9.13.26 – STUDENT STUDY GUIDE

by | Sep 16, 2026 | Sermon Study Guide

 

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SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY: SONS & DAUGHTERS – GROW UP & LIVE DIFFERENTLY

Based on the message by Pastor Chad Everett


OVERVIEW

If you belong to Jesus, should the way you live actually look different?

In Spiritual Authority: Sons & Daughters | Grow Up & Live Differently, Pastor Chad challenges us to look beyond whether we call ourselves Christians and ask what is actually controlling the way we live.

Galatians 4:1 describes an heir who, while still a child, “does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all.” He really is an heir, but because he has not matured, his life does not reflect what is already true about him.

The same thing can happen spiritually. You can belong to Jesus while still being controlled by anger, jealousy, comparison, offense, your emotions, your desires, or what other people think.

Chad said, “Our spiritual maturity will determine our spiritual experience.”

Spiritual maturity is not determined by your age, how long you have attended church, or how much Christian content you know. A spiritually mature person learns to be led and directed by the Holy Spirit.

God does not reveal immature or carnal areas of your life to condemn you. He reveals them because He wants to lead you out of bondage and into freedom.

Jesus has called you to grow up spiritually and learn to live differently as a son or daughter of God.

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

Read → Respond → Reflect → Pray → Live It

Read each passage carefully and pay attention to what Scripture actually says.

Respond from the Bible. Let God’s Word establish truth instead of your feelings, friends, culture, experiences, or assumptions.

Reflect honestly about your choices, reactions, relationships, habits, and priorities.

Pray about what the Holy Spirit shows you, then live it. Spiritual maturity develops as you practice following Him in everyday life.

 

SECTION 1 — SONS AND DAUGHTERS ARE CALLED TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY

FOCUS

Galatians 4 describes an heir who already has the right identity but does not yet live differently from a slave.

Following Jesus does not mean you avoid difficulty. It means you learn to think, speak, believe, and respond differently because you belong to Him.

READ

Galatians 4:1–7

RESPOND

  1. According to Galatians 4:1, how does an heir who remains a child compare with a slave?
  2. What does Galatians 4:1 say is already true about the heir?
  3. According to Galatians 4:4–5, why did God send His Son?
  4. According to Galatians 4:6, whom has God sent into the hearts of His sons and daughters?
  5. According to Galatians 4:7, what are you no longer, and what have you become through Christ?

REFLECT

  • Think about how you respond when you are disappointed, rejected, embarrassed, corrected, or treated unfairly. What do those reactions reveal about what is controlling you?
  • If someone could see your conversations, messages, social media activity, and the way you act at home, where would they see that following Jesus is changing you?
  • What is one area where God may be calling you to live differently?

PRAY

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where your life reflects your identity as a son or daughter and where you still need to grow.

LIVE IT

Choose one situation where you normally react automatically. Before responding, stop and ask, “How would a son or daughter of God respond differently here?”

READ MORE

Romans 6:16–18, 22; Colossians 1:13–14

 

SECTION 2 — SPIRITUAL IMMATURITY KEEPS US LIVING LIKE SLAVES

FOCUS

In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul spoke to Christians who were still living as spiritual babies. Being a Christian for a long time does not automatically make someone spiritually mature.

“Our spiritual maturity will determine our spiritual experience.”

READ

1 Corinthians 3:1–3

RESPOND

  1. How did Paul describe the believers in 1 Corinthians 3:1?
  2. What does Paul connect with being “babes in Christ”?
  3. According to verse 2, what had Paul been able to feed them?
  4. Why had he not given them solid food?
  5. According to verse 3, what evidence showed that they were still carnal?

REFLECT

  • Where in your life do you see evidence that you are actually becoming more like Jesus?
  • Is there something you have accepted as “just the way I am” that might actually be an area where God wants you to grow?
  • When someone corrects or challenges you, do you become defensive, make excuses, or allow God to use it to help you grow?

PRAY

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you one area where He is calling you out of spiritual immaturity.

LIVE IT

Identify one immature reaction or pattern you tend to repeat. When it appears this week, recognize it instead of excusing it and choose a different response.

READ MORE

Hebrews 5:12–14; Ephesians 4:13–15

 

SECTION 3 — BE LED BY THE SPIRIT, NOT CONTROLLED BY THE FLESH

FOCUS

A spiritual person is someone whose life is controlled and directed by the Holy Spirit. There may be areas where you follow Him and other areas where your emotions, desires, habits, or relationships are still controlling you.

