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”
Tag Archives: goodness
The complexity of defining goodness – Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness, Part 4
This week we are studying the quality of goodness, which is listed in the Fruit of the Spirit. What we’re going to find is that defining goodness is not as simple as it might seem. We learned in the previous post that numerous Psalms declare that God is good. In today’s post we jump overContinue reading “The complexity of defining goodness – Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness, Part 4”
The first and most important step to growing goodness in our lives – Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness, Part 3
During my first few years as senior pastor, I remember a thought I had nearly every Sunday when I was studying for and writing the sermon each week. I thought, “the people don’t need to hear this…they already know it…look at them…look how good they are. What could this sermon possibly say that they needContinue reading “The first and most important step to growing goodness in our lives – Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness, Part 3”
What to do when Christians disagree about what is good and what is bad – Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness, Part 2
What is good…and what is bad? In Christian circles there are plenty of disagreements about what are good actions and bad actions. Many times on the blog I’ve talked about many of these disagreements. What clothing styles can people wear to worship services? What beverages can people drink? What films, music, TV, books, magazines, canContinue reading “What to do when Christians disagree about what is good and what is bad – Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness, Part 2”
You good? – Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness, Part 1
“You good?” Have you ever said that to someone? Maybe a person appears to be coughing or choking, and as they struggle to maintain composure, we say, “You good?” After they regain composure, they respond, “It’s all good.” Or maybe a person has a particularly emotional reaction to a situation, a reaction that we thinkContinue reading “You good? – Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness, Part 1”
Oh my goodness! – Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness, Preview
“Oh my goodness!!!” How many of you say that phrase? Usually we say “oh my goodness” when we feel surprised, disappointed or disgusted. Why, then, do we not just say “I am surprised,” or “I am disgusted”? Certainly there are times when we do say, “I am surprise” or “I am disgusted,” but my guessContinue reading “Oh my goodness! – Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness, Preview”
Current Events – (How to Avoid) The Failure of Ravi Zacharias, Part 5
This week on the blog, I’ve been talking about the recent news of the awful failure of Ravi Zacharias. He is one in a long line of abusive leaders, and started with the first post here I’ve attempted to tell his story and how we might respond to it. As I mentioned in some ofContinue reading “Current Events – (How to Avoid) The Failure of Ravi Zacharias, Part 5”
When you forget to save your work – Titus 2:11-15, Part 1
I was listening to a podcast recently that was talking about research into the mob. Organized crime families. What the research revealed was fascinating: most mobsters don’t want to be mobsters. In fact, even when they themselves cannot break free from a life of crime, they will go to great lengths to help their kidsContinue reading “When you forget to save your work – Titus 2:11-15, Part 1”
Follow-up to Flipping Out, Losing It, Going Off and other generally mean things
Remember the guy who confronted me when I was putting up door hangers? Read the beginning of the story here. When he approached me, at first I had to deal with the confusion of what was happening. It was one of those moments when I started looking around to see if there were other people,Continue reading “Follow-up to Flipping Out, Losing It, Going Off and other generally mean things”
Flipping out, Losing it, Going off, and other generally mean things
Sometimes people are hard to deal with. Six or seven years ago we had an outdoor concert in the grass field behind our church. Featuring our praise band playing on a flatbed trailer, it was something we had not done in recent years, and we were excited about it. A few days before the concert,Continue reading “Flipping out, Losing it, Going off, and other generally mean things”
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