Lean In // 5 minutes
Describe your ideal vacation
Leader Note: Watch for the kinds activities people list. Some will be all about the poolside rest while others find rest in activities. Transition your group by saying something like… “while we may all live out our vacations differently there’s one thing we can agree on, vacations are a time for space, connection, rest and hopefully freedom! Today we’ll look at what the bible says about true freedom.”
Look Down // 15 minutes
What do you learn about freedom?
Sample answers…
- Christ sets us free, freedom comes only from Him
- Freedom can be lost
- Freedom can be lost when we return to old ways/habits, the law
- We fall into traps of needing to earn and prove our freedom
- Freedom can’t be obtain by outward expressions, we can’t “do things” to prove our freedom
- Working to earn freedom cuts us of from Christ and God’s grace
- Freedom involves faith and waiting, or resting
- Freedom puts faith in the the things God has promised
- Freedom is an expression of love, the love and grace we receive from Christ
- God calls us into freedom
- Little things matter when it comes to freedom. When we mix even a little of our mistrust in God’s promises we are in jeopardy of missing Christ’s freedom entirely
- The idea of simply receiving freedom from Christ is revolutionary and upsetting to many
- Freedom must be expresses in serving others, freedom is just for us, it needs to be expressed through us
Look Out // 15 minutes
Describe the freest person you know? What makes them appear free?
Leader Note: Set the tone to this question by giving examples of people who seem to live a “care-free” life, untethered by overwhelming responsibilities or obligations. This is typically what our culture looks to when describing freedom.
Sample answers…
- Someone with little to no responsibilities
- They live for themselves, don’t care about the option of others
- They have enough money to make their own choices, based on what they want
- They get to do the things they want and don’t have to do the things they don’t want to do
- They have an abundance of time
Commentary: Be it a child, a free-spirited no attachments wander or the multi-millionaire, when we think of freedom we most often associate it as state where we are free to do whatever we want, whenever we want it. This freedom places our wants and desires at the center with little or no regard for the affairs of others.
What does it look like to have freedom in Christ? Where have you seen in?
Sample answers…
- Defined by what Christ did not what I do
- The awareness to know that you are unconditionally love
- I know there’s forgiveness when I sin
- Defined by how Christ see’s me and not how others see him
- I can extend what I have been give because I have recived so much
- Frees me from worry, needing to prove or show my worth
- Unmoved by circumstances, rest in who God is and what He has down
- Willing to serve others with no need for recognition or praise
- Freedom in Christ moves us from a me first mentality to an others first focus
Look In // 20 minutes
Where do you feel the pull to earn your freedom in Christ?
Commentary: The passage clearly tells us that freedom is found in Christ alone. Yet for many, (if not all of us!) we tend to fall into the trap of needing to show we are worthy of receiving Christ’s freedom for busying ourselves with “spiritual activity” to show that we are truly free. Freedom is something that is giving and when it’s expressed it’s not for show our for our own benefit. Freedom is best expressed in serving and loving others.
Sample answers….
- Have to read my bible everyday
- Spending more time in prayer
- Go to church every Sunday
- I am measured by what I do, what I produce, I need to be good enough
- Need to be perfect, have perfect kids, a conflict free life
- Looking to be validated by others, commended for how “good I am”
- My work ethic, work harder, work more so others will think highly of me
What do you need to believe about yourself and God to combat that pull and how would that belief impact your life?
Leader Note: It may be helpful to direct your group back to the passage at this point, asking them to identify with a line or two that they need to hold onto. Then ask, what would change in you, what would change in how you view yourself and others if you held onto that truth?
Live it Out // 5 minutes
Who could you impact by living a “freedom in Christ life?”
Key Verse: For you have been called to live in freedom. – Galatians 5:13
Key Thought: Freedom is found in who Christ is and what He has done for us
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Learn More About Flow Questions: Check out Kenton Beshore’s book Ask in the Irvine Campus Bookstore for more on the Flow Question model.