GALATIANS: CHOOSE FREEDOM - WEEK 4
“Walking In Freedom”
Deep Dive 8/24/2025
THE EXPRESSION OF FREEDOM: CARRY EACH OTHER’S BURDENS
Galatians 6:2
“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”
Biblical Community emphasizes the importance of unity, fellowship and support among believers. God thought about community from the beginning of creation when he said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” (Genesis 2:18) God created Eve for Adam and commanded them to “be fruitful and multiply,” instructing them to build their community. We see the emphasis placed on the importance of our community throughout Scripture.
Leviticus 19:9-10
9 “When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. 10 It is the same with your grape crop—do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.
In Leviticus 1, God instructs Moses to tell the Israelites that they are to leave the edges of the fields for use by those who are in need, bearing the burden of providing for one another. God’s plan was always for His people to support one another in every way – meeting physical, relational, spiritual and emotional needs through community.
1 Corinthians 12:25-27
25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. 27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul shares with the church at Corinth how each person plays an important and irreplaceable role in the “body” of believers. True freedom is experienced not by living our lives apart from others, but by living in true community with other believers. We are ALL part of the (singular) body of Christ.
WHERE DOES COMMUNITY RANK IN YOUR LIFE? IS IT OF HIGH OR LOW IMPORTANCE, OR DO YOU FALL SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE? DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE VALUE THAT GOD PLACES ON LIVING IN GODLY COMMUNITY?
Proverbs 17:17
A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.
Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
The wisdom of living in community is seen in Proverbs. Doing life with the right people can make every aspect of our lives better. This is why we see mention of the importance of godly community throughout Scripture.
Acts 2:44-47
44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity[j]— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
In Acts, Luke shows us the example of community set by the early church. This is what God intended and when we live life in godly community we too get to see how “each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” What better reason could there be to seek a life lived in godly community than the salvation of those around us?!
PUTTING THIS INTO PRACTICE
Think about your community. Does it need refining?
Read Romans 12:3-13.
What are some of the specific instructions that Paul gives to believers?
How are you doing at living out those instructions you listed above? How is your community at living out those instructions? What might you need to change if your life, or the lives of your community do not reflect Paul’s teaching?
How are you at sharing the burdens of others? What about unity –are you able to live in unity with those closest to you?
Read 1 Corinthians 1:10.
What do you think Paul means when he says, “Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose?”
Find another passage in Scripture that speaks about unity or sharing the burdens of others and write it out as a reminder of the importance of living a life of unity with other believers.
Can you make the connection between the expression of freedom and carrying each other’s burdens?
Read Philippians 2:3-16. Does this passage help in making the connection above?
Which verse or verses really stand out in this passage? Why?
Take time today to journal a prayer to God thanking Him for the example of Jesus to show us how we are called to act in godly community and thanks for Paul who spends so much time reminding us of how important it is to “share each other’s burdens” and how it truly is an expression of the freedom found in Christ.
