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2017Summer Devotional

Hi Families! This summer, it is my great hope that you will take Sunday nights and make it a time for intentional family devotions! We all know that spending time talking with our children about God’s Word is vitally important—it is simply carving out a time to do it that can be a challenge. This Fruit of the Spirit series is simply designed to be a spring board for your family to help you dive into the habit of devotions together. I have gathered ideas from several sources in hopes of giving you a starting place to get a discussion going about God’s Word with your kids. This is just a guide, so feel free to use your own ideas to talk with your family about love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control! Have fun with your kids as you get a chance to share experiences together and to connect with other on spiritual level. Deuteronomy 6:6 says, “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Our job as parents is to be the primary teacher of God’s truth to our kids! It is a privilege and a challenge, and we don’t want to waste the years that God entrusts to us. Thank you for jumping in with us on this new Sunday night summer adventure. I’m so grateful for the incredible families of Faith and I love your amazing kids!

Angie LuceKids Ministry Director

Resources - www.ohamanda.com - Got Fruit?: A Guide to Family Devotions by Ron Brooks - www.familylife.com

Acknowledgments

The goal of this year’s Summer Devotional is to encourage you to grow in your faith weekly. Each week is full of Bible study, family activities, memory verses and much more. Our hope is that you use this devotional to enhance your already active personal time with God or perhaps jump-start it if you’ve been out of the rhythm.

Even if you find yourself struggling to have a consistent quiet time with God, don’t give up. There is perhaps not great gift than to spend time with a God who loves you more than you will ever know. With time, the spiritual discipline of frequent Bible study will become a joy.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3

In It Together,Stephen BrannonAssociate Pastor Strategic Ministries

Portions of this devotional were strongly influenced by the book, Fruit of the Spirit

by John W. Sanderson

Great truths from Warren Wiersbe’s commentary on Galatians were also used.

Church Family, I am so excited about the opportunity we have during these busy weeks of Summer to experience a “new rhythm” for our church family on Sunday evenings! This “Summer Devotional” resource is designed to be a practical tool for individuals and families in maximizing this season for spiritual growth and missional involvement that will be practical, relational, and a lot of fun. You will find helpful Bible studies and creative ideas for the entire family to engage in worship, missions, and prayer.

It is not our intention to merely “take the Summer off” from meetings on Sunday night. Rather, we hope our church family will embrace this fresh new approach to engage with neighbors and even connect with new friends for some shared times together. Our church staff has designed this resource to be a catalyst for ideas, but it is not an exhaustive resource for how the Lord may lead you and your family.

We want to hear your stories of how God used this “Summer Season” in your life and for strengthening your family. Please document your experiences through photos and using social media anything you feel might encourage others along the way. I love our Faith family so much and I’m grateful for the privilege of serving as your pastor!

Pastor Danny Sinquefield

From our Pastor’s Heart

Often when we think of “worship” we equate it with music. We may comment on how “it was an amazing time of worship,” or sometimes if we didn’t care for certain aspects of a service we may say, “I just wasn’t connecting with the worship today.” While music is a common expression of our worship, we need to remember worship isn’t only the songs we sing as a congregation. The first time “worship” is found in the Bible is in Genesis 22 where Abraham is told by God to offer his one and only son, Isaac, as a burnt offering. Once they arrived at the mountain in Moriah, Abraham tells the two young men who had traveled with them, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” Abraham wasn’t going up the hill with Isaac to only have a song service. Instead, we find that Abraham was responding to Christ’s command with extravagant love and extreme submission. This outward expression of a lifestyle of submission is further discussed in John 4:23 where Jesus himself says, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” He desires and seeks for our hearts and lives to be fully surrendered to Him and for us to respond in obedience. Our prayer is that you will first and foremost come to a place of understanding that our lives are to be our sacrificial worship to God expressed in many different forms. Secondly, we pray that you will worship passionately and uninhibited in your various rhythms of life to “give unto the LORD the glory due to His name.” May we worship God for who He is: the one true King, our Creator, Redeemer, Deliverer, Healer and Savior! He is why we sing praises regardless of preference. He is why we raise our hands in total surrender. He is why we give sacrificially to our church body and to others. He is why we take time to teach and train up the next generation. He is why we love our neighbor as ourselves. He alone is why we worship! We encourage you to take time to join your heart or even lift up your voice with these songs of praise. There are many different styles and preferences represented in the playlists, all being sung for HIS glory! See instructions for accessing these free Spotify playlists below.

Sign Up with Your Email Address 1. Head to Spotify.com/signup. 2. Choose a Username and Password. 3. Fill out the other details. 4. Click SIGN UP.

Sign Up with Facebook 1. Head to Spotify.com/signup. 2. Click SIGN UP WITH FACEBOOK. 3. Enter your Facebook log in details and click Log In.

Spotify can also be enjoyed on your phone or mobile device. It is a free app accessed in your App Store.

To Access Faith Baptist Playlist

- Select “Search”- Type the following phrase:

spotify:user:faithbaptistbartlett

- click “follow”

Weekly Worship Music

Week 1

MissionsJesus teaches us that if we love Him we will keep His commands. It can be tempting to read the Bible but not apply its teachings and principles. Our faith should be active! Active faith begins with by:

Listening to GodPeter is often everyone’s favorite disciple. He is guilty of a “shooting first, aiming later” type of faith. In our society today, this approach to ministry and missions can cause more harm than good. People who do not know Jesus are quick to find any excuse to shut down the conversation. Active faith that is healthy and going to make a difference is one that is guided by the Holy Spirit. As you pray for your neighbors, co-workers and friends be sure to listen to what God is telling you. Allow the Holy Spirit to fill your words and guide your steps.

