Fruit of the Spirit ~ Summer 2010 Sermon and Study Series
Ahhh… the fruit of summer! Nothing tastes as sweet. Maybe it is because seeds flourish in good soil with plenty of nutrients, water, warmth, sunshine and room to grow. Care and attention are critical!
Spiritual fruit isn’t much different. Our challenge isn’t to make ourselves grow spiritually; it is to continue to be available to all the good growing conditions that God is providing each day—conditions like His Word, His Spirit, and His people. God produces the fruit.
This summer, beginning on Sunday, July 11, you are invited to join us as we embark on a nine–week spiritual journey through the two brief verses, Galatians 5:22-23, known as the Fruit of the Spirit. The “Fruit” is not a collection of virtuous attributes that we ambitiously strive to attain through resolve and self–effort. The Fruit is the outward manifestation of internal change that is progressively transforming us into the image of Jesus Christ. Over time, our faith walk with Jesus will produce the characteristics that Jesus exhibited while here on earth.
Because of the work of the Spirit in us, we find that we are becoming more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self–controlled. Because this is a work of the Spirit, it is often to the amazement of ourselves and those around us that these characteristics exhibit themselves even in the most challenging and trying of times: in loss, suffering, illness, financial concerns, disappointments, and the everyday challenges of life. The Triune God is at work within us helping us to mature into beautiful, sweet, spiritual fruit. Our part is to be willing and open to what God is doing.
In addition to the sermon series we are preparing weekly support materials for personal, mentoring/spiritually intentional relationships, and/or small group application. These Discovery Guides are available here.
We, the Elders and Staff, are excited about this series and are looking forward to joining you on this journey through the summer as we invite God to do a work in our lives both individually and corporately. Available sermon resources.
Sermon Schedule, Summer 2010
