lived out in love, not in self‑indulgence. Paul warns that misusing freedom leads to destruction, while loving service fulfills the law of Christ.

✨ Cross References for Galatians 5:1

2 Corinthians 3:17 — Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Galatians 2:4 — False brothers tried to bring believers back into slavery.

Acts 15:10 — The law as an unbearable yoke.

John 8:32–36 — The Son sets people free indeed.

Romans 8:2 — The Spirit sets us free from the law of sin and death.

Isaiah 61:1 — The Messiah proclaims liberty to captives.

These passages reinforce Paul’s argument: freedom is a gift of Christ, not something earned by law‑keeping.

✨ Cross References for Galatians 5:13–15

1 Peter 2:16 — Live as free people, but not using freedom as a cover for evil.

Romans 6:14 — Not under law but under grace—yet sin must not rule.

Romans 6:18 — Freed from sin, now servants of righteousness.

Galatians 5:1 — Freedom must be guarded; it is not license.

Matthew 22:39 — “Love your neighbor as yourself,” which Paul cites in v.14.

James 2:8 — The “royal law” of loving your neighbor.

Romans 13:8–10 — Love fulfills the law; harming your neighbor violates it.

Galatians 5:15 — Warning against “biting and devouring” one another.

These passages show that Christian freedom expresses itself through love, not self‑centeredness. Freedom without love becomes destructive.

🧩 How These Passages Work Together

Freedom (v.1) — Christ liberates believers from the enslaving power of the law and sin.

Responsibility (vv.13–15) — That freedom must be directed toward serving others in love.

Danger (v.15) — Misusing freedom leads to relational destruction and spiritual collapse.

Paul’s logic is simple but profound:

Freedom → Love → Fulfillment of the Law Freedom → Flesh → Destruction

If you want, I can build a Grace Kids–style teaching card, a coloring sheet, or a kid‑friendly object lesson based on these verses. Would you like a teaching card, coloring sheet, or object lesson next?

Theme: Freedom In Christ

Object Lesson:

Object lessons are powerful because kids feel the truth, not just hear it. Galatians 5:1 and 5:13–15 revolve around freedom, love, and the danger of using freedom selfishly. Here’s a kid‑friendly, Grace Kids–style object lesson that fits your joyful, visual teaching approach.

🕊️ Object Lesson: “The Backpack of Burdens vs. The Freedom Flag”

A hands‑on demonstration of freedom in Christ and serving others in love.

🎒 Part 1 — The Backpack of Slavery (Galatians 5:1)

Place a heavy backpack on a table. Inside, put labeled items:

“Fear”

“Trying to be perfect”

“Rules to earn God’s love”

“Sin”

“Guilt”

Hold up the backpack.

Say: “Before Jesus, we carried a heavy backpack everywhere. It was full of things that weighed us down. Galatians 5:1 says Christ has set us free — we don’t have to carry this anymore.”

Put the backpack on a volunteer. Let them walk a few steps.

Ask: “How does it feel to carry this? Heavy? Hard? Tiring?”

Then remove the backpack.

Say: “Jesus takes this off our shoulders. He sets us free so we can stand firm and not pick it up again.”

🚩 Part 2 — The Freedom Flag (Galatians 5:13)

Hold up a bright, joyful flag (or a colorful cloth).

Say: “Freedom isn’t just about what we’re free from. It’s about what we’re free for. Galatians 5:13 says we’re free so we can serve one another in love.”

Wave the flag.

Say: “This flag reminds us: we’re free to love, free to help, free to serve.”

❤️ Part 3 — Love vs. Biting and Devouring (Galatians 5:14–15)

Bring out two puppets or stuffed animals.

Scene 1 — Selfish Freedom: Make the puppets grab toys from each other, bump into each other, or “bite and devour.”

Say: “When we use freedom to do whatever we want, we hurt each other. Paul says that leads to biting and devouring — like these two!”

Scene 2 — Loving Freedom: Have the puppets share, help, and encourage.

