Sermon Guide: Galatians 5:16-26 "Keep In Step"

Key Passage(s)

Galatians 5:16–26 ESV

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 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. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 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. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Sermon Overview

Though Christians still experience sinful desires, the Holy Spirit has been given to wage war within us, restrain the flesh, and produce the fruit of godliness. We cannot defeat sin by our own effort, but the Spirit enables us to live the life we were remade to want. Rather than following the desires of the flesh, we are called to walk by the Spirit, keeping in step with him daily. He leads us through Scripture, prayer, conviction, and the ordinary means of grace—offering strength, guidance, and growth that comes from God, not ourselves.

Sermon Structure

#1 The Spirit Wages Ware

• You can’t desire against your desires without the Spirit

• The Spirit opposes your flesh’s desires that are harmful

#2 The Spirit Restrains

• The Spirit keeps you from doing the things you want to do

• He doesn’t necessarily remove the flesh’s desires (for now)

#3 The Spirit Bears Fruit

• The fruit comes from the Spirit, not from our effort

• False-fruit that still is from and to the flesh

#4 The Spirit Leads

• Three commands: Walk by the Spirit, keep in step with the Spirit, and don’t be conceited about it

• How the Spirit leads us

Questions for Discussion & Reflection

1. Read Galatians 5:16–18. What does it mean to "walk by the Spirit"? What does Paul say will be the result? How does that contrast with walking by the flesh?

   
   

2. In verses 22–23, Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit. Why is it significant that these are called “fruit” and not “commands”? How can we nurture this fruit without turning it into a legalistic checklist?

   
   

3. Verses 24–26 speak of crucifying the flesh and keeping in step with the Spirit. What might “keeping in step” look like in practical, daily terms? How can the church community help with this?

   
   

4. In what ways does God teach us that his Spirit will lead us? What does that practically look like in our lives?

Prayer Prompt: Ask God to specifically ripen the fruit of the Spirit on the branches of your lives, for his glory.