Purpose of This Lesson:
To give a working understanding of the definition of "sin", and how sin has changed everything.
Read Galatians 5:16-26 together:
Living by the Spirit’s Power
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 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. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
Discussion Questions:
What does Paul mean when referring to our "sin nature" in these passages?
How can we identify when we are being directed by our sin nature?
Discuss what other "sins" might be categorized as "like these" in verse 21? Does this mean that sin is prescriptive, or explicit only?
What could we do identify sin in our own lives?
How does community help us overcome sin? What does prayer do for our sin nature? Where does temptation land in these moments over us everyday?
Prayer Points:
Pray for sin to be revealed in our lives so that we can humbly and intentionally repent as we chose to follow Christ today.
Pray that we no longer want to sin as we follow the Holy Spirit and let him lead our lives.