Galatians 5: The Fruit of the Spirit

Paul urges the Galatians to stand firm in the freedom Christ has given and not return to the yoke of slavery. If they rely on circumcision and the law to be made right with God, they cut themselves off from grace. In Christ, what matters is faith working through love. Believers are called to freedom, but they must not use it to indulge the flesh; instead they should serve one another in love, for the whole law is fulfilled in loving one's neighbor as oneself. Paul tells them to walk by the Spirit. He contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

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World English Bible · 26 verses

¹ Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision that he is a debtor to do the whole law.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ For we through the Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision amounts to anything, but faith working through love.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ This persuasion is not from him who calls you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ A little yeast grows through the whole lump.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been removed.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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Galatians 5 · Preschool

Fruit of the Spirit

Name Date

Color the fruit on the tree. God's Spirit helps us grow good fruit!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

Galatians 5:1 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Show your child a piece of fruit. Say: A tree grows fruit. God's Spirit helps His people grow love, joy, peace, and kindness!

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Galatians 5 · Grade 4

Freedom and Love

Name Date

Read and Think

Paul tells the Galatians that Christ has set them free, so they must stand firm and not take on a yoke of slavery again. If they rely on circumcision and the law to be made right with God, Christ will be of no benefit to them. In Christ, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; what counts is faith working through love.

The Galatians had been running a good race, but someone cut in on them. Paul is frustrated with the false teachers who are troubling them. A little yeast spreads through the whole batch of dough, and their teaching spreads like that. Paul reminds them that they were called to freedom. They should not use it to serve selfish desires, but should serve one another in love. The whole law is summed up in loving one's neighbor as oneself.

Paul tells them to walk by the Spirit, and they will not carry out selfish desires. The flesh and the Spirit work against each other. The works of the flesh are clear: wrong and impure behavior, worship of false gods, hatred, fighting, jealousy, anger, selfishness, and envy. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Since believers live by the Spirit, they should keep in step with the Spirit.

Show What You Know

What counts in Christ?
What picture does Paul use for false teaching?
How is the whole law summed up?
Name three fruits of the Spirit.

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

Godagaingoodfreedomlove

Paul tells the Galatians that Christ has set them free, so they must stand firm and not take on a yoke of slavery .
If they rely on circumcision and the law to be made right with , Christ will be of no benefit to them.
In Christ, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; what counts is faith working through .
The Galatians had been running a race, but someone cut in on them.
Paul reminds them that they were called to .

Think About It

Paul says freedom is not for selfishness but for serving others. What does using your freedom to serve look like in your home or neighborhood?
Which fruit of the Spirit do you most want to grow right now, and how can you depend on the Spirit for it?

Memory Verse

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:14 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for Your Spirit who grows good fruit. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can freedom serve others?
Which fruit do you need most?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Galatians 5 · Grade 5

Keep in Step with the Spirit

Name Date

Read and Think

Paul's argument reaches its practical climax. Christ has set believers free for freedom, so they must stand firm and not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Paul warns that if the Galatians accept circumcision as necessary for justification, Christ will be of no advantage to them. Those seeking justification by the law have fallen away from grace. Through the Spirit, by faith, believers eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. In Christ, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has value, but only faith working through love.

The Galatians were running well, but someone hindered them from obeying the truth. Paul uses a proverb: a little leaven leavens the whole lump. He expresses confidence that they will agree, and that the troublemaker will bear his judgment. He reveals his strong frustration with those unsettling them. Then he turns to the danger on the other side. Freedom must not become an opportunity for the flesh. Instead, through love, believers should serve one another as slaves, for the whole law is fulfilled in one word, which Paul takes from Leviticus 19:18: love of neighbor as of oneself.

Paul explains how freedom works without the law as a guardian. Believers walk by the Spirit and so do not gratify the desires of the flesh, for flesh and Spirit are in conflict. The works of the flesh are evident: sexual sin, impurity, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, rage, rivalries, divisions, envy, drunkenness, and the like. Those who practice them will not inherit the kingdom of God. In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit, one fruit with many qualities produced together by the Spirit, is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh, so they should keep in step with the Spirit, without conceit or envy.

Show What You Know

What happens to those who seek justification by the law?
What proverb does Paul use?
What Old Testament verse sums up the law?
Why is fruit of the Spirit singular?

Crossword

Across

And don’t be entangled ____ with a yoke of bondage
Were called for ____
You shall ____ your neighbor as yourself

Down

And these are contrary to one ____
By ____ wait for the hope of righteousness

Think About It

Paul warns of two dangers, legalism and selfish freedom. Which danger do you think is more common in your setting, and why?
The fruit of the Spirit grows rather than being manufactured. What does it mean in practice to keep in step with the Spirit?

Memory Verse

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:14 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for Your Spirit who grows good fruit. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What two dangers does Paul warn about?
What does keeping in step with the Spirit mean?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Galatians 5: The Fruit of the Spirit

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Worksheets

Fruit of the Spirit

Prayer

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Good Fruit

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

The Fruit of the Spirit

Trace the Words

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Prayer

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Growing Good Fruit

Read the Story

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Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Walk by the Spirit

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

The Fruit of the Spirit

Word Search

Prayer

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Freedom and Love

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

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Prayer

Take It Home

Keep in Step with the Spirit

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

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