Sermon Series: Ghost Stories: Spiritual Gifts Big Idea: The deeper our roots, the better our fruit. Main Passage: Galatians 5:22-23a 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Three ways to frame how we put down roots: • Rooted in love. • Sour fruit and shallow roots. • We harvest what we plant. Discussion: What? What stood out to you from Dusty’s sermon or any questions you might have? For some the main passage is one of those lists that we’ve grown up with, sang songs about, heard lessons on from Sunday school teachers, and it can become a little cliché. For others it feels like a list of requirements that remain just out of reach. Even now you may be trying to figure out which fruits you are good at and which ones you are bad at. If that’s how we approach this passage we miss the point altogether. We need to focus less on the list as tasks but more as gauges. If your engine temperature in your car is running hot you can’t cover up the temperature gauge and pretend everything is ok or draw a new needle on a sticky note that reads cooler and cover it like it will help. It’s a symptom of something else that needs to change. Read the main passage again with this idea in mind. If the list is only a set of gauges that give us a readout of spiritual health where should our focus be if one of them isn’t well? Read John 15:1-11. Jesus doesn’t want his disciples to miss bearing fruit either. How does he say you can accomplish that? Dusty said we needed to be rooted in love. Who said it first? Jesus or Dusty? How do you see Jesus say the same thing in the passage we just read? What does Jesus say is the key to abiding in love? What can happen if we don’t?
So What? Dusty said that if we have shallow roots we will have sour fruit? What did he mean? Have you ever met anyone who was just sour? Don’t name names. Momma said if you don’t have anything nice to say… However, what impact did their sour presence have on you? Which fruits of the spirit are perhaps a little sour for you? It’s ok to be honest. EVERYONE has a sour fruit or two. What would change in our Christian community if our fruits were sweet and healthy? Read Matthew 7:15-20. Jesus is specifically talking about false teachers but there is a lesson for all of us. Our fruit isn’t just for us. What does our fruit say to others about who we are? Do What? Dusty said we harvest what we plant. How can you cultivate a fertile spiritual life that produces sweet fruit that glorifies Christ and builds the church? For some resources on spiritual disciplines and practical ways to apply them contact our discipleship minister:
[email protected] or (620) 227-8686. Scriptures for further study or memorization: Use these as a reference to help you as you discover the Holy Spirit’s power in your lives. Galatians 5:25 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Colossians 2:6-7 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Galatians 6:8-10 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