Preparing Your HeartIt is near impossible to advance the Kingdom of God if you don’t know the heartbeat of God Himself. He has given us the Bible as a direct revelation of Himself. The passions and priority of God is clear and the purposes He gives us are obvious; but if we never stop to spend time reading His revelation we will never personally know Him. Allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with spiritual substance so that when the opportunity comes we can give an answer for the hope that lies within us.

Each week this summer, you will be prompted to missional action using the acronym

N.E.I.G.H.B.O.R.S.

Journal If we are honest, sometimes our relationship with God can feel very abstract. It may seems like a lot of reading and praying but no real expression. We invite you to journal. We realize journaling may not be something everyone enjoys doing. But by writing out thoughts, emotions, prayers and lessons learned we can see how God is growing us to be more like Him.

Each week this summer, you will have this area as a free space for personal journaling.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are

clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments

and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

John 15:1-11

In our society, we are part of a “daily grind.” A never ending Monday through Friday, morning, noon and night emphasis on production. We have bosses who demand success, driven by a bottom line. Our society places value on children who achieve more than the average child. Sadly, this mentality begins to bleed over into areas of life which shouldn’t be held to such standards. Husbands and wives quarrel because they exist in a debt/debtor relationship. Moms and dads parent with the pressure to “keep up with the Joneses.” But the Bible teaches our relationship with Jesus is different. Because of His grace and perfect love, He chose to live a life worthy to receive God’s wrath in our place. Because of His power and authority, He rose again on the third day conquering sin and death. Now, seated at the right hand of God, Jesus freely gives mercy to those of us who could never earn or deserve a relationship with God. Whenever we apply a “boot strap mentality” to a works-based faith we declare that Jesus’s death was not good enough or sufficient – I must earn my right standing before God. I must work for His blessing. By the very words of Jesus’s teachings in His final days, that is simply not true. So does this mean there is no action to our faith? We simply become Christians, go to church on occasion, say prayers at meal time and then go to heaven when we die? That’s not exactly the case either. As we abide in Jesus our love for Him grows. The more time we spend with Him reading the Bible, praying and gathering in community the more desire we have to follow His commandments. The Fruit of the Spirit that Paul describes in Galatians 5:22 comes to us by way of the Holy Spirit. In John 14:20-22, we understand that as we sincerely love Jesus we will desire to keep His commandments. As in the same way we love our children we actively provide for them. If we love our spouse we actively serve them. If we love the Memphis Grizzlies we actively cheer for them! Our relationship with Jesus should not remain passive. The more we mature in our faith the more active the Fruit of the Spirit becomes in our lives.

Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed me white as snow.

The Bottom Line Take a moment to ask God if you’re living a works-based faith. Perhaps even more discouraging, if someone observed your life could they even recognize you as a fruit-producing, Christ-follower? There is nothing we can do to earn or deserve God’s love. He has loved you since the moment He created you. Though our faith is not earned, it is important that we as Christ-followers are healthy, fruit-producing believers. Commit to God today that this summer you will walk with Him daily and allow Him to prune away the sinful, dead branches and produce in you healthy, spiritual fruit.

Family Activity

Each week, starting Week 2 with “Love”, you and your family will have the chance to participate in a suggested activity. This activity is meant to be lead by a parent(s) and is a way to encourage quality family time and spiritual growth. Family Bible study can be a challenge with little ones, but we hope you will find these activities helpful in the attempt to gather your family on the couch or around the kitchen table.

These family activities are also a great way to involve a neighbor or friend of your child. Consider picking a week this summer to invite your neighbor’s family or several families in the neighborhood over to participate in this devotional. Or another idea might be to host a cookout which includes stopping for a moment to read a Bible story and participate in one of these family activities.

Memory VerseAn active faith is not built on our emotions. We know there are times when we feel passionate about God and other times when our faith is weak. An active faith is also not built on popular sayings or witty words of wisdom. There is not a stronger or more valuable source of wisdom and love than the Bible. This summer, we encourage you to memorize scripture. These Bible verses will encourage and strengthen your faith while also preparing you for the mission of loving others and sharing the gospel.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive

together with Christ - by grace you have been saved [...]

Ephesians 2:4-5

Week 2

Missions

Journal

NEARESTBegin at home. Pray as a family for your neighbors, specifically by name. If there are neighbors on your street who you do not yet know, make it a goal this week to introduce yourself.

Consider prayer walking your neighborhood. During the summer we tend to spend time outside with neighbors all around us, but do we actually spend time praying for them? As you pass each house pray out loud or quietly to yourself.

If the opportunity presents itself, attempt to pray with a neighbor this week. If they share life experiences or tell you a story about what they are going through - stop and pray for them on the spot.

N

“Love” and “hate” are both elusive ideas. If you have been around a teenager or raised children, you have probably heard phrases like “I love my new video game” or “I hate doing my homework.” It has become easy to throw around words like these in our culture when the truth of the matter is we rarely use them in the truest since of the word. Before we as Christ-followers are able to truly comprehend the fruit of love, it is important to understand exactly what Paul means in Galatians 5:22. In fact, it is profitable to look back to the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 5:21 to first understand the “weed” of hate that often chokes-out the fruit of love. In Jesus’s teaching He is explaining to us that we cannot harbor feelings of hate and anger in our hearts and still produce the fruit of love. It is true, we may never commit murder or act upon our feelings of hate and anger; but the Bible teaches that even those emotions that lead to sin. The common mistake is to believe hate is a restricted experience. We think to ourselves, if I am not acting out on my anger then it isn’t that bad. Jesus makes it clear, intensity of our emotion is irrelevant to our overall heart condition. The truth is that with anger, bitterness or even discontent towards someone in our heart we will always restrict the fruit of love that we can produce. Jesus would say even the religious legalists can go through the motions of love. If the fruit of love is truly to be cultivated in our lives we must start by ridding our hearts of the weeds of hate and anger. If the authentic fruit of love is to be produced in our lives we should establish rhythms of loving those around us. The Bible is clear about several key ways we can show authentic love.

