John Lloyd - Spiritual Relationships

Life by The Spirit:  A study of the book of Galatians

Spiritual Relationships Galatians 5:25-6:5

Pastor John Lloyd

February 10, 2019

What does it look like to have spiritual relationships?  The apostle Paul was concerned that the churches of Galatia would be competing with one another instead of experiencing true community in the Spirit.  Paul shares that we can help each other bear burdens, keep one another on the right path and have a closer walk with God.  Today, we hope to help each other bring these truths into our relational network which will truly please God.

The Passage: Galatians 5:25-6:5.

Big Idea:  Spiritual relationships value people enough to restore and bear one another’s burdens for the glory of God. 

I.               Spiritual relationships start with __________________.

Galatians 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

What it does not look like?    Conceited- empty praise.  

Provoking- irritating, thinking you are better than others (superiority).   Envying-feeling ill will towards someone else in a more favorable position.  Thinking you are worse than others. (inferiority). 2 Cor. 10:12

“In both cases your focus is heavily on how the other person makes you feel.”  Tim Keller

What it looks like?

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (Romans 12:10, I Pet.5:5)

Every person has value before God.  Gen.1:26, Mark 8:36

The Holy Spirit wants you to be a vessel for spiritual relationships!

II.             ______________ restore erring brothers and sisters.

Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

You who are spiritual- keeping in step with the spirit is restorative.

Matthew 18:15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.”

Restore- setting a broken limb, mending a net. It means integrating them into the full fellowship with the Lord and their spiritual family.  The goal is to put the car back on the road. Lenski

To administer correction with mildness is a spiritual gift.  I Cor. 4:21, James 5:19-20, Luke 19:10

Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted-  spiritual relationships live by this motto:  “there by the grace of God go I.” 

Spiritual relationships are restorative.

Pray about a relationship that needs to be restored.

Take one step towards restoration. 

III.            Spiritual relationships bear and share ___________________.



Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

The assuming of those burdens in a willing, helpful, sympathetic way, despite the fact that the bearing of them may involve unpleasantness and heartache.  Wuest, K. S. I Corinthians 13:5. Love bears all things…

“If you think you are too important to help someone, you are fooling yourself.” NLT

Burden-means a heavy weight, something that would be impossible for a person to carry by themselves.  Luke 10:33

A.    Help me feel what they __________.

Romans 12:15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

Isaiah 53:3a He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.

B.   Help me __________ the burden, not add to the struggle.

Matthew 11:29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.  I Peter 5:7

I Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

What can I do to walk with you during this time?

God greatly rewards burden bearers!

IV.           Spiritual relationships are _____________________ before God. 

Galatians 6:3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. I Corinthians 11:28



Galatians 6:4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.

The sum and total of one’s conduct and service to the Lord.  Martyn

Galatians 6:5 For each will have to bear his own load.

Bear his own load- is a picture of a backpack, something that each of us is responsible for. Personal responsibility and accountability. 

God rewards spiritual relationships!

Spiritual relationships are a gift and they please God.

Spiritual Growth Questions for February 10, 2019

Opener:  How has the Holy Spirit helped you love someone you would otherwise not find very loveable?    

1.   Read Galatians 5:25-6:5. Describe in your own words what is happening here.  What positive and negative commands does Paul give the Galatians?

2.   What difference does the Holy Spirit make in your relationships?  How does it affect the way you look at yourself in terms of those around you? Also, how do you look at others in terms of yourself?

3.   Read Galatians 5:26, James 3:14-16, Philippians 2:3.  Why would conceit lead us to provoke and envy each other?  Do you tend to  provoke or envy?  How will having a self-image based on the gospel change the way you see yourself and see others?  When do you particularly need to preach the gospel to yourself?   “making us neither self-confident nor self-disdaining but both bold and humble.”  How does humility build spiritual relationships?   

4.   Read Galatians 6:1. What temptations accompany seeing another Christian sin?  What role does gentleness play in restoration?   Read Romans 14:1, 15:1, I Corinthians 10:12, 2 Timothy 2:25 for advice. What specific advice would give to someone restoring a wayward friend?

5.   Read Galatians 6:2. What burdens of your own do you need to share with others?  What burdens could you help carry for someone else today?  Commit to one action step to both share and carry a burden this week. Pray for these at the end of group.

6.   Read Galatians 6:3. What spiritual self-view is Paul proposing for believers?  How can this help us in our relationships? 

7.   Read Galatians 6:4-5.  What type of pride is Paul talking about here? Burden vs.2 means a heavy weight. Load vs.5 means a person’s back pack. What sort of things do we need to carry on our own?  How can we carry it in a way that honors God? Why do relationships matter so much to God?