Editor’s Note: This week welcome guest blogger, David Hundert. David is a current Master of Divinity student at Evangelical Seminary. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 the Apostle Paul writes, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get theContinue reading “Mastery over your passions – Fruit of the Spirit: Self-control, Part 3”
Tag Archives: fruit of the spirit
The concerning effortlessness of “works” – Fruit of the Spirit: Self-control, Part 1
Editor’s Note: This week welcome guest blogger, David Hundert. David is a current Master of Divinity student at Evangelical Seminary. One of the interesting things that I read this week in preparation for this blog series, is that when Paul lists in Galatians 5 what the New International Version of the Bible refers to asContinue reading “The concerning effortlessness of “works” – Fruit of the Spirit: Self-control, Part 1″
The Lord of the Rings and self-control – Fruit of the Spirit: Self-control, Preview
In J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings books, there is an ancient artifact that goes by many names, but perhaps most familiarly, “The One Ring.” Those who wear this ring are affected by and can wield the ring’s immense powers. There are other rings in Tolkien’s fantasy world, Middle-earth, and those other ringsContinue reading “The Lord of the Rings and self-control – Fruit of the Spirit: Self-control, Preview”
Four suggestions to grow faithfulness – Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, Part 5
What can help us to grow faithfulness? In addition to removing the four roadblocks we talked about in the previous post, here are four suggestions that might help you grow faithfulness in your life. Serve people. Is there someone you have a bad relationship with? Serve them. Reach out in kindness to them. Sometimes itContinue reading “Four suggestions to grow faithfulness – Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, Part 5”
Four roadblocks to faithfulness – Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, Part 4
What causes people to not be faithful? See if any of these potential roadblocks resonate with you. Roadblock #1: Fear – If we have an opportunity to step out of our comfort zone, to step out in faith, we can be afraid that we can’t handle it. We hold back rather than trust God toContinue reading “Four roadblocks to faithfulness – Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, Part 4”
The surprising definition of faithfulness – Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, Part 3
In the previous post we learned that for faith to be true faith, it must lead to a life that is faithful. And that brings us to the surprising definition of the word Paul used in the Fruit of the Spirit passage. The word Paul used in Galatians 5:22, “faithfulness,” is defined as “the stateContinue reading “The surprising definition of faithfulness – Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, Part 3”
The important difference between faith and faithfulness – Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, Part 2
In the previous post we studied a couple passages of Scripture that declare God’s faithfulness. You might read those verses and think, “Okay, I see the words of Scripture, but based on what is happening in my life, it doesn’t always seem that God is faithful.” If we’re honest, we can feel like lamenters inContinue reading “The important difference between faith and faithfulness – Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, Part 2”
Faithful: its who God is – Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, Part 1
I follow the Washington Commanders. In our church we have many Eagles fans and some Steelers fans. I follow the Commanders because my dad went to seminary in Washington DC, and there he caught the bug and passed it on to me and my brother. In the 80s and 90s, it was easy to beContinue reading “Faithful: its who God is – Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, Part 1”
We need faith that is more than faith – Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, Preview
What do you think of the name of my church: “Faith Church”? I checked the historical records we have on file, and they begin in 1968 after the name of the church was already decided. Wouldn’t it be cool to have a transcript of the discussion that led to our name “Faith”? Why did whoever pickedContinue reading “We need faith that is more than faith – Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness, Preview”
Some practical steps to increase your goodness – Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness, Part 5
As we have learned with the other qualities in the Fruit of the Spirit, we can grow goodness by walking in step with the Spirit, by spending time with him, by asking him repeatedly, “Spirit, infuse me with your goodness.” This is what Jesus was teaching when he talked about abiding in him, remaining inContinue reading “Some practical steps to increase your goodness – Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness, Part 5”
Engaging Scripture 