2013 NOVEMBER WEEK ONE LESSON

Dear Cherished Reader,
We apologise for the break in serialising the Weekly Bible Study Outline on this blog. Sorry for the inconvenience this might have caused you.

We assure you that we are back for good and beginning this week, we shall be bringing you studies from the Bible Study Outline Volume 8.

Please do enjoy your studies. Thank you and may God bless you.

STUDY 1

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IN CONTRAST TO THE WORKS OF THE FLESH

Main Text: Galatians 5:16-25

Memory Verse: Galatians 5: 16

The theme being considered for the year 2013 by the Church is Worshipping in Spirit and Truth (John 4:23-24). The main import of this theme is that whatever we do as Christians should be considered as an act of worship-speech, eating, dressing, working etc. This study outline (volume 8) considers the marks of the true worshipper as captured by the fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-23.

In the main text, the works of the flesh stand in contrast to the fruit of the Spirit. The works of the flesh are lives that we lived as unbelievers. These works continue to show up in our lives even as Christians. Those who continue to live such lives as Christians will not inherit the Kingdom of God (Gal. 5:21). However, we have a choice to either walk in these works or allow the Holy Spirit to produce the life of Christ in us (Gal. 5:16, 25).

The fruit of the Spirit is the life of Christ in the life of the believer, 'Christ who is our life' Col. 3:1-4. The Bible says, 'if any man be in Christ he is a new creation' 2 Cor. 5:17. Having accepted Jesus as Saviour and Lord, the life of Jesus must flow through us to mark us out as “Christ-ians”.

Discussion Questions

1.    How do you understand the works of the flesh? Verse 16

2.    What are the manifestations of the works of the flesh? Verse 19-21

3.    Do we have control over the works of the flesh? Verse 16-17

4.    What is the fruit of the Spirit?

5.    How can we bear this fruit? Verse 16, 18.

 

Conclusion

The carnal man is at enmity with God. If we do not walk in the Spirit then we will descend down to the works of the flesh. The fruit of the Spirit stands in complete contrast to the works of the flesh; it is the life of Christ in the life of the believer. In the following weeks, we are going study some of the fruit of the spirit: peace, love, kindness, self-control and joy as marks of true worshippers. As you yield yourself to the Lord, may God the Holy Spirit shine out the life of Christ through you.