Love for the PoorLoving the least of these is not limited to a modern concept or a social gospel. Even back to the Old Testament God was calling His people to love the poor by means of providing for them. In Leviticus 19:9 God instructs His people to dedicate some of their harvest to those who are in deepest need. Again, in Deuteronomy 24:22 God declares, “You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt.” In order to display authentic fruit of love we must never forget we were once spiritually poor, strangers, enemies in the eyes of God. Yet, because He loves us, He provided for us in our deepest need. In the same way may we meet both the spiritual and physical needs of those around us in our daily lives.

Love for the Co-WorkerAs our culture becomes increasingly shrewd the boundaries of morality and the definition of right and wrong are becoming blurred. Whether you are an employee or a supervisor, the goal of our daily lives as Christ-followers should be to produce the fruit of love in our workplaces. Leviticus 19:11 speaks directly, “Do not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.” The specific job you have is no coincidence to God. He has divinely appointed you in the position you have in the season you are in so you might show and share the love of Jesus with those around you.

Love for the NeighborThere is no doubt our society puts the most value on the people who can provide the most. Whether that is money, fame or fortune we have a traumatically skewed view of who is important and deserves our attention. However, as a Christ-follower, we should give the fruit of love to anyone and everyone we come to know. 2 Corinthians 5:16 encourages us to see people not by the outward appearance, but as Jesus sees the heart of a person. Our love for people should be unconditional and with no regard to how or if it will benefit us. May we be found showing grace and mercy to others as God has shown us the same.

The Bottom LineJesus teaches us that before we can produce the fruit of love in our lives, we must pluck out the weeds of anger and hate in our heart. Take a moment and ask God to search your heart to find any feelings of hate or frustration towards someone. Then ask God to give you spiritual eyes to see and ears to hear how you can love - with an authentic love - those around you this week.

Family Activity

This Fruit of the Spirit is referring to a love that requires action and doesn’t expect anything in return! Cut your family a bowl of strawberries - or if you don’t have any strawberries draw some on paper as a family. When sliced in half, a red strawberry resembles a heart. As you enjoy the sweet strawberries, talk about how showing love through action brings sweetness to the life of the person to whom you are showing love. Discuss some ways your family can actively show love this week. Do you sponsor a Compassion child? Maybe your kids could make a special letter or piece of art to send to that child. Do you know a widow who might need help in her yard? Perhaps your family could offer to weed the flower bed. There are so many ways to show love to those around us, not just with our words, but with our actions. Find a way that your family can show love this week!

Memory Verse

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

1 John 4:7

Week 3

Missions

Journal

ENGAGEIn suburban Memphis and throughout America, many people go to work and immediately come home and close their garage doors. “My home is my castle” is a common mantra. Take time this week as a family to intentionally engage your neighborhood. Try playing in the front yard instead of the back. Sit in the driveway in camping chairs or start a lemonade stand. Don’t just wave at your neighbors and keep going, cross the street and have a conversation.

E

Joy is a far deeper and far richer personal experience than the experience of simple happiness. Both Christians and non-Christians will often and easily make this mistake through the years. Happiness is a moving target. If we think back over our lives, what made us happy at ten years old obviously are not the same things that made us happy at twenty, forty or will make us happy as senior adults. Authentic joy has a source. True joy only comes from grace. Simply put, grace can be remembered as an acronym: G.R.A.C.E God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Jesus left His rightful place in heaven in order to come to earth and live a perfect life – ultimately to die an unearned, undeserved death for our sins. If we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior we are children of God. We receive grace from God that produces pure joy. Leviticus 23 records detailed instructions of The Feast of Booths. On the surface, it would seem ironic that God would ask His people to build small, insufficient huts (booths) for His people to live in just after the harvest was collected. God was interrupting the season when His people were most aware of their abundance to teach them true joy isn’t found in what we can hold in our hands, but rather what we have in our hearts. Instead of drawing strength and confidence from their accomplishments, God was causing them to understand even in primitive conditions we can rejoice. Like this Feast, God will cause an experience or a season of life to shake up our perspective. There is a story of a senior adult couple who finally were able to buy the car of their dreams. It had a beautiful maroon exterior and a quality interior with hand-stitched leather. The ride was smooth, there was leg room for everyone and the cockpit had more buttons and gadgets than they would ever use. After owning the car only a few weeks, this husband and wife had already received more compliments from friends and strangers than they ever did on their old car. There was no doubt, this car was the apple of their eye. One day the wife came out of a shopping mall to discover a father, a son and a local police officer standing outside her car. Her pace quickened as she walked briskly to her car and thought to herself, “if that boy has done anything to my car…” Sure enough the young man, just barely old enough to drive, had accidentally pulled through his parking spot and into hers, dismantling and demolishing the pristine grill of the beautiful car. After a few moments and once the husband and wife had the chance to calm down and think, they both came to realize the car was just that – their car: tires, doors and window glass. They both agreed perhaps it was God causing them to remember, in a very real and tangible way, earthly things of material can only make us happy; it is the presence of God and the blessing of grace that truly brings us joy. It’s also important to remember joy is not circumstantial. Take the life of Elijah for example in 1 Kings 17, 18 and 19. God had performed miracles and answered Elijah’s prayers in every way Elijah had asked – lack of rain (17:1), be fed by ravens (17:4), support from a widow (17:15) and of course fire in the famous showdown against the prophets of Baal (18:38). Then in chapter 19 whenever Jezebel pursues Elijah’s life, he suddenly expresses a self-pity that seems to have forgotten the loving goodness and grace of God. What is true of God is that He does not always work the way we want Him to or when we want Him to. A truly mature Christ-follower understands that we don’t always have to understand. Our source of joy must always be God, not His ways or His workings.

