Kingdom Driven Generosity – Pt 5

Galatians 5:13-15 (NLT)

13 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. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.

How does freedom in Christ become faith lived out?

1. Use your freedom to serve others in love.

2. Serving others protects a church from destroying itself and its witness.

Matthew 9:35-38 (NLT)

35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

SMALL GROUP MEETING OUTLINE

Where your faith intersects with real life!

Reconnect:

Each person shares a recent high and low from their life.

Explore:

Review the message notes.

Big Idea: Using your freedom to serve others points you to the mission of Jesus and protects the church from devouring itself.

Consider:

Choose one or two questions for your Group to discuss as time allows.

▶ Read Galatians 5:13. Your freedom found through faith in Jesus has a purpose: “to serve one another in love.” How is this purpose for freedom different from the kind of freedom expressed in our culture?

▶ Share a story of an expression of service you received and how that impacted your attitude toward Jesus and the Body of Christ.

▶ The message taught us, “Real freedom isn’t doing whatever you want. It’s choosing how your choices affect others.” Considering this, how do you overcome selfishness when confronted by a need God has placed in front of you?

▶ How do you make yourself available to God’s care after you have invested time or money in a needful cause?

Activate:

Spend a moment in silence to consider your response, then share with the Group.

Discuss what it would look like to serve somewhere together once a quarter. How could you turn this into a plan?

Prayer:

Thank God for the highs and lift up the lows.

Pray that your group will grow in the days ahead and experience the joy that comes from serving others from a foundation of freedom in Christ.