CCC Livestream - A Worshipping Community - Galatians 6:1-10

Live Worship Gathering: 9.27.2026

Preaching: Jason Purdy

I invite you to turn with me to Galatians 6:1-10.

We are in our final week of a four-week sermon series called A Worshipping Community, where we are thinking together about what it means to be in biblical community.

And see why we covenant together not only to be together on Sunday mornings, but also to be in a Community Group that meets in homes.

Our membership covenant reads this way:

Disciple and Care for One Another in Community Groups - The Gospel creates community – we are committed to living life together and challenging one another to grow as disciples of Christ. We are committed to living out the Gospel and its implications for everyday life. Together, we will spur one another on to love and good deeds. We will meet with one another consistently in community groups, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. We will also pray for one another regularly and serve one another selflessly.

The letter to the Galatians is a letter about gospel freedom and being filled with the Holy Spirit of God.

Now, what is the first thing that pops in your mind when you think about the idea of being filled with the Holy Spirit?

Too oftentimes, we have been wired to think about being filled with the Spirit of God as being some kind of ethereal out of body experience.

Or some kind of showy display in the midst of a worship service.

And some people think you have those kinds of experiences when you empty your mind and somehow conjure up enough faith.

But, that is not what the Bible tells us it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Instead, the Bible is clear that being filled with the Holy Spirit means filling our minds and hearts with God’s word, having a spirit of repentance and desire to obey God’s commands, and living out the character of Christ in words and actions.

Consider what it looks like to be filled with the Spirit of God in:

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

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.

And will you notice with me that you cannot live out the characteristics of the Spirit of God on your own, but, you guessed it, you live out the characteristics of the Spirit in the midst of relationship with one another in the church.

So, whereas Galatians 5 tells us what it means to walk by the Spirit of God, Galatians 6 applies that walk to our community life together as a church family.

Please follow along as I read aloud:

Galatians 6:1–10 ESV

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.

6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

1. Gently Restore One Another

Verse 1 again: Brothers, if anyone is caught in a transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.

When Paul addresses the church as “brothers,” he is not simply addressing the men, but He is addressing all the members of the church.

Just like if I were to say, “Listen up guys!” I don’t mean, just the men in the room listen, I mean everyone.

So brothers and sisters in Christ, if anyone is caught in a transgression, restore him in a spirit of gentleness.

I believe one of the most difficult lessons for us to learn as Christ’s church in the midst of our individualistic culture is that while our faith in Jesus is very personal, it was never meant to be private.

We live out our faith in community, and we take a level of responsibility for one another’s faith journey.

Certainly not ultimate responsibility, but a level nonetheless.

What does it mean to catch a fellow brother or sister in Christ in a transgression?

It certainly does not mean that we are supposed to be the sin police looking for someone to stumble at any instant.

But, it does mean that when a transgression is clear, obvious, and ongoing, we are not to stand by and do nothing saying it is none of our business,

And we are not to despise and condemn them in our hearts,

But instead, we are to restore them.

The word restore here means to set a thing right as how a doctor sets a broken bone aright.

The whole goal of restoration is the glory of God and the spiritual good of the one needing restoration.

Notice, the passage tells us who is supposed to restore the person - you who are spiritual.

I want us to be very careful here, because some of us will read this passage and think, “Oh, I’m not spiritual enough to do something like that.”

While others of us might read it and think, “I must be spiritual because of the years I have been a Christian or the amount of times I’ve read the Bible.”

But, I think we can have much more clarity on who qualifies as “you who are spiritual” in any given situation.

First, we must remember that all believers in Christ have been given full relationship with God and filled with the Spirit of God, so in that sense, all believers should be spiritual.

So, the only other question we have to ask ourselves is: in the midst of this situation, am I spiritually prepared to handle this in a spiritual and godly way?

Look at verse 26 of chapter 5. Am I able to confront my fellow believer free from selfishness, a desire to provoke, or out of spite and envy?

Back to verse 1: am I motivated by the glory of God and the desire for their restoration in such a way that I can handle this in a spirit of gentleness?

Let’s think rightly about this: we all have different weaknesses and sin struggles.

So, there are certain situations that may be extremely difficult for me to handle with the right care and motive.

So, it would be right and good for me to allow someone else to handle that confrontation.

Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Maybe you are too tempted to condemn, or provoke, or envy based on the situation.

It is good and right to ask someone else to help.

There is no savior except the Savior.

I’ve had times where I have asked a fellow elder for help when I am struggling to approach a situation rightly and spiritually.

We all need to be humble enough understanding that we too fall short in many ways.

Now, our passage does not go into exactly how to restore the person caught in sin, but Jesus taught us in Matthew 18 to go to them gently yourself, and only involve others if they refuse to listen, and bring it before the church as a last resort when concern has been clearly communicated over and over again.

Gently restore one another.

2. Humbly Bear One Another’s Burdens

Verse 2: Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

I love what Paul is doing in this letter.

Like is true of so many in the first century of the church: the religious Jews caused major problems and brought major persecution to the church.

And the church in Galatia was being pressured to abandon the true gospel and go back to trusting their works of the Old Testament law for their salvation.