The Bottom LineIn the Bible we learn that the difference between happiness and joy is that joy has a source, which is God’s grace. Take a moment and ask God to forgive you for pursing happiness in the material things of this world. As you do count your blessings, thank God and ask Him for joy in your heart that can only come from Him. Resolve in your heart and mind to stop seeking only the hand of God and start seeking His face.

Family ActivityJoy, as a fruit, can be captured by a banana. Why do bananas go with joy? Well, because bananas are naturally smile-y! Give your family a few bananas and write the word “joy” on one side of the banana peel and then make a smiley face on the other side of the peel. Have them put the side of the banana with the smiley face up to their own faces and share a few laughs. Consider posting

your picture on social media to share the joy you have in God. Now try to open the banana to eat it. Do you notice how strong it is? It’s strong enough to protect the yummy inside! As a family, spend

some time discussing what it means to be joyful and strong even when we are going through difficult things. Joy is given to us by the Holy Spirit, regardless of circumstances. In fact,

sometimes joy shines the brightest when we are going through hard times. Practice memorizing Nehemiah 8:10 together: “The joy of the Lord makes me strong.” Then of course, peel the bananas

and eat them!

Memory Verse

My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.

Psalm 84:2

Week 4

Missions

Journal

INVITEHave you ever considered food as a tool for God’s Kingdom? What about restaurants; have you ever thought of them as a mission field? We rarely stop to think of it that way. But the truth is, everyone eats! Intentionally invite your neighbor, friend or co-worker to a meal this week. Pay for their meal! If you are a sports fan, check the schedule and invite someone to watch the game with you - it’s a great way for Fathers/Sons to engage other fathers and sons in the neighborhood.

I

It is said that you cannot truly know the meaning of peace until you hear shalom spoken by an Israeli in the middle of a war-torn region. Perhaps unlike any place on earth, it is there that hope and promise hang from every letter of the word. In a country and culture like ours, it is easy to take the absence of war and unrest for granted. We rarely think twice about our safety and often go about our days without a strong concern to self-preservation. But the true and real peace (shalom) that the Bible refers to goes beyond our physical comfort and safety. It goes deeper than surface-level provisions and established social status. In The Creation Story of Genesis 2 and 3 we understand there is shalom between mankind and creation, mankind and each other and (most importantly) between mankind and God. However, a crafty serpent appears and lies to Adam and Eve. His lie tempted them to sin. Their sin broke the perfect peace that existed between God and His creation. The beautiful news of the gospel is that God did not leave us in our sin. He sent His son Jesus to live a life we could not live and pay the debt of sin we could not pay. Because of His death and resurrection, we can be reconciled into right relationship with God once again and experience shalom (perfect peace) in our lives. There are specific weeds that choke-out the fruit of peace that God has promised us. Read through the following “weeds” and ask God to forgive you where you need forgiveness and encourage you where you need to experience His peace.

Anxiety Philippians 4:6-7This is a tricky emotion. Anxiety can give us the false-feeling that we are being productive with our thoughts, time and energy. However, the truth about anxiety is it is actually one of the greatest enemies of peace. Anxiety causes us to be occupied with things that are of lesser meaning in our lives. We will have life experiences that need our attention, our time, our efforts. But in order to be healthy Christ-followers who experience the fruit of peace we must take all our cares and worries to the throne of God in prayer and trust them with Him. At the feet of God our priorities are put in proper order. Our anxiety will dissolve and our hearts will find peace.

Jealousy Proverbs 6:16-19God does not mince His words about the presence of jealousy among His people. Jealousy has way of sowing seeds of discord among friends and family even faster than we can control. Theologian Franz Delitzsch writes of jealousy, “The chief of all that God hates is he who takes a fiendish delight in setting at variance men who stand nearly related.” It is the saddest of tragedies when Christian friends and family choke out the fruit of peace with the weeds of jealousy. Jealousy can be cancerous to a local church and debilitate a family and marriage.

The Bottom LineHow then can we “pluck out” the weeds of anxiety and jealousy in our hearts and lives? What is the beginning of experience the fruit of peace from God? Trust the Lord Isaiah 26:3 Daily commit your heart and mind to rest in the assurance that God loves you and is in control. Believe the Scriptures 1 John 3:19 Daily commit to studying and hiding the Word of God in your heart. Don’t only rely on positive sayings or superficial comments. Pray with Thanksgiving Philippians 4:6 Daily commit to prayer with God not only for the purpose of His physical provision but also for His peace to fill you heart.

“In order to experience the peace that surpasses all understanding, sometimes we must give up the right to understand.” – Dr. Savannah Hill-Conner

Family ActivityTo talk about peace, slice any fruit on hand into pieces and put it in the bowl in the middle of the

table. Don’t have anyone eat it until you read through the story of Jesus calming the storm (Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, and Luke 8:22-25). Discuss the reaction of the disciples (panic

and fear) versus the reaction of Jesus. Jesus had the power to calm the storm all along, but the disciples’ lack of faith prevented them from experiencing that peace for a time. In the same way,

God’s peace is available to us as believers even in the middle of chaos! It simply takes faith to reach out and grab it. Look at the pieces of fruit on the table. The pieces of fruit are available, but they can’t be enjoyed until each person reaches out and takes some! Have each member of your family

reach out and take a piece of fruit to enjoy, and discuss situations you and your kids might be facing that require reaching out in faith to claim the peace God has promised.