READ

1 Corinthians 2:14–16; Romans 8:12–14

RESPOND

  1. According to 1 Corinthians 2:14, what does the natural person not receive?
  2. Why does the natural person struggle to understand the things of the Spirit?
  3. According to Romans 8:13, how are the deeds of the body put to death?
  4. According to Romans 8:14, who are identified as sons of God?
  5. What does Romans 8:12–14 show about the difference between being controlled by the flesh and being led by the Spirit?

REFLECT

  • What usually has the strongest influence over your decisions: the Holy Spirit, your emotions, what you want, what your friends think, social media, or something else?
  • Where are you most likely to know what God says but still allow your feelings to make the decision?
  • If the fruit of your life showed what was controlling you, what would it reveal right now?

PRAY

Pray Chad’s challenge honestly: “Search me, O God.” Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything controlling or directing you that you have not surrendered to Him.

LIVE IT

Before making a choice this week, stop before acting on what you feel or want. Pray, consider what God’s Word says, and give the Holy Spirit room to lead.

READ MORE

Galatians 5:16–25

 

SECTION 4 — INVEST IN YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

FOCUS

Spiritual growth requires intentional investment. What receives your time and attention will influence who you are becoming.

Chad challenged us, “I am not going to be a spiritual person on 1% of my time.”

READ

Romans 12:1–2; Colossians 3:1–2

RESPOND

  1. According to Romans 12:1, what are believers called to present to God?
  2. According to Romans 12:2, what should we not be conformed to?
  3. What does Romans 12:2 say needs to be renewed?
  4. According to Colossians 3:1, what should believers seek?
  5. According to Colossians 3:2, where should we set our minds?

REFLECT

  • Look at how you actually spend your time. What receives the greatest amount of your attention each week?
  • Who and what have the strongest influence on the way you think? Are those influences helping you become more like Jesus?
  • What would intentionally investing in your spiritual growth look like in your life right now?

PRAY

Ask God to show you where your time and attention need to change so there is greater room for Him to form you.

LIVE IT

Make one specific change this week. Set aside intentional time to pray, read Scripture, worship, listen to God, or grow with other believers.

READ MORE

Psalm 1:1–3; Colossians 3:16; 1 Timothy 4:7–8

 

SECTION 5 — COME OUT OF CARNALITY AND WALK IN FREEDOM

FOCUS

Paul identified envy, strife, and divisions as evidence of carnality. These can show up through jealousy, comparison, uncontrolled anger, arguments, offense, gossip, and pulling other people into conflict.

God points these things out because He wants to lead us out of bondage and into freedom.

READ

1 Corinthians 3:1–3; Romans 16:17–18

RESPOND

  1. According to 1 Corinthians 3:3, what three things showed that the believers were still carnal?
  2. What did those behaviors reveal about the way they were walking?
  3. According to Romans 16:17, what kind of people should believers take notice of?
  4. What does Romans 16:17 say to do concerning those who cause divisions and offenses?
  5. According to Romans 16:18, how can words be used to influence or deceive other people?

REFLECT

  • When someone else succeeds, gets attention, or receives something you wanted, what happens inside you?
  • When you get angry or offended, what happens next? Do you bring it to Jesus, or do your words, texts, posts, and conversations spread it to other people?
  • Which area is the Holy Spirit asking you to confront instead of excuse: envy, strife, anger, offense, gossip, or division?
  • What would freedom in that area actually look like?

PRAY

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any envy, strife, offense, gossip, anger, or division you have allowed to remain. Repent where needed and surrender it to Jesus.

LIVE IT

When one of these attitudes appears this week, do not feed it. Do not post it, text it, repeat it, or gather people to your side. Bring it to Jesus and choose a response that produces freedom and unity.

READ MORE

Ephesians 4:25–32; James 3:13–18

 

FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT

Jesus did not bring you out of slavery so you could keep living like a slave.

You are a son or daughter of God, and He wants to teach you how to live like one. When God reveals carnality in your life, do not hear condemnation. Hear an invitation to freedom.

Grow in God’s Word. Spend time with Jesus. Learn to recognize the Holy Spirit’s voice. Grow alongside other believers, and practice following Him in everyday life.

Grow up. Be led by the Spirit. Live differently.