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One Another Commands Sunday School WHEELERSBURG BAPTIST CHURCH Life Application Sunday School Class Session 10 - Bear One Another’s Burdens February 8, 2004 1. Read Galatians 6:1 –5 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.
2. Define the following words: Overtaken – caught in something he can’t get loose from Trespass – stumbling, falling aside from the right way, a false step Spiritual – one who walks in the Spirit as evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, meekness, faithfulness, goodness, self control); as opposed to a carnal believer (I Cor 3), one who is governed by his emotions, feelings and desires (a baby). Restore – mend, repair, complete – bring back to a useful state Gentleness – not self assertive or full of self interest; yielded to God’s will and spirit. Considering – look at oneself realizing your own weakness and vulnerability to sin Tempted – start to get tangled in the same mess Bear – lift up, carry away Burdens – weights, troubles Thinks – has an opinion Something – someone better than another Nothing – a nobody Deceives – deceives his own mind Examine – scrutinize his work to see if it’s genuine; Mt 7:1-5 Rejoicing – boasting in what God has done in your life Rom 14:7-12 Burden – that which was meant to be borne - a responsibility Taking these definitions, listen to the passage: I am talking to the brothers and sisters in the church. This is what you need to do if you see that a man is caught up and entangled and can’t get loose from any sin, if he is stumbling and falling to the wayside and taking false steps. Those of you who are spiritually mature, who consistently express love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness meekness faith and self control and are not self centered, you are the ones who need to help mend this faltering brother and bring him back to a state of usefulness. But while you are doing this, you need to be careful not to assert yourself, but rather yield to the Spirit of God, realizing that you are also weak and vulnerable to sin.If you are not careful you too could get tangled up in the same mess. You need to step in and help lift up and carry away the weights and troubles that are causing these problems. This is the way we express the commandment of our Lord to love one another. In this process, don’t start to think that you are better than anyone else. If you start to think that way, you have become deceived in your own thinking, and you are really of no use to anyone. Instead, you need to keep a close watch on your own thoughts and actions to see of they are genuine and pure, and then you can be confident that God is at work in your life and that you are standing before God on your own two feet. For it is God’s will that we all take responsibility for ourselves and not become an unnecessary burden to others. 3. What is supposed to happen if a brother gets ensnared in sin? If we see a brother or sister that is discouraged, or overtaken in a sin, or slipping away etc., it is not for us to condemn, or have a judgmental, superior attitude, but to come along side (just as Christ did for us) and help restore this person to their rightful place in the body of Christ. During this whole process, we should keep in mind that we are also weak within ourselves, and that we will someday answer for our own actions and works, and should not judge another man’s servant, but just help ease their burden. 2. What are the characteristics/qualifications of the one doing the restoring? The one doing the restoring is to be one who is spiritual – one who demonstrates the fruit of the Spirit in his life. 3. What is the person doing the restoring supposed to do before he approaches the faltering brother? Titus 3:2-5 He is to look at himself to see if he has any sins or weaknesses in his own life; he is to consider that he could also fall if he doesn’t take heed to God’s grace; He is to be careful not to become proud or think himself better than the one he his trying to help. 4. What is the danger of taking a judgmental attitude toward a person who has stumbled? It is only by the grace of God we stand. God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. If we take on a self-righteous or conceited attitude, we are the next to fall. (Pride cometh before a fall, and a haughty spirit before destruction. A judgmental attitude leads to self deception. 5. What are some hindrances to carrying out this command? Perhaps we fear the response of the one we will approach. Also, it is a burden to become involved in someone else’s personal life. 6. Why is there instruction in one place to bear one another’s burdens, but also to bear your own burden? There are two words for burden: a. baros – heavy, weight – used in verse 2. We need to help each other with these burdens. These are not meant to be carried, but relieved. b. phortion – something borne or carried- used in Mt 11:30 – speaking of the responsibility given to every believer by which he will be judged. This verse speaks of the duties and responsibilities given to us as disciples, which we all give a personal account for at the judgement seat of Christ. Rom 14:7-12 7. What are some practical steps we can take to implement this command?
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