Memory Verse

[...] but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

Week 5

Missions

Journal

GRACENearly everyone enjoys receiving a gift. Gifts that are undeserved or unexpected often make the best experiences. Take time this week to give a neighbor, friend or co-worker an unexpected gift. Think how shocked they will be if it isn’t Christmas or their birthday! This gift is your chance to tell someone you care about them and they are valued. If the opportunity is there, take time to tell them about the grace God has given you and it’s what motivates you to love others.

G

Patience is coveted as a virtue. If you are a spouse, it is crucial to a happy marriage. If you are a parent, there never seems to be enough of it. If you’ve made a mistake, you hope that person will find it. Whenever we consider patience as a Fruit of the Spirit, E. D. Burton summarizes it best by saying, “Patience is steadfastness in obedience to God despite pressure to deny Him.” There is no doubt our bodies and our minds don’t naturally have spiritual patience. Paul writes in Romans 7 that even he does not understand his body – he does what he wishes he wouldn’t and what he does do he knows he shouldn’t. Does that sound familiar? It should to all of us. Without the spiritual fruit of patience we attempt to reclaim the thrones of our hearts. The absence of patience is a declaration to God that we don’t care how, when or by what means He will guide and direct our lives - we will live on our terms. One of the first steps to embracing the spiritual fruit of patience is to understand that everyone is tried and tested. Ever since the Garden when Adam and Even chose sin and self over a right and holy relationship with God the consequences of sin have been presence. Sin is presence in the world around us and rages in our minds and hearts within us. As the G.I. Joes would say, “knowing is half the battle” against sin and the temptation to disregard patience. Jesus taught us to be ready, life will be hard and having spiritual patience will be tough: “In the world you will have tribulation […] I do not pray that you should take them out of the world but that you should keep them from the evil one.” John 16:33 and John 17:15. This is why seeking God and His grace is all the more important. Our circumstances in this world will demand we have the spiritual fruit of patience. What cannot be missed is the source of the fruit. It is entirely possible for someone to hear a self-help book and develop emotional patience. There are steps to be followed and processes to attempt in order to become “a more patient person”. However, as we study the Fruit of the Spirit, we understand spiritual patience is something all together different. There is a different source and motivation for spiritual long-suffering. The source of our patience comes from the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Often, God will allow challenging circumstances in our lives which should cause us to run to Him for His provision. Mature Christians must stop seeing challenges as inconvenient, but rather as an opportunity to grow closer to Christ and experience the blessing of patience that only He can give. Almost ironically, the source of our patience is also the motivation for it. God is patient and long-suffering towards us. Ephesians 2:4-5 teaches us just that, “[…] even when we were dead in our trespasses […]” Even when we were considered dead and gone, a spiritual lost cause, God remained patient toward us even to the point of providing salvation. With this as our motivation, we should not be able to help but be patient towards others and particularly patient when we don’t understand our loving God’s plans and timing. Consider two primary “weeds” that choke out the spiritual fruit of patience:

Impatience with God Impatience is a toxic weed in our spiritual garden primarily because impatience causes us to doubt God and leave Him out of our thinking. Whenever we lack patience with our life circumstances or a loved one, we are in effect telling God we do not trust Him to work among us – we would rather take matters into our own hands than to wait on God’s timing.

Impatience Under Trial One of my son’s favorite bedtime Bible stories is Jesus dying on the cross. The whole story is filled with intrigue and amazement. One of his favorite parts is when Peter cuts off the ear of the Roman soldier. “Whack!” he says, as he falls back on his pillow, reenacting the exchange. But if we take a close look at Peter in that moment we see he is impatience in the face of a trial. Jesus remained faithful to the Father even during a moment that seemed dire. Peter on the other hand acted impulsively and rather than trusting God the Son, he took matters into his own hands.

The Bottom LineSpend time in prayer asking God to expose the impatience in your life. What areas of your life (loved ones, finances, job, spiritual calling) are you tapping your foot and frustrated with God? As God allows trials and life challenges, stop seeing them as inconvenient. Begin to see them as opportunity for spiritual growth and increased patience.

Family Activity Grab a kiwi to illustrate this Fruit of the Spirit. Slice it in half and have each child attempt to

remove the tiny black seeds, one by one from the kiwi. It is slow work and can be frustrating! Read this verse from Provers 14:29 together. It says, “Anyone who is patient has great understanding. But anyone who gets angry quickly shows how foolish he is.” Talk about situations where it was

difficult to be patient this past week. Discuss how it is possible to reflect this fruit of the spirit even in the most frustrating circumstances. Think about times each of you was shown patience and how that made you feel. Praise God He is patient with us! Psalm 103:8 says, “The Lord is compassionate

and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” Thank God together for His patience toward us!

Memory Verse

[...] but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

Week 6

Missions

Journal

HOSPITALITYIt is easy to drive by a situation and expect someone else to handle it or take care of it. There are natural mission opportunities all around us. Maybe a storm has blown your neighbor’s trash can down the street. Maybe there is a stray dog in your neighborhood that is looking for his home. Or maybe, if the situation appears “safe enough”, someone on the side of the road needs your help.

With humility, seek out opportunities to help neighbors, friends or co-workers by doing something for them physically. No expression of love is too small.

