Single lesson
Galatians 6: Carry One Another’s Burdens
Galatians 6:1–10; Galatians 6:11–18
This lesson helps children learn how Galatians 6 calls believers to help others gently, examine themselves honestly, keep doing good, and finish by valuing the cross of Christ above outward signs.
Before you teach
In Galatians 6, the writer gives instructions about restoring a person gently, bearing burdens, testing one’s own work, and sharing good things with the one who teaches. He then warns about false boasting, writes with his own hand, blesses those who walk by this rule, mentions marks on his body, and closes with grace.
Students will be able to identify two main teachings in Galatians 6 and describe one practical way to help someone gently or keep doing good this week.
Welcome: What kind of burden can someone help carry?
5 minExplain that a burden in this passage can mean a hard thing someone is carrying in life. Invite children to name simple examples such as sadness, trouble, or needing help with a mistake. Introduce the lesson idea that believers help others gently and also look carefully at their own lives.
Galatians 6:1, Galatians 6:2, Galatians 6:4
Read and explain: Restore gently and examine yourself
7 minRead Galatians 6:1-5. Explain that restoring someone means helping them back in a gentle way when they are caught in a fault. The passage also warns the helper to watch themselves. Pride is part of the danger, because a person can deceive himself by thinking he is something. So the passage joins burden-bearing with self-examination and personal responsibility.
Galatians 6:1, Galatians 6:2, Galatians 6:3, Galatians 6:4, Galatians 6:5
Discuss: Share, sow, reap, and keep doing good
6 minRead Galatians 6:6-10. Briefly explain that verse 6 tells the learner to share good things with the one who teaches the word. Then explain sowing and reaping as a farming picture. What someone sows is what he reaps. The passage contrasts the flesh and the Spirit, then urges believers not to give up doing good, but to do good to all, especially the household of faith.
Galatians 6:6, Galatians 6:7, Galatians 6:8, Galatians 6:9, Galatians 6:10
Make and respond: What matters most at the end of the letter
8 minRead Galatians 6:11-18. Point out that the writer says he is writing with his own hand and large letters. Explain simply that circumcision here is an outward bodily sign that some people were pressuring others to receive. The passage says they wanted to boast outwardly, but the writer boasts in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, and says what matters is a new creation. Children make a reminder card from one key verse.
Galatians 6:11, Galatians 6:12, Galatians 6:13, Galatians 6:14, Galatians 6:15
Closing: Peace, mercy, marks, and grace
4 minFinish by reading the final verses again. Explain that the passage speaks a blessing of peace and mercy on those who walk by this rule. It also says the writer bears the marks of the Lord Jesus on his body and asks not to be troubled further. The letter closes with grace. Review one action children can take from the passage this week.
Galatians 6:16, Galatians 6:17, Galatians 6:18
Questions to explore
According to Galatians 6:1, how should a person be restored when caught in a fault?
Look for the exact phrase about the helper’s attitude, and also notice the warning for the helper to watch themselves.
Galatians 6:1
How do Galatians 6:2-5 show both helping others and checking yourself honestly?
Notice the call to bear one another’s burdens, the warning about deceiving yourself, and the command to examine your own work.
Galatians 6:2, Galatians 6:3, Galatians 6:4, Galatians 6:5
What blessings and closing words does the passage give at the end of the chapter?
Look for the words peace, mercy, marks of the Lord Jesus on the writer’s body, and the final mention of grace.
Galatians 6:16, Galatians 6:17, Galatians 6:18
Make, think or respond
Galatians 6 Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- card or paper
- pencils or pens
- coloured pencils or markers
- Bible
Try it together
- Read Galatians 6:1, Galatians 6:2, Galatians 6:9, Galatians 6:10, Galatians 6:14, and Galatians 6:15, then let each child choose one key verse.
- Fold a small piece of card or paper in half to make a reminder card.
- On the front, write a short phrase from the chosen verse, such as 'Bear one another’s burdens' or 'Let’s not be weary in doing good'.
- Inside, draw or write one realistic way to live that teaching this week.
- Invite children to share their card and explain how it connects to the passage.
The card helps children remember a specific teaching from Galatians 6 and respond with one practical action that fits the passage.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two verse choices only and let them draw a picture instead of writing a full sentence.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to explain how the words about the cross and new creation in Galatians 6:14 and Galatians 6:15 shape the commands in Galatians 6:1-10.
An optional closing prayer
Suggested prayer: 'Lord Jesus, please help us be gentle, honest about ourselves, and faithful in doing good. Help us remember your cross and walk in your grace. Amen.'
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Galatians 6
1 Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted.
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
3 For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
4 But let each man examine his own work, and then he will have reason to boast in himself, and not in someone else.
5 For each man will bear his own burden.
6 But let him who is taught in the word share all good things with him who teaches.
7 Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
9 Let’s not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season if we don’t give up.
10 So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.
11 See with what large letters I write to you with my own hand.
12 As many as desire to make a good impression in the flesh compel you to be circumcised, just so they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
13 For even they who receive circumcision don’t keep the law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, so that they may boast in your flesh.
14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
15 For in Christ Jesus neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
16 As many as walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on God’s Israel.
17 From now on, let no one cause me any trouble, for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus branded on my body.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.