So, Paul has already laid out for them how we are freed from the burden of the Old Testament law as Jesus fulfilled the law in our place and was our perfect sacrifice to forgive and cleanse us from every way we fell far short of the law.

So, now that we no longer live under the burden of falling short of the Old Testament law,

We are now free to instead focus on bearing one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

The law of Christ is followed by way of the Spirit of God to love God with all we are and to love others more than ourselves.

Listen, we all have burdens, and none of us are meant to carry our burdens alone.

Now, Jesus Christ is our ultimate burden bearer who took the burden of our guilt and shame entirely on himself.

And we are to cast our cares on him because he cares for us.

But, one of the ways He cares for us is by providing us faith family in the church to help bear one another’s burdens.

One example in the Scriptures is when Titus came to help bear Paul’s burden:

2 Corinthians 7:5–6 ESV

5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,

In our flesh, we are conceited, provoking and envying one another, judgmental and self-righteous, but by the Spirit of God, we are able to love, show grace, and bear one another’s burdens, desiring the good of the other.

Verse 3: For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

You see, if we are deceived in the way we think about ourselves, we will not be in a spiritual place to bear one another’s burdens.

Whether we will think too highly of ourselves and think, I would have never gotten myself into the kind of mess they are in, it wouldn’t be fair for someone like me to have to help carry their burden.

Or we may think too lowly of ourselves, and think, I could never help. I have nothing to offer.

Instead, we look beyond ourselves all together and walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.

We help bear someone’s burden through prayer, encouragement, giving our time, talents, and treasures to help relieve the burden.

Sometimes all we must do is offer our time and a listening ear.

Verse 4: But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.

What in the world do these verses mean and are they contradicting the verses right above it?

Well, it is not a contradiction, instead, it is a truth that frees us up to bear one another’s burdens well.

Let me share an illustration: when I was in Maryland, I walked alongside a guy in the church who was addicted to alcohol.

And he continued to fall into it even after I spent much time and energy with him.

And it was tempting to compare myself to him and think: man, I must be stronger in the Lord than he is.

Maybe I should just write him off.

But this verse is commanding me, do not focus on comparing yourself to this man, you focus on your own work in the midst of this situation.

Because, when you stand before God, it doesn’t matter in that moment what he did or didn’t do, it only matters how you responded to him.

When I stand before God, I will not have to bear the weight of that man’s sin with alcohol.

And God certainly will not compare me with Him.

God will compare me to His own perfect holiness.

That man with the alcohol problem, though I walked with him and bore his burden, will have to carry his own weight when He stands before God.

It is not a contradiction.

In verse 2, we are called to bear one another’s burdens which, in the original language can be translated: heavy weights.

But verse 5 uses a different word that essentially would read, “But everyone must hold their own backpack.”

So, while it is true that we are called to bear one another’s burdens, we are not anyone’s savior.

And on the day they stand before the judgment seat of God, you will not be able to stand there with them.

So this allows us the freedom to walk alongside others in their burdens without feeling that we have to shoulder the weight of their souls.

In other words, God is gracious to call us to bear one another’s burdens without being crushed by them.

We can sleep at night knowing that our love and care for them is sufficient, we don’t have to save them.

Only God does that.

3. Generously Share With The One Who Teaches The Word

Verse 6: Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

Now, at first you may think: what in the world does this have to do with biblical community? But it actually has a lot to do with it.

Think about it: we have already seen in our series that one thing biblical community does is gather regularly to sit under the preaching of God’s word.

We don’t do this every week because we decided this was a good thing to do.

No, we do this every week because the New Testament commands us to do this as we trust in God’s gospel.

It is part of what it means to be part of the New Covenant in Christ.

So, those in the church who do the work of preaching God’s word should be financially provided for by the one’s who sit under his preaching.

Consider the spiritual principle of sowing and reaping Paul teaches here.

The pastor faithfully studies, prays, and preaches the word to the congregation: sowing the seed of God’s word in the people.

And the pastor reaps what he needs to support himself and his family through the financial giving of the church.

If the church members are unwilling to give to the church, the ministry of the Word is greatly hindered because it takes much time and effort to preach God’s word faithfully week in and week out.

If I had to work full time outside of the church, and love and care for my family, and preach God’s word, I would either burn out or I would be very repetitive and much less effective in preaching.

1 Timothy 5:17 ESV

17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

Verse 7: Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

By God’s good grace to us, Robin and I were taught the spiritual principle of tithing to the church before we ever got married.

God gave us the conviction from the beginning of our marriage to give our first ten percent of everything that we gross financially to God’s church.

So, if you were wondering, yes, the pastor takes what you give me for my salary and turns right back around and gives the first ten percent right back into God’s church.

We also think about giving ten percent of our time in direct service to the church, above and beyond my work of course.

And we think about gifts and talents God has given us and making sure we steward those well through God’s church.

And I have no doubt in my mind that we have reaped spiritual blessing after spiritual blessing for that joyful obedience.

Think about it: all that we have is God’s, it’s not ours.

We could take our last breath in this moment, then we have nothing.