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It is fair to say that not all men are unkind. There is a certain level of humanity in nearly every person that can give the appearance of kindness. The trouble with surface level kindness that is absent from the Holy Spirit, is that it is often manipulated by the giver. For example, in the Bible we read about a young man named Jacob who would momentarily by kind to his brother Esau. The kindness of giving away a delicious bowl of soup would actually only serve the greed of Jacob to deprive Esau of his birthright. Maybe the most infamous act of “kindness” was that of Delilah, whispering sweet compliments of love into the ears of Samson – only to get what she wanted which was his demise. Even our Lord and Savior, Jesus was offered artificial kindness from Satan in Matthew 4. All the kingdoms of the world if only Jesus would bow down and worship Satan. We all, like Jesus, know Satan’s kindness was empty promises for his own self-glory. Throughout Paul’s writings – in such places as Ephesians 2:4 and Titus 3:4 – he associates the word kindness with the word love. Kindness is more than a simple action, it is also a condition of the heart towards another person. Kindness is dependent on the perspective you have of a person. If you believe they are inferior, frustrating or just plain unworthy of love then you will find it near impossible to be authentically kind. Take for example the lawyer in Luke 10. He actually asked Jesus to whom he should show kindness. In his day, it was very common to poke and prod at the commandments of God in order to find a self-serving loophole. The real question the lawyer was asking was not who is my neighbor? It’s not possible to make an all-inclusive list of every person or type of people. Jesus turned the prideful young lawyer’s question upside down: to whom should I show kindness? Jesus was very clear. We should be kind to everyone, especially those who are in greatest need among us. If you read the story of The Good Samaritan in Luke 10: 25-37 a little closer, perhaps we can learn even more than just being kind to all people all the time. Of all the supposedly great religious leaders who would pass the man in need, it was only the humble Samaritan that would stop and show kindness. Not the sort of kindness that was quick and easy. This stranger went to great lengths to show a love that was both physically and emotionally provisional. Jesus the Rabbi, undoubtedly, crafted this parable to paint a stark contrast for the young Jewish lawyer. May we too learn in order to show the sincere kindness we must be as humble and un-distracted by wealth and reputation as a Samaritan would have been. So, what does this mean for us in the 21st Century? How is the spiritual fruit of kindness relevant to us? Consider these two arenas of your life:

Closest to You Often one of the most common “people groups” to whom we fail to show kindness is our family. Maybe it is because of the daily grind of work or the pressure we feel to be kind to everyone else. But no matter the cause, it seems we can be guilty of failing to show kindness to those we love the most. Would your family describe you as a kind person? What about “behind closed doors?” Are you a Jekyll & Hyde with your kindness towards your family?

Furthest from You Everyone is familiar with the phrase, “out of sight out of mind.” Sadly, this is exactly how we feel about those who are far from us on the social scale. This can happen when we literally never cross paths with the destitute or it happens when we chose to convince ourselves they really don’t deserve our help. What is your perspective of the homeless person at the interstate exit? Do you read cardboard signs with disdain and roll your eyes? What about your involvement in felt-needs ministries? Is that always “someone else’s job”?

The Bottom LineSincere and authentic kindness is a Fruit of the Spirit and therefore requires the presence of God. We cannot simply do good deeds and consider ourselves kind. Spend time praying that God will change your perspective and give you a passion to be genuinely kind towards others. Ask God to forgive you for being unkind and to give you eyes to see and ears to hear those divinely placed in your life who need kindness the most.

Family ActivityThis week’s fruit is an orange. Why? Because it is so easy to share! Go ahead and peal it and pass

the slices around the table. When kindness is at work in someone’s life, they are constantly looking for ways they can meet the needs of others. Kindness can be as simple as the act of sharing a snack or giving a kind word, but the impact of kindness can be huge! Colossians 3:12 says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” This verse ties in several fruits of the spirit in one! It is a great reminder that just as we remember to put clothes on each day, we also should remember to put on the fruits of the spirit as a spiritual clothing. Take some ribbon or string and cut it in bracelet sized strips. Pass out one to each member of the family and commit to wear the ribbon this week as a physical reminder to put on kindness each day. Talk about ways you can intentionally show kindness to the

people around you this week.

Memory Verse

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.

Proverbs 21:21

Week 7

Missions

Journal

BROTHERLY LOVELast week you were encouraged to show physical hospitality. This week consider showing love through words and compliments. Often, we are guilty of seeing people as either decoration or machinery. Decoration - people who we barely notice, they are just part of our lives. People can become like machinery to use whenever we don’t stop to consider them as real people beyond what they can provide for us.

This week seek refuse to see people as only what they can provide for you. Take time to look the barista in the eyes and say a kind word. Stop your mail carrier for a moment and ask them about their day. Is the delivery guy just the delivery guy or someone God has divinely put in your path as an opportunity to share a word of brotherly love?!

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Whenever you think of the human quality, “goodness”, I’m sure there is a name or a face that comes to mind. Maybe it is a grandparent. Sweet as iced tea without a mean bone in their body. Or the nice ol’ lady across the street. Always sure to smile and wave every time you see her – gives your child candy whether you want her to or not! When it comes to people in the Bible, there is one name that stands out from all the rest. Barnabas is known as perhaps the embodiment of goodness. Paul would write of him in Acts 11:24, “[…] he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith.” Wow. If only we could all be described that way! What kind of life does one live in order to receive such description? Before we take a closer look at the fruit of kindness, let’s consider the weeds of its opposite. Paul, once again, does a great job of painting a vivid picture for us. In 2 Thessalonians 2:8 he writes, “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.” Yikes. That’s a description to avoid! But let us consider how evil might manifest itself in everyday life. We might not be as innocent as we think.

