Goodness is for Everyone (Galatians 5:22)
Coupled with kindness is the characteristic of being good. To be good in this passage, not only means to be nice, polite, and helpful; but it is a character trait that reflects a heart of generosity. One thing about our God is that he is generous. Out of his love, he gave his Son so that by believing in his Son we might have life. We will consider what it means to exercise godly goodness and generosity.WatchNotesDownloadDateTitle
- Oct 1, 2023Goodness is for Everyone (Galatians 5:22)
Goodness is for Everyone (Galatians 5:22)Coupled with kindness is the characteristic of being good. To be good in this passage, not only means to be nice, polite, and helpful; but it is a character trait that reflects a heart of generosity. One thing about our God is that he is generous. Out of his love, he gave his Son so that by believing in his Son we might have life. We will consider what it means to exercise godly goodness and generosity.
- Sep 24, 2023Kindness: Reflecting God’s Character (Gal. 5:22)
Kindness: Reflecting God’s Character (Gal. 5:22)
Some say that social media has opened the door for a growing lack of civility in our culture. But the reality is that the lack of civility was already there and social media just gave it a broader platform. God's people are to be kind, which includes being honest, doing the right thing, having a heart of benevolence. When kindness is present in our lives and in our interactions we do make a difference. - Sep 17, 2023Patience…Now! (Galatians 5:22)
Patience…Now! (Galatians 5:22)
We live in an impatient world. We want our Amazon delivery to come in 24 hours, but it’s even better if it arrives in a matter of hours. The lottery promotions tell us we can have it all now...if we win. There is a maturity to being patient. There is a healthy perspective in knowing what is worth waiting for. It is interesting that this characteristic follows that of peace. Maybe there is a connection. - Sep 10, 2023The Blessing of Peace (Galatians 5:22-23)
The Blessing of Peace (Galatians 5:22-23)
Peace is the third aspect of the fruit of the Spirit. It is a characteristic that comes directly from God. It is a characteristic that gives us strength and hope. Jesus told us that the peacemakers are blessed. We will discover the true nature of peace and how it reflects the Holy Spirit who indwells us. - Sep 3, 2023The Strength of Joy (Galatians 5:22)
The Strength of Joy (Galatians 5:22)
Joy is one of those words that we tend to either ignore or some over do it. What is joy? How do I get it? How do I keep it? How can I be joyful when I am hurt, or grieving, or struggling to figure life out. Since joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit, then it will help all of us to have a greater understanding of how to discover and grow in this area and discover why the joy of the Lord is our strength. - Aug 27, 2023Love is the Key (Galatians 5:22)
Love is the Key (Galatians 5:22)
There are nine aspects or characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit. The foundational characteristic is love. We will define love as used in the Bible and look at several characteristics of love that reflect the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We will discover that love is more than an emotion - Aug 20, 2023Freedom within Boundaries (Galatians 5)
Freedom within Boundaries (Galatians 5)
As we open this series we will begin with defining freedom as Paul does in Galatians and get some background of the letter. We will also look briefly at the characteristics that are the complete opposite of the Fruit of The Spirit. We need to understand where not to go so we can more fully understand who God wants us to be. One thing that is clear is that self-indulgent living is not the path to God honoring freedom. - Aug 13, 2023Grace is the Key part 2 (Romans 15:22-33)
Grace is the Key part 2 (Romans 15:22-33)
What is your dream? If you could do anything you wanted for God what would it be? Believe it or not God has created and equipped you and placed you exactly where He wants you at this time. In God's grace we can think about what we would want to do for God. It is not wrong to dream big dreams for God. Just make sure you keep Him the focus. His grace will enable you to do more than you can imagine. But it is always His work. - Aug 6, 2023Grace is the Key (part 1 – Romans 15:14-21)
Grace is the Key (part 1 – Romans 15:14-21)
Rarely do any of us really feel we are "good enough?" We have too much experience and too many voices in our past and our present that remind us how far we fall short of some elusive level of perfection. We all need God's grace. We need to know that God makes us enough for what He invites us to accomplish. - Jul 30, 2023Others-centeredness Personified (Romans 15.1-13)
Others-centeredness Personified (Romans 15.1-13)
If I could only see a picture. If there were only a video. It seems when we have an example to follow it is easier to achieve the goal. In this section we have the prime example of unselfishness. As we look at Jesus and at how he accepts us as we are with all our faults, we should be able to accept others and their differences. The idea is not to just "live and let live." The idea is to accept one another and grow in love together, toward God and one another. - Jul 23, 2023Putting Others First (Romans 14:13-23)
Putting Others First (Romans 14:13-23)
It almost seems unfair at times to feel like we have to think of others. In our humanness, we wonder why no one thinks about us first. In a faith community that is characterized by loving one's neighbor as themselves, we ought to be concerned about others. On the one hand, it is wrong to let someone manipulate and control you. On the other hand, it is important that we do nothing that would hinder another person from growing and knowing more about Jesus. - Jul 16, 2023Focus on the Essentials (Romans 14:1-12)
Focus on the Essentials (Romans 14:1-12)
There were divisions in the Roman house churches. Often they fell along ethnic lines between the Jewish believers and the non-Jewish believers. Sometimes just like us, the first century Roman believers made issues of faith out of things that were issues of preference. If we are to truly love one another we need to learn to focus on the essentials and show grace with differences. - Jul 9, 2023What Love Looks Like (Romans 13:8-14)
What Love Looks Like (Romans 13:8-14)
As we have stated in the past this section of Romans is bookended by love. If God’s love is the most powerful force in our lives (Romans 8:37-39) then love should be the core motivating factor of our lives. Love is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s law and the one characteristic that we all take with us into eternity. - Jul 2, 2023Living Lovingly and Wisely as Citizens (Romans 13:1-7)
Living Lovingly and Wisely as Citizens (Romans 13:1-7)
As a “living sacrifice” whose mind is to be renewed so that I live transformed in my world, I must carry that reality over to my life as a citizen. The aspects of harmony and peace with others are key to our life as citizens. While we cannot and should not try to make a one to one comparison between First Century Rome and the 21st Century USA, there are still principles to understand and lessons to learn. - Jun 25, 2023A Lived Theology of Love (Romans 12:9-21)
A Lived Theology of Love (Romans 12:9-21)
These verses consist of a list of behaviors that reflect the outworking of a renewed mind. Imagine our own faith community in which we each sought to live in the ways outlined in this passage. Imagine our families, neighborhoods, workplaces, and local communities. Maybe this is what Jesus meant when he instructed us to be salt and light (see Matthew 5:13-16).