In the previous post, I mentioned that, Paul, the guy who wrote about the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, used the Greek word, agape, when he was referring to love. What is unique about agape love? Paul describes it much more in-depth in 1 Corinthians 13, which is often called “The Bible’s LoveContinue reading ““Agape” love is hard work? – Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Part 3″
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What is love? – Fruit of the Spirit, Love – Part 2
What is love? Our culture has many ideas about love. Here’s a great medley of some famous love songs. How do these songs describe love? So many love songs. What is your favorite? How does our culture describe the word “Love”? I LOVE Pizza! Really? What does someone mean when they say they love pizza? Continue reading “What is love? – Fruit of the Spirit, Love – Part 2”
James Dean, long strides and the Holy Spirit? – Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Part 1
One of my parents’ neighbors is quite a character. He’s lived on their street before my parents moved there in the mid-1980s, and he is probably about 5 years older than me. He has classic car hot rods, and during his late teens and 20s he would rev the engine every morning before going toContinue reading “James Dean, long strides and the Holy Spirit? – Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Part 1”
God is______? – Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Preview
If you had to describe God in one word, which is impossible I know, what word would you use? Pause reading this, think about it, maybe write down the word, and then come back to the email. What word to you land on? Holy? Pure? Trinity? Jesus? Perfect? All-powerful (or its fancy synonym, “omnipotent”)? AnotherContinue reading “God is______? – Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Preview”
How to enter the Kingdom of God – Galatians 5:16-26, Part 5
After illustrating the acts of the sinful nature, as we learned in the previous post on Galatians 5:16-26, Paul has a clear warning for the people. Look at the end of verse 21, “If we live according the desires and indulgences of the sinful nature, we will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” That’s aContinue reading “How to enter the Kingdom of God – Galatians 5:16-26, Part 5”
Examining the acts of the sinful nature – Galatians 5:16-26, Part 4
In Galatians 5:19-21, Paul lists some examples of what he calls “the acts of the sinful nature.” It is not a comprehensive list, as that could potentially fill multiple volumes. Instead Paul mentions a dozen or so examples to illustrate how all humans have a sinful nature. In this post we’ll examine his list. I’mContinue reading “Examining the acts of the sinful nature – Galatians 5:16-26, Part 4”
How to have victory in the inner battle of our sinful nature vs the Holy Spirit – Galatians 5:16-26, Part 3
We’ve had quite a long introduction to the passage we’re studying this week. Two whole posts here and here. We’ve learned that God is passionate about helping people become the kind of people that live in line with his heart. But how? By following laws? No. In those introductory posts we discussed Paul’s clear messageContinue reading “How to have victory in the inner battle of our sinful nature vs the Holy Spirit – Galatians 5:16-26, Part 3”
Christians are free from the law and free for holiness – Galatians 5:16-26, Part 2
In the United States we often say, “It’s a free country, I can do what I want.” But that’s not true. Yes, the USA is a free country, but people are not free to do whatever they want. We have TONS of laws, and if you break a law you will face the consequences. WeContinue reading “Christians are free from the law and free for holiness – Galatians 5:16-26, Part 2”
Is Christian freedom dangerous? – Galatians 5:16-26, Part 1
Do you know any tongue-twisters? How about “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers”? Or maybe “How much wood could a woodchuck chuck?” Can you say the difficult “She sells seashells by the seashore”? Did you know the Bible has a tongue-twister? Here it is. Romans 7:15-20, “I do not understand what I do.Continue reading “Is Christian freedom dangerous? – Galatians 5:16-26, Part 1”
What is your Kryptonite? – Galatians 5:16-26, Preview
What is your Kryptonite? You know how Superman is utterly powerful and has no weakness, except for the rare mineral Kryptonite? When he is in the presence of even a small pebble of Kryponite, he cowers and becomes like an ordinary human. Is there something like that in your life? It could be a certainContinue reading “What is your Kryptonite? – Galatians 5:16-26, Preview”
Engaging Scripture 