Say: “But when we use our freedom to love, we fulfill the whole law — ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

🧠 Main Point Kids Remember

Jesus sets us free — not to do whatever we want, but to love others the way He loves us.

🛠️ Supplies List

Backpack with labeled “burdens”

Colorful flag or cloth

Two puppets or stuffed animals

A few small toys for the puppets to “fight” over

🎨https://copilot.microsoft.com/shares/9RxbxpdhL9qQsRPU38PVh

Songs:

🎵 Kids Song List for Galatians 5:13–15

Takeaway: These songs highlight love in action, serving others, kindness, and living by the Spirit—the exact themes Paul emphasizes in Galatians 5:13–15.

💛 Core Theme: Serving One Another in Love

Love One Another — Simple, memorable chorus that teaches kids Jesus’ command to love.

Love Is Action — Upbeat reminder that love is something we do, not just feel.

Do Everything in Love — Helps kids connect everyday choices with God’s love.

🤝 Kindness, Gentleness & Not Hurting Each Other

(Galatians 5:15 warns against “biting and devouring one another”—these songs teach the opposite.)

Speak Life — Encourages kids to use words that build up, not tear down.

Be Kind — A kid‑friendly anthem about kindness as a daily choice.

Golden Rule — Reinforces treating others the way we want to be treated.

🌱 Living by the Spirit (Love, Joy, Peace, Patience…)

Even though Galatians 5:13–15 comes before the Fruit of the Spirit passage, the themes connect perfectly.

Fruit of the Spirit — High‑energy, perfect for memorization.

Joyful Noise — Celebrates joy and worship as part of Spirit‑led living.

Peace Like a River — Gentle reminder of peace in our relationships.

🙌 Serving Others the Way Jesus Did

I Will Serve You — Teaches kids that serving God includes serving people.

Hands and Feet — Encourages kids to be Jesus’ helpers in the world.

Here to Serve — Great for volunteer‑themed Sundays or service projects.

🎶 High‑Energy Songs for Group Worship

Every Move I Make — Joyful, movement‑based worship.

This Little Light of Mine — Classic reminder to shine God’s love.

My God Is So Big — Helps kids trust God as they choose love over conflict.

🧸 Gentle Songs for Prayer or Response Time

Jesus Loves Me — Reinforces the foundation of God’s love.

I’ve Got Peace Like a River — Calming, perfect for transitions.

God Is So Good — Helps kids reflect on God’s goodness and kindness.

Outline:

Freedom to Love: Chosen by Grace

Bible Passage: Galatians 5:13-15

Summary: In Galatians 5:13-15, Paul emphasizes that Christians are called to freedom, but warns against using that freedom for selfish desires instead of loving one another.

Application: This passage can encourage children to understand that their freedom in Christ is meant to empower them to love others and live in harmony, rather than to indulge in selfishness or hurt others.

Teaching: The sermon teaches that true freedom is found not in doing whatever we like, but in loving and serving others, reflecting the heart of Christ's sacrifice.

How this passage could point to Christ: Christ embodies this freedom as He loves and serves us selflessly; our call to love reflects His own actions and heart toward humanity, fulfilling the law through love.

Big Idea: True freedom in Christ is expressed through love and service to one another, helping children see their role in building a loving community.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, consider using Logos to dive into the cultural context of Galatians, focusing on how freedom was understood in Paul's time. Look at commentaries on the nature of Christian freedom in light of love and the law, and examine any text-critical issues surrounding key terms in this passage.

1. Freedom's Responsibility: Serve

Galatians 5:13 NLT

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

Freedom in Christ as a wonderful gift.

Freedom isn't a license to do anything we like, but a calling to be free from selfishness.

Freedom can help us benefit others

2. Fulfilling the Law: Love

Galatians 5:14 NLT

For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

...Paul explains that the whole law can be summed up in one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Children can grasp this by examining what it means to treat others with kindness, reflecting Jesus' love. Challenge them to practice love in their daily interactions, showing how the freedom they have is meant to build others up and create a caring community.