Aug. 29 | Discovery

Study Questions for Groups

By Michael C. Mack

1. How did it go when you shared a verse from last week’s study with someone who is living according to a law-keeping system to try to find favor with God?

2. What circumstances did you face as you went through the past week?

Ask two people to read aloud Galatians 5:16-26 and 6:7-10 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions (one of which could be a paraphrase such as The Message). Then ask a third person to briefly summarize the passage.

3. What contrasts do you see in these passages?

4. Let’s dig deeper:

• What warnings does Paul give in these passages?

• What promises do you see?

• Look specifically at the contrasts between the “acts of the flesh” and the “fruit of the Spirit.” Before even considering the acts and fruit themselves, what do those headings demonstrate to you about living as a follower of Christ?

• What does Paul’s choice of the word fruit teach you about how love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are produced in our lives?

• How should Christ followers deal with sinful desires and passions?

• How does Galatians 5:16-25 help someone carry out the instructions of 5:26 and 6:7?

• What do you learn about God’s timing versus human timing from these passages?

5. What do you learn about God’s Spirit from these passages?  

6. What do you learn about people?

7. Choose a command from these passages to obey and then share specifically how you will seek to obey it this week:

• Keep on walking by the Spirit.

• Be willingly led by the Spirit.

• Crucify the flesh with its passions and desires.

• Keep in step with the Spirit.

• Sow to please the Spirit.

• Do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers.

8. When we care for fellow believers in our community of faith, we become stronger and then together we can share God’s love with a needy world. What good thing will you do for another Christ follower this week so that they may not become weary in doing good and so that we as a community of Christ can reap a harvest?

9. Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .”

10. What opportunities to do good to others do you anticipate this week?

For Next Week: Read and reflect on Hebrews 1:1—2:4 as we begin a new unit on the book of Hebrews and the theme, “Superior.” You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.