Fruit of the Spirit
Embracing Christ like characteristics
Introduction:
We will be meeting together at least 2 weeks per month through the summer. We want to grow in embracing Christ like character in our lives. So for our discussion our topic will be the Fruit of the Spirit. The Godly attitudes that characterizes the lives of those who belong to God. Their faith in Christ posses the Spirit of God. The Spirit is evident by its fruit.
Read Gal: 5:16-26
Q. How important is this to God?
A. Read John 15:1-4,8
Q. In going thru the produce section of the grocery store, what is the typical manner in which one shops for fruit?
A. Pick up and squeeze it for softness, polish apples, taste a grape for sweetness, inspect strawberries etc.
Q. How is this common today for Christians, religious people, believers, when it comes to treating the Fruit of the spirit?
A. They concentrate on the fruit that interests them or come easy to them, without bothering with or making an effort to embrace others aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit.
Q. What are some examples of that?
A. Loving person is not self-controlled.
What we will be learning through these series is that living by the spirit is not freedom to choosing what fruit we do or do not want to exhibit. All the fruit of the spirit is to be desired and cultivated in our lives as we strive to be Christ like.
The Spirit filled life is produced by the Spirit activity and human response to God's word.
Obedience to God's command to love, patience, kindness, self-control etc. but also requires the dependency on Gods power through Holy Spirit
How many fruits of the spirit are there?
Vs. 22- Says "The Fruit of the Spirit" Not "the Fruits of the Spirit". This is significant because if we take fruits instead of fruit we naturally feel the freedom to be picky about the fruit we like or feel most comfortable with and neglect the others.
What fruit in the grocery store don't you like?
-for that reason you would not choose that fruit. Describe the fruit you like? You have described different aspects of the fruit which is a composite description. That is the same in our lives when it comes to the Fruit of the Spirit.
Our all around behavior will be the direct result if our relationship with God and the individually spirit being lived out through us. We represent the Fruit of the Spirit.
Gal:16-18
What conflicts is described in this verse (vs. 16-18)
In what ways have you experienced this struggle in your own life?
What are the results of living by the spirit? Vs. 16,18,22,23
How might living by the spirit affect actions and attitudes that Paul listed in vs. 19-21?
In Crucifying the sinful nature and living by the Spirit though different, how are they relative to each other?
A- As Christians we still have the capacity to SIN, but we have been set free from SINS power over us and no longer have to give in to it. We must daily commit our live to God's control. Crucify our sin and continually draw on God's power to overcome them. We also need to have people in our lives to pray and help us.
What do you think is involved in keeping "In the step with the spirit" Greek word meaning "walk in the spirit" (Vs.25)? How do we do this? Indicates continuous action, a habitual lifestyle, walking implies progress as a believer and submit to the spirit control.
Let us make every effort this week to crucify the sinful nature by submitting daily to the spirits power.
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