Evil Can Make Christians Selfish We choke-out the fruit of goodness whenever we are consumed with getting our way or living emotionally reckless. 1 Corinthians 13:5 tells us that “true love does not insist on its own way.” It is impossible for us to be kind if we are unrelenting about having things our way. Or, in a similar way, we kill the fruit of goodness whenever we are unable to accept circumstances we cannot change.

Evil Can Make Christians Mean Goodness is unattainable whenever we are busy rejoicing in the misfortunes of others or constantly trying to be right all the time. 1 Corinthians 13 goes on to read in verse 6 that “true love does not rejoice at wrongdoing.” This concept is all too familiar if you are a sports fan. What Grizzlies fan doesn’t love it whenever the Clippers lose?! But in relationships, if we aspire to be mature Christ-followers we cannot secretly celebrate whenever someone is struggling or experiences consequences.

Perhaps the Old Testament counterpart to Barnabas is Daniel. His goodness was so rock solid that men who would try to bring him down actually had to make up rules for him to break! The most outstanding principle of Daniel’s character is that he never compromised. Daniel constantly faced oppression and pressure to bend and tweak his values. His morals faced daily assault as he was afforded one opportunity after another which could have easily caused him to cave. We must aspire, like Daniel, to live lives that are steadfast and uncompromising. If we were to summarize the lives of both Barnabas and Daniel into goals for ourselves, it might look something like this:

Consistency of CharacterDevotion to DutyFidelity of Faith

The Bottom LineThere is no doubt we would all love to have it said of us, “He/She is a good person.” No one wants the preacher at their funeral to say, “Well…he was a pretty good guy, I guess…” Jesus teaches us there is a way we can act which is an expression of the fruit of goodness: “Love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, not expecting a return; and your rewards shall be great, and you shall be sons of the Most High” (Luke 6:35). Ask God to forgive you of the evil that may exist in your life. Take a moment to identify areas of your life where you might be acting selfish or mean. As God forgives, begin to make strides towards living a life of goodness. Do not be tempted by a works-based faith, however. Remain committed to humility and allowing God to fill you with the fruit of goodness.

Family ActivitySlice up some watermelon (pure goodness in a fruit, right?!) to enjoy with your family as you discuss this fruit of the spirit. Ask your kids what they think of when they hear the word goodness? When

we talk about it as a fruit of the spirit, it is important because we know that God is good! When God’s spirit is at work in our life, we reflect the goodness of His character. Goodness encompasses

all of the fruits of the spirit, because God’s goodness shines through us when we are following Him. Grab a sheet of paper and cut some designs in it. Then turn out the lights and shine a flashlight against the paper. When we are seeking God’s face, His light can be seen by others through our

lives. Psalm 23:6 says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever!” What a beautiful promise to us as followers of Jesus!

Memory Verse

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in

righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit [...]

Titus 3:3-5

Week 8

Missions

Journal

OPEN YOUR HOMEFor many of us, this is perhaps the hardest mission field to embrace. Whether it is the fear of letting people in too close or the superficial fear of what someone will think of your home, make a commitment this week to schedule a time when you neighbor, friend or co-worker might come over. Maybe it’s for dinner or dessert. Maybe it’s to watch a game or play games with the kids. Jesus gives us the example of constantly being the homes of people for the purpose of personal connection. Let’s live like Jesus and open our homes to those around us for His glory.

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From the Halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli! Such great lyrics to the official hymn of the United States Marine Corps. Whenever we think of faithfulness, perhaps there is no better group to champion than those brave men and women who serve our country as Marines. On the emblem of this great group is the phrase “Semper Fidelis”. This is a simple but powerful Latin phrase that means, always faithful. It signifies the unwavering dedication and loyalty to Corps and Country – both during active duty and after. What gives a group like the US Marine Corp such strength is the common bond of calling and purpose. The object of a person’s focus can be the source of his commitment. Whenever a person loses focus on their priority of purpose, their faith will undoubtedly lose strength. By definition a person can only have one priority and if that priority is constantly under the attack of rivaling priorities, authentic faith will be hard to come by. Imagine if a Marine were to be told he or she must pledge allegiance to more than one cause or put their hand over their heart for more than one country. I can’t believe that would go over too well with those Devil Dogs! In the same way, our faith as Christians has one priority. We only have one source of strength for our faith. Obviously, that priority and source is Jesus. In order to fully experience the fruit of faithfulness all our attention and focus must be on Him. A quick test of the presence or absence of the fruit of faithfulness is to ask yourself what you spend your time thinking about the most? How to do you spend your time or money? Zooming into your heart condition, what is the overall trajectory of your life? The opposite of the fruit of faithfulness is un-dependability. The unfaithful person has no definitive trajectory for their life. They are unable to live consistent years, months or even weeks walking with God. In the book of Malachi, God does not mince His words when He speaks through the prophet. Even as close descendants of those who spent a long period of time in exile, these people of God were not learning from the disobedience of the past. This generation had been freed from their captors and blessed beyond measure by a faithful God. But soon, as like with many of us, the blessing become a greater priority than the Bless-er. The created became the idol over the Creator. Priests and leaders began offering insufficient sacrifices and the worship offered to God was pitiful, filled with hypocrisy. They had allowed themselves to choose other priorities as objects of their affection. Instead of giving God their best in faith, they began seeing how little they could get away with spiritually. This lack of faith is a slippery slope away from intimacy with God. I remember being a senior in my youth group and meeting our new Youth Ministry Associate. He was an incredible young adult. Having just finished college, he and his wife were the perfect pair to love and disciple us. After about two years, we learned of an incredible tragedy. Patrick had been unfaithful to his wife. If it were possible to make matters worse, it was with a young lady in our youth group. This rocked our tight community. I’m thankful for a group of moms and dads who rallied around us to protect and guide our young hearts that could not make sense of such a tragic, gut-wrenching reality. A few years later, I would see Patrick in the stairwell of a football stadium. He and I were among thousands of men who had gathered for that year’s Promise Keepers Event. Undoubtedly, God was restoring Patrick. However, when I saw him again it was like someone kicked me in my chest – it nearly took my breath away. Why? It had been years since that infidelity of marriage, but the deepest possible scars that I felt were from the wounds of a man who was unfaithful to God. I learned in that moment I never wanted to be the cause of that feeling for someone else. A shame deeper than any I can think of. To be guilty of being unfaithful to a loving God who lived and died for the forgiveness of our sins.

