Faithfulness is a word big enough to hold both sides of trust: the trust we exercise toward God and the trustworthiness we offer to others. As followers of Jesus, we’re called to keep trusting God even when the road is uncertain, and to become people whose lives read as evidence that God is at work in us – so that our community can say, “I’ve seen faithfulness in you,” which is really another way of saying, “I’ve seen Jesus in you.”
the life you were made for: gentleness
Gentleness leads us to careful repair, instead of carelessly condoning.
Reflection questions:
- In what ways am I uncoachable or resistant to learning a gentle way of life?
- In what ways am settling for an easy fix towards the brokenness in my life?
- In what ways am I uncomfortable with gentleness and asserting my own authority over others.
the life you were made for: self control
Come along with us for week seven of our fruit of the spirit – self-control. All summer we’ve been looking at the fruit the Spirit grows in us as “the life we’re made for:” the life of Jesus, showing up more and more in us. Self-control is a personal challenge for each of us, and one we’re reluctant to address. But God’s grace we’ll discover that ”self-control” is my spirit going to work with the power from God’s spirit to bring discipline to my desires – so my whole life is more under God’s control and reflects the light and life of Jesus.
the life you were made for: goodness
Week 7 of Fruit of the Spirit brings us to Goodness. We have a lot of confusion about this one – what do we mean when we call something “good?” What does it mean to say God is good? And how could we know? Come with us and look to Jesus here – and the call in God’s word to pray and to work for the good of others in our communities as we reflect the goodness of God.
the life you were made for: patience
Week 5 of Fruit of the Spirit brings us to Patience – or really, Endurance, Forbearance. It’s a tricky but powerful word, and the scriptures show us that it’s less a virtue we cultivate than a Spirit-grown part of our character that shows up and shows out as we deeply trust in Jesus. Come with us and look to Jesus here and the race he ran, finding inspiration, strength and power for enduring in the daily race of faith.
the life you were made for: love
Week 4 of Fruit of the Spirit finds us on Love. Our guest preacher, Brian Martin, leads us deeper into Galatians 5 and the huge theme of love. Brian reminds us of the big idea of our whole lives and shows us the new “who” we love, the new standard for how we love (like Jesus!), and the new power to love – the gift of the Holy Spirit.
the life you were made for
It’s summertime! That means a new series: the Fruit of the Spirit. Join us as we take ten weeks and set the tables and sit down for what the Holy Spirit is growing in us. Week 1 kicks it off with basics on fruit – what’s at stake, what it is, and how we get it. We discover that the Holy Spirit is committed to reproducing in us the life and character of Jesus Christ himself. That’s great news – and by grace, through faith, we are growing!