It is all God’s, and when you understand that God calls you to give your first and best back to him, then he allows you 90% to take care of your needs, it is an amazing grace!

God uses our sowing for us to reap things like: freedom from the love of money, freedom from believing our time is our own, freedom from being useless with the gifts and skills God has given us.

Listen, when we went to put an offer on our house, we ended up getting an incredible blessing.

We have had multiple times when we hired someone to do work on our house, and they never invoice us.

We literally call and ask, because we are holding the money to pay them, and their like: you are all good.

Now, if God presents a huge financial hardship on our family tomorrow, amen.

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.

We would continue to start whatever we make giving 10% and we would ask our church family for help if food and clothing become an issue.

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked.

Maybe the reason you don’t feel excited about God, and excited about your Bible, and excited about God’s mission, and excited about God’s church is that you have never committed to give your first and best 10% to God: financially, in time, and in talent.

You are never going to feel fully satisfied in something that you are not fully invested in.

If you want to reap the benefit of all that God has for you, sow all that God calls you to into it.

You may not believe this, but it is true: we encourage you to give financially, and serve selflessly, and steward your gifts for God’s service for your spiritual good.

We give you a budget that shows you where we plan every dollar to go.

4. Zealously Sow To The Spirit

Verse 8: For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

As always, I am not saying that you have to give money to the church and serve in the church in order to earn eternal life.

That would be so so wrong.

But, I am saying that when the God of the universe convicts you of your sinfulness and His holiness, and when we causes you to repent of your sin and confess Christ as Lord, the one who died and was raised for your salvation, He gives you a new heart to begin to love what God loves and value what God values.

He empowers you to do good from the heart, not perfectly be any means, but genuinely.

And just like in finances, time, and talent, the spiritual principle of sowing and reaping applies, so in our spiritual walk, this principle applies.

Before we knew Christ, we were only flesh. Our spirit was dead in sin. So, all we could do is sow to the flesh reaping corruption both in this life and finally eternal corruption.

But God, in his great mercy and love, saved us, and brought our spirit to life through faith in him.

So, in this time between our salvation and seeing Jesus face to face, we have a war within us between our flesh and the Spirit of God within us.

If we use the analogy of sowing and reaping, we all have two fields, and we choose with our thoughts, words, and actions which field we are going to sow in.

We can sow to the field of our flesh by giving ourselves to worldly passions, pleasures, and purposes, and so reap corruption,

Or we can sow to the Spirit and so reap spiritual blessings and eternal life.

Consider back to:

Galatians 5:19–21 ESV

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.

Consider how all those things spit in the face of the love of God, separate you from loving community, and lead to corruption.

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

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.

Consider how all those things flow out of the love of God, draw you in to loving community, and lead to peace and eternal life.

Are you being zealous in the way you sow to the Spirit?

Through Word, prayer, church, community, service, evangelism, and missions?

Are you starving the flesh by giving your time, passions, and skills to things that eternally matter?

5. Continually Do Good As You Have Opportunity

Verse 9: And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

It is so natural for us to seek immediate gratification.

The sin habits we spent years developing, we hope will change in a day.

I read my Bible and prayed for three days straight, why don’t I feel closer to God?

It can be the same in community, I went to community group two weeks in a row, why doesn’t it feel deep and intimate yet?

But, consider once again the principle of sowing and reaping.

The farmer perseveres in tilling, sowing, watering, and waiting until harvest season.

It’s not like you plant the seed, throw some water on it, and expect a ripe harvest the next day.

It takes time.

In the same way, we must not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Think about the ministry here at Christ Covenant Church.

We have only been a church for ten years.

I’ve only been the pastor here five years.

And consider the testimonies and the baptisms and the people whom God has ministered to and added to our number in that time.

Consider the growth in God’s word and prayer and relationship with God and one another.

Consider the growth of opportunities to serve in our community, the growth of mission trips we have sent, and mission partners we have made.

Sometimes you will be tempted to give up praying for someone thinking they will never change.

Or you will be tempted to give up serving because it doesn’t seem to be making any difference.

Or you will be tempted to give up on the fellowship of the church because it isn’t what you thought it’d be or it’s not producing what you thought it would produce.

Do not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Verse 10: So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

As a Christian, you can feel like there are so many needs all around you, where in the world do you even start doing good?

Notice, in this verse, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone.

Those words “as we have opportunity” lead us to trust in God’s providence.

What I mean is, God has given us limited time, in a limited space, with limited resources, so trust that God provides you the opportunity to do good in the midst of your God given limits.

Continue to do good toward your spouse, your children, your church, your coworkers, your physical neighbors, do good right where God has placed you.

Even in that, he tells us especially to do good to those who are of the household of faith.

That’s your brothers and sisters within the church.

Start there. For the world will know we are his disciples by our love for one another.

As we finish our series on a worshipping community, have you devoted yourself to the God of community?

For the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have loved you with an everlasting love and save you from your sin and into God’s family - the church.

In relationship with God, are you sowing good in biblical community through the church?

Are in invested in relationship, service, giving, and living life together?

Let’s pray.

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