God’s Faithfulness Psalm 89His faith toward us is greater and grander than we can imagine (v. 2).

His faith toward us is both steady and active (v. 24-25).His faith toward us is an unbreakable covenant (v. 28)

His faith toward us is not dependent on our faith to Him (v. 30 – 33).His faith toward us is enduring in the midst of chaos (v. 35 – 36).

The Bottom LineOur faithfulness towards God should not be minor or random. We must come to a place as mature Christ-followers who don’t rely on “mountain top experiences” to fuel our faith. Like Joshua in Joshua chapter 4, let us establish ebenezers (remembrance stones) in our lives where we celebrate the clear and present faithfulness of God in order to fuel our own commitment. Ask God to forgive you of weak, sporadic faith. Make a commitment to prioritize Jesus as the object and strength of your faith.

Family ActivityPut a pineapple in the middle of the table for today’s devotion. Pineapples are delicious, but they

have a rough and prickly exterior. Similarly, faithfulness in the life of a follower of Jesus is a beautiful thing, but it is not without its difficulties! Take a look at the life of Noah in Genesis 6-7.

Noah obeyed God faithfully even following the plan God gave him was difficult and hard to un-derstand. Being faithful doesn’t mean things always make sense to us; rather it involves trusting God is who He says He is and that He can do what He says He can do even when things don’t make

sense. Noah’s life is marked by this remarkable faithfulness to God in the midst of a wicked, anti-God culture, and God in return was unwaveringly faithful to Noah. Noah’s journey on the ark

ends with a rainbow, God’s beautiful promise of faithfulness. Use paint, colored paper, crayons, or playdough to make a rainbow with your children. Thank God for His never ending faithfulness to us,

and pray that as a family you will be able to display this fruit of the spirit as you follow God’s leading.

Memory Verse

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

Psalm 86:15

Week 9

Missions

Journal

RALLYOne of the biggest mistakes me make when we consider sharing the gospel with our neighbors is going it alone. We try to share Jesus with friends and co-workers as a hill to climb all by ourselves. Our Christian lives were meant to be lived in community and so is gospel-advancement. Take a moment to identify other Christians or members of Faith Baptist in your neighborhood. Then create an organized effort to love your neighbors. Try to host your own small block party. Use a projector to show a kid-friendly movie on your garage door. Post flyers for a neighborhood Bible study with the support of your already existing Christian friends. Reaching your neighborhood together is always more fun!

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Perhaps at this point in the study you have noticed the absence of a virtue like courage. I think we can all agree, courage and/or boldness is a fruit we would certainly include if we were writing a letter to the Galatians. After all, 2 Timothy 1:7 Paul writes that, “[…] God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power […]” Therein lies the problem. If we are not careful, we as Christians will allow the culture to influence our opinion of the fruit which God has called us to be. Gentleness (commonly synonymous with meekness) is not the opposite of courage. Sadly, the English word “gentleness” has come to be known as being wimpy. If a person, especially a man in our culture, displays any virtues of gentleness he is considered to lack a backbone and will most certainly be eaten up by this world. This is where we must make a dramatic perspective change. The fruit God is calling us to produce through the Holy Spirit is one of passion that is under control. A fruit that is a wonderful combination of maturity and wisdom. Misguided Passion is one kind of weed that chokes out gentleness. Take the disciples for example. Near the end of Luke 9:51-56, James and John failed to practice gentleness in the midst of Jesus’s ministry. Jesus was fully engaged, “in the zone” as we might say today. Many great miracles were happening. His public earthly ministry was in full function. In fact, Jesus had given the disciples themselves power to perform miracles. Then one day a village in Samaria rejected Jesus’s attempt to stay the night. In some small way, the disciples misguided passion was understandable; but as Jesus quickly taught, it was not allowable. In their blind passion, the disciples failed to see their place in the bigger picture. They were not the main characters in the metanarrative of redemptive history and neither are we. God has already fought and won the battle against sin. There will come a day when judgement will have full force on our world. But that will come in the righteousness only God possesses – not with the blind passion and selfish ambition we do. Misguided Humility is a second kind of weed that can choke out gentleness. While we may not be like James and John who wanted to call down fire from heaven to disintegrate those who rejected Jesus, we can be guilty of a different kind of false fruit. Our fake humility can rob God of His glory just as easily as proactively to try to do God’s job for Him. Have you even been in position to give God glory but instead chose to deflect, attempting to appear humble? Maybe you gave a great presentation at work, received a compliment from another parent or your neighbor gave you credit for having the nicest yard on the street. It is true that some people may simply not feel comfortable with a compliment and therefore clam up. But the authentic fruit of gentleness is one that can take a