Author: Rick Schupp

Read: Zechariah 9:9-13

⁹ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. ¹⁰ I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. ¹¹ As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. ¹² Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double. ¹³ For I have bent Judah as my bow; I have made Ephraim its arrow. I will stir up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and wield you like a warrior’s sword.

 

In The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien, the third book/movie is called The Return of the King. It tells of how Middle Earth had gone for thousands of years without a king and suffered under the poor leadership of lesser rulers and under the deadly evil of Sauron and his armies. One character, Aragorn, has the rightful claim to the throne over the people of Middle Earth, to be the ruler of the people. But he was reluctant to become king because he feared that he would repeat the mistakes of his predecessors. In the end, he accepted the calling to become king, led an army to defeat Sauron and begin a new age of peace. In a ceremony at the end of the movie, the wizard Gandalf, crowned Aragorn and said, “Now come the days of the king. May they be blessed.”

The book of Zechariah was written during the Babylonian exile. Judah had been in captivity for about seventy years when God spoke to Zechariah this message of hope for his people. Judah had not had a king over them for decades. And in the foreseeable future, they would not have one. From that time until today, there has been no king from David’s line ruling in Jerusalem.

In Zechariah, God promises the day will come when the King will return and all will be set right. That day will truly be blessed. He tells the people (in verse 9) to rejoice. He tells them the King who comes will be righteous and bring salvation. He is humble and will ultimately bring peace.

In Jesus’ day, the people longed for deliverance. They longed for salvation from the oppressive yoke of the Romans – even as the people in Zechariah’s day long for deliverance from Babylon. But no one connected these verses to the coming of Jesus. They were looking for a conquering king. They were looking for political relief. They wanted an earthly kingdom. God sent Jesus…not what they wanted or expected, but what the world needs!

The people of Israel in Zechariah’s day and in Jesus’ day thought their greatest need was for a king to rule in Israel. Was that their greatest need? What did God think their greatest need was?

Today, people want God to do a lot of things in their lives. What is the greatest need of people today? How does King Jesus satisfy that need too?

As those who are now citizens in God’s kingdom by faith, how should we live?

As you think about friends and family, is there someone who needs the hope of the King in their life? How could you share with them the salvation he brings?

Read: Acts 4:31-5:11

³¹ And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

³² Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. ³³ And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. ³⁴ There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold ³⁵ and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. ³⁶ Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, ³⁷ sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property.  ² and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. ³ But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? ⁴ While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”⁵ When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. ⁶ The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” ⁹ But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”¹⁰ Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

 

Here in Acts is a bit of a picture of what we have in Ephesians 4. We see the body growing as each part works properly and yet also we see the threat to the health of the body when people don’t.

Reflect on the first section of reading from Acts 4.

When have you been a part of a church experience like this? What made it so dynamic and healthy? What role did you play in that?

Reflect on the section from Acts 5.

When have you been a part of a church experience that was less healthy, more like this? What pretenses did people bring that made this the dynamic? What role did you play in the negativity?

Scripture shows us time and again that God gives us what we need to experience a healthy body of Christ. Within that we each have roles.

What are your spiritual gifts? If you have never prayed over this and maybe even taken a survey try this one as a starting point (http://spiritualgiftstest.com/).

 How are you currently using your gifts to build up the body of Christ? What opportunities might you have to utilize them more?

How do you feel Salem is doing in regards to growing as a healthy body of Christ? Is each part working properly? Are we a place where truth is spoken in love?

Are there ways you need to take more advantage of God’s grace in putting you in this local body, ways to allow them to equip you more?

Spend some time praying for our church: the leaders, the members, our impact in the community, salvations and growth. Ask God to reveal things to you that would benefit our local body as we try to grow healthy under our head, Jesus Christ.

Speaking the Truth in Love by Brycen Marner

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:15-16

We have all met someone who’s growth into maturity was seemingly stunted by a person who should have been a trusted support instead crushed them with loveless and demeaning correction. It wasn’t that the words were not grounded in truth, but void of appropriate love it proved destructive.

And then for me there was Dan. Dan was a worship leader in my youth ministry growing up. Dan is one of the few people on this planet that can make me cry, yet he’s never threatened me, screamed at me or cursed me. No Dan speaks the truth in love. I remember a time in my teen years where Dan approached me about my heart. He brought some areas to my attention that I kind of knew might be an issue but I wasn’t willing to own them. In a quiet way he brought conviction that brought tears not of anger but of pain mixed with joy. He was willing to cut me in love to help me grow.

That is really the key isn’t it? Cutting truth delivered in love brings growth. If the church is to grow as a body of individuals connected under the headship of Christ, we must proclaim the truth to one another, but we must do it in love. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13 just how worthless “spiritual” things are if void of love. Yet with love, truth spoken brings the believer into a position to bring more worship to his savior and more viability to the body.

