Christ appearing to Paul in prison

The resurrected Savior visited Paul in prison (see Acts 23:11). Jesus Christ can free us from the “yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).

September 25–October 1

Galatians

“Walk in the Spirit”

As you prayerfully read and ponder Galatians, the Lord will teach you what you need to share with your class. Recording your impressions shows gratitude to God for His help.

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Invite Sharing

Scripture study often leads to meaningful gospel discussions with family or friends. Did this happen for members of your class this week? Invite them to share their experiences.

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Teach the Doctrine

Galatians 1:6–7; 3:1–5; 4:8–21; 5:1, 13–14

The gospel of Jesus Christ offers liberty.

• Studying any book of scripture is easier when we know why it was written. For this reason, it might be good to begin your discussion about Galatians with a question like “What do you think Paul’s purpose was in writing this epistle?” or “What problem was Paul trying to solve?” Invite class members to look for clues in Galatians 1:6–7; 3:1–5; 4:8–21. How is Paul’s message relevant to us today?

• Some Galatian Saints thought they needed to continue living the law of Moses. To Paul, this was like living with a “yoke of bondage” compared to the “liberty” that Jesus Christ offers us (Galatians 5:1). To help members of your class explore Paul’s teachings about freedom and bondage, you could ask them to name attitudes and actions that limit our spiritual growth and progress (such as cultural practices, bad habits, false beliefs, or focusing on outward actions rather than inward conversion). According to Galatians 5:1, 13–14, how do we find freedom from these attitudes and actions? How have we experienced the liberty found through Jesus Christ? How could we respond to someone who feels that living the gospel limits personal freedom?

Galatians 5:16–26

If we “walk in the Spirit,” we will receive the “fruit of the Spirit.”

• Many people struggle to recognize the influence of the Spirit. Galatians 5 can help. Maybe you could ask class members to search Galatians 5:22–25 to find the words Paul used to describe the fruit of the Spirit. Why is fruit a good metaphor for the way the Spirit influences us? Perhaps class members could share how this fruit has been evident in their lives or the lives of people they know. Some other resources to explore include Matthew 7:16–18; John 14:26–27; Moroni 7:13–17; Doctrine and Covenants 11:12–13; and President Gordon B. Hinckley’s words in “Additional Resources.”

apples on a tree

We can receive the “fruit of the Spirit” as we seek it.

Galatians 6:7–10

When we sow “to the Spirit,” we will reap blessings in due time.

• Studying Galatians 6:7–10 could help class members think more deeply about the long-term consequences of their choices. To help them, you could bring seeds of various kinds, along with plants, fruits, or vegetables that grow from each of these seeds (or you could bring pictures of these things). Class members could work together to match each seed with the thing it produces. Then they could read verses 7–10 and talk about what it means to sow “to [the] flesh” and “to the Spirit.” (The message from Elder Ulisses Soares in “Additional Resources” might help.) What do we reap when we sow to the flesh? What do we reap when we sow to the Spirit? (see Galatians 5:22–23).

• Some class members may feel “weary in well doing” (Galatians 6:9)—perhaps because they aren’t sure their efforts are bearing fruit. A discussion of Galatians 6:7–10 might be helpful. To introduce these verses, you could invite someone in the class to talk briefly about a time when he or she needed patience when trying to grow something. What could this person’s experience, along with Galatians 6:7–10, teach us about our efforts to “walk in the Spirit”? (Galatians 5:25).

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Additional Resources

The fruit of the Spirit.

President Gordon B. Hinckley taught: “You recognize the promptings of the Spirit by the fruits of the Spirit—that which enlighteneth, that which buildeth up, that which is positive and affirmative and uplifting and leads us to better thoughts and better words and better deeds is of the Spirit of God” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Gordon B. Hinckley [2016], 121).

Sowing in the Spirit.

Elder Ulisses Soares explained: “To sow in the Spirit means that all our thoughts, words, and actions must elevate us to the level of the divinity of our heavenly parents. However, the scriptures refer to the flesh as the physical or carnal nature of the natural man, which allows people to be influenced by passion, desires, appetites, and drives of the flesh instead of looking for inspiration from the Holy Ghost” (“Abide in the Lord’s Territory!,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2012, 39).

Improving Our Teaching

Help learners lift each other. “Each individual in your class is a rich source of testimony, insights, and experiences with living the gospel. Invite them to share with and lift each other” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 5).