Big Idea
We are not free to sin—we are free to obey Jesus.

Three Truths
❤️ Love One Another 
✝️ Preach the Cross 
? Serve One Another 

Key Verse 
"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." — Galatians 5:13 

Freedom is one of the most treasured words in the Christian life—but biblical freedom is often misunderstood. In Galatians 5, Paul reminds believers that Jesus didn't set us free so we could make our own rules or return to religious rule-keeping. He set us free to obey Him.

The Judaizers insisted that faith in Christ wasn't enough. They taught that believers also had to keep the Old Testament law, symbolized by circumcision, in order to be truly accepted by God. Paul boldly rejects this "grace plus" gospel. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
 
Pastor Terry challenged us to remember three simple truths:

Love one another.
The evidence of genuine faith isn't religious performance but Christlike love.

Preach the Cross of Christ.
The cross reminds us we cannot save ourselves. Jesus has already done everything necessary for our salvation. 

Serve one another.
Christian freedom is not self-centered. It is expressed by humbly serving others just as Christ served us.

The Gospel doesn't place us in chains of legalism. Instead, Jesus breaks our chains and empowers us through the Holy Spirit to live lives that honor Him.

Our culture celebrates freedom.

Freedom to choose.
 
Freedom to speak.

Freedom to live life our own way.
 
But biblical freedom is something even greater.

Paul tells the Galatian believers they are no longer slaves to sin or to legalism. Christ has done what we never could.
 
That doesn't mean Christians have no responsibilities.

Instead, grace changes our motivation.
 
We don't obey because we're trying to earn God's love.

We obey because we already have it.
 
This week Pastor Terry gave us three truths worth remembering:

• Love one another. 
• Preach the Cross. 
• Serve one another. 

These aren't three steps to becoming a Christian.
 
They're three evidences that Jesus has already changed our hearts.

Real freedom doesn't produce selfishness.
 
It produces love.

Real freedom doesn't produce pride.
 
It produces humility.

Real freedom always points back to Jesus.

Icebreaker
What's something people often misunderstand about the word "freedom"? 

Read
Galatians 5:2-15

Discuss

1. Why were the Judaizers adding requirements to the Gospel? 

2. What does Paul mean by "falling from grace"? 

3. Why is legalism still attractive today? 

4. Which of the three truths challenged you most? 

• Love one another 
• Preach the Cross 
• Serve one another 

5. How can our church better demonstrate biblical freedom to our community? 

This Week's Challenge 
Choose one practical way to serve someone this week without expecting anything in return.

Ask each family member:

• What does Jesus free us from? 

• What does Jesus free us for?

 

• How can we show love at home this week? 

Read Galatians 5:13 together.

Pray for opportunities to serve one another.