Are you a truth speaker? Is it seasoned with love?

How important is a significant relationship to giving and receiving hard words of truth? 

Are there people in your past that you need to forgive for speaking the truth to you in less than loving ways? Can you forgive them? 

Are there people in your past that spoke hard words to you that you may have horibllized to think they weren’t speaking in love and it is possible you were not assuming the best of their intentions? Can you release them from this undeserved bitterness?

 When have you experienced great growth in the faith because of someone speaking a hard truth to you?

Do you have relationships with other Christians right now who can cut you up so you can grow? Are you willing to return the favor?

Tuesday nights this semester we have explored the movement of the church in Acts. In Acts 2 Peter preaches a bold message to a crowd of people who may or may not have been present at the crucifixion, that they killed the Messiah. They killed God’s savior; the one for whom they all had waited. Here is their response:

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:37-38

The message doesn’t change throughout the book of Acts, but the response does. In Acts 4 the messengers are arrested, in chapter 5 they are beaten, and then we have Acts 7. Stephen proclaims to his audience that they “betrayed and murdered” the Christ and this is their response:

 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. Acts 8:54

Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. Acts 8:58

You killed Jesus. This message proves consistent with scripture and yet how does that sit with you? I know I don’t like it. I don’t like reading aloud the words “crucify Him” on Good Friday. I know that in the sin of all humanity lies my autograph. In the nails in the wrist of Jesus exists the dirt of my wanderings from God’s will. Most of all, under the outpouring of the wrath of the Father sits the Savior of the world taking on the sins of Brycen Marner that I might take on His righteousness.

Often this image leads me to the “cut to the heart response.” Initially in grief and then in great relief I receive the reality of my part in the crucifixion. I experience the tremendous love of the Father that He would sacrifice the Son for me. I respond with “what shall I do?”

When do you realize your role in the crucifixion? How has it lead you to worship? When this reality hits you in the “cut to the heart way, how do you respond in that moment, day or week with your life?

Unfortunately, even as a believer, I still struggle with responding poorly to the reality of my role in the crucifixion. I may see my role, but when the Holy Spirit exposes another area of nonsurrender, rather than seek His mercy in Christ, I “grind my teeth” and fight the conviction. I try to excuse the area of struggle with the “but I deserve this,” “but if he hadn’t said,” “why does God let it be so hard” reasoning. In those moments as I have revealed that I have elevated something over God in my life, I get bitter that God would hold that standard. I despair at my own brokenness but without hope. I know longer view myself as one highly loved by the Father, but like worthless trash. This usually cycles me back in to retreat from significant connection with God. Like the listeners to Stephen, I do what I can to stifle the message of the Gospel from penetrating my heart.

When is it harder for you to receive the message of your role in the crucifixion? What sins do you struggle with that lead you to more despair? What sins make you retreat from the Word and prayer? What categories of struggle are you unwilling to even ask God if your heart is struggling with sin in? 

Today pray that God would lead you to see your role in the cross that you might better grasp its beauty. Pray when conviction hits that it would lead to worship and a sense of God’s love. Pray the Lord softens your heart in areas of struggle that make you bitter or despair.

Ask God how He would have you live out this truth today.

– Brycen Marner

Read: Ephesians 4:1-6 (audio for the sermon on this text is here)

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love ³ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

 

As we’ve been studying the book of Ephesians, Paul has stated the creation of the Church was the revelation of a mystery God had kept hidden: All believers (both Jews and Gentiles) are united together in Christ as one new humanity. We are now one family, one kingdom, one holy temple being built by the Lord.

There is an inter-dependence as the body of Christ. We cannot be isolated Christians, but we need other believers to grow into maturity. As a result, Paul suggests we need to live with all humility and gentleness,  with patience, bearing with one another in love.

If you’ve ever seen sequoia trees in California, you know they can tower as high as 300 feet above the ground. Surprisingly, they have shallow root systems. The roots rather than going deep, shoot out in all directions to try to get as much moisture as they can. They also intertwine with other sequoia trees so when there are storms and heavy winds, they can support one another. That’s why you rarely see a sequoia tree by itself. They grow in clusters.

The inter-dependence we need as Christians requires that we approach our differences and conflicts differently than most of the world around us. It means we don’t walk away when offended or when relationships are difficult, but we learn to bear with one another and give grace to one another. It calls us to seek to love despite the challenges that come up between us and other people. It means we need to be quick to forgive and to seek to keep short accounts with others so resentment and bitterness will not take root.

Take a moment to be quiet before God. Ask him to show you any relationships that are not at peace. It could be relationships in your family, your neighborhood, your work, or your church. Perhaps it would be helpful to make a list of those God brings to mind.

Pray for each of those relationships. Ask God to give you wisdom into how you might pursue peace. Is there a need to humbly ask forgiveness? Is there a need to gently love that person in their weakness? Do you need to be patient with a person who isn’t where you wish they were or who isn’t moving as fast as you’d like?

What would it look like to bear with that person in love? Bearing with another has the idea of tolerating or making allowances. Each of us has strengths and weaknesses. Some of us struggle with illness – physical, emotional, or mental – the commitments we make require us to help others carry their burdens and love them where they are. How can you do that, if it’s what is called for?

Take a moment to thank God for the example of the Trinity. Ask God to help you to follow him as you seek to live out the power of one in your relationships this week and beyond.

Read: Philippians 2:1-11

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, ² complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

⁵ Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus^] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹ Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

John Milton, writing in his epic poem, “Paradise Lost”, portrays the character of Satan as unwilling to worship God in heaven. Wanting to take God’s place, he begins a rebellion.  God casts him out of heaven, he is unrepentant and still cries out: “Better to rule in hell than serve in heaven”. Milton’s poem was a work of fiction and yet he is right: Pride was at the root of Satan’s rebellion.  Satan wanted to rule; Satan wanted to sit in the place of the Most High; Satan wanted to be the center of attention.

“Pride is the root of all evil.” This is not only true of Satan, but humans too. Our pride often leads us to sin because we, pridefully, think we know better than God.

In Philippians 2, Paul addresses a church that seems to have had issues with pride. Apparently, some people thought they were better than others. But, as we often say, the ground is level at the cross. There is no one greater or lesser in God’s eyes. To illustrate this, Paul made himself equal to Timothy in Philippians 1:1. Instead of his usual greeting, “Paul an apostle”, he writes, “Paul and Timothy, servants…” He places himself at the same level as his son in the faith.

In the verses printed above, Paul calls believers to be united. He wants them to have one mind; one love; one accord. They are not to act selfishly or conceitedly. They are not to put their own interests first. They are to consider others as more important than themselves.

Paul then goes on to give Jesus as the example to follow. He did not exploit his God-nature, but willingly humbled himself to be born in human likeness and live like a human being. Paul points to Jesus humility as the example we are to follow.

In Ephesians 4, Paul will make a similar appeal. He will remind us that there is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. He will remind us that the same Holy Spirit fills all believers, so we should maintain unity and peace.

What would it look like in your family, work, school or other relationships to consider others needs more important to your own? Is Paul suggesting we should be passive wimps?

The important issue is the heart. If we pridefully want our way without deferring to others, we sin. But, when we consider (really, truly consider) their needs as more important than ours, we might end up in the same place, but for very different reasons. How can we communicate to people that we value them and consider them more important than ourselves?

Think about times in the church that people couldn’t get along and it wasn’t an issue of truth. Was the situation handled well? Why or why not? What could have been done better?

Ask God for the grace to put others before yourself. Letting go of pride and loving others well are key parts to maintaining the unity Jesus calls us to live in the church.

Read: John 17:20-21; Psalm 133:1

²⁰ “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹ that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:20-21)

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! (Psalm 133:1)

 

On the night Jesus was betrayed, he prayed for his disciples, but also for all believers. One of the main requests he made was for unity. He prayed that as he and the Father are one, so may those who believe. The Father is in the Son and the Son is in the Father. Jesus’ prayer is that they may also be in us in such a way that we would be one as believers. When we are able to live with this unity, Jesus suggests, then the world might believe in Jesus.

When we look at the church today, it seems there are so many denominations and so much fragmentation. The root cause of all divisions is sin. If we were to hold fast to the core doctrines of Scripture and live them out perfectly, there would be no need to split. But sadly, none of us is perfect and over time, the splits have multiplied.

In our local expression of the church, Jesus wants us to be one. He wants us to focus on the essentials of Christian doctrine; to agree on our mission and purpose; to serve together as if one person contending for the gospel. We cannot compromise the truth of God’s Word, but on issues that are secondary or non-essential we can allow love to cover our differences.

As you think about the teachings of the first three chapters of Ephesians, what has Christ done that broke down divisions and brought peace?

Certainly, when there are differences on essential doctrines it is appropriate to leave a church or split. What other situations can you imagine that would also justify such a move?

In our next reflection we’ll talk about attitudes we can take and ways we can live that will help maintain unity. For today, what do you think is at risk? What do we lose when the church is divided and people aren’t willing to get along?

Read: Ephesians 3:14-21 (audio for the sermon on this text is here)

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

 

Several years ago, I (Pastor Rick) was frustrated in my walk with God. On the outside everything looked good. On the inside, I knew things weren’t right. I lived with the fear that people would discover that I was a fraud. What I mean is that I loved God and I was a believer, but I still struggled on the inside. I tried to look perfect and good on the outside, but I knew in my heart that I struggled in significant ways with sin.

At some point, I was reading a book that led me to an experience that changed my life. For most of my life, I often felt like I was on the outside looking in at things. I was never quite good enough, or smart enough or cool enough. As I read the book, I forget why, but I saw myself on the playground at Washington Grade School for P.E. class. I was probably in the fifth grade and my classmates were in a big circle, but they wouldn’t let me in. I suddenly became aware, in my that Jesus was standing next to me. He asked why I wasn’t participating and I told him I wasn’t good enough. In that moment I sense Jesus turn to me and say, “Rick, you’ll always be good enough for me.” In that moment, I experienced the deep love of Jesus in a way I never had before. Suddenly I was able to be more open and honest about my struggles and failures because I was no longer afraid of what others would think or say. It wasn’t important. I knew the God of the universe loved me. I knew I was good enough for him.

I believe Paul is right on when he says we need the power of God to experience or truly know the boundless love of God so that we can grow to maturity. After my experience of God’s love, I found that to be true in my life. I do not pretend to be what I should be. I still struggle with sin and am nowhere near perfect, but I know that since I grasped more deeply the love of God, I have been changed and am more mature.

Have you ever had an experience of God’s love that changed your life? If you’ve never done so, take time to write it out and share it with someone.

Do you think Paul is correct that when we know and/or experience the love of God, we will grow to maturity? Why do you think that?

As you think about your life as a follower of Jesus, what experiences can you remember that helped you grow most? Were there any common elements to them?

Take a few moments to meditate on God’s love. Do you sense any invitation(s) from God? How will you respond?

Read: Romans 12:1-2 and 1 Timothy 6:13-16

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2)

¹³ I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, ¹⁴ to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:13-16)

 

When I was working on my Master of Divinity at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, I was blessed to have Dr. Wayne Grudem for a theology class that discussed the characteristics of God. Dr. Grudem began each class with a hymn. One of our assignments was to memorize Psalm 145. Another was to pay attention in our daily activities to how we saw the different characteristics of God in action and how we imitated them. He wanted us to list how we responded to that glimpse of God in our day.

There were times in class that we would be discussing incredible truths of God. A sort of awe would come over us as students and there would be a pause before Dr. Grudem might begin a song of praise to the God we were encountering. It wasn’t enough for us to know about God, Dr. Grudem wanted the things we were learning to move us to worship.

In 1 Timothy 6:13-14, Paul is charging Timothy to keep God’s commands. What does Paul give as the motivation or reason for obeying?

We often think of singing hymns and songs of praise as worship. But worship is much more than just singing. What else can be worship? What does Paul mean when he tells us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice? How is that worship?

In the midst of Paul’s encouragement to Timothy to keep God’s commands, he slips into praise in verses 15-16. How does the knowledge of God lead us to praise?

C.S. Lewis wrote in his introduction to St. Athanasius’ On the Incarnation: “I tend to find the doctrinal books often more helpful in devotion than the devotional books, and I rather suspect that the same experience may await many others. I believe that many who find that ‘nothing happens’ when they sit down, or kneel down, to a book of devotion, would find that the heart sings unbidden while they are working their way through a tough bit of theology with a pipe in their teeth and a pencil in their hand.”

Does the knowledge of God’s truth seem boring or lead you to praise? When you hear a message preached, how do you respond to the truths of God’s Word?

Read: Matthew 22:36-40, John 15:12-14, and Galatians 5:16-24

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” ³⁷ And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰ On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40)

¹² “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.¹³ Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you.  (John 15:12-14)

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.¹⁷ For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:16-24)

 

When you see a person walking slumped over, shuffling, more than walking, what do you assume? The person is sad, depressed, discouraged.

If you see a person walking with shoulders back, chin up slightly, a smiled playing at the corners of his/her mouth, what do you think about them? They are happy, proud, maybe excited.

You can tell a lot about a person by their walk. Are they nervous, tired, excited, late, confused? It will probably be seen in the way they walk.

Paul knew that was true in our spiritual life. He called the Galatians to “walk by the Spirit” rather than walking by the flesh. How does he distinguish between the two?

What are the kinds of things that would show up in a person’s walk to signify they walk by the Spirit?

If someone watched your walk, what would they see? Are there areas you struggle to walk by the Spirit and not the flesh? What are ways you can find victory over that?

Jesus often sent the disciples out two-by-two. Is there someone in your life walking with you as you follow Jesus? Having a person praying and walking with us can make a huge difference in our lives. If you don’t have that person, ask Jesus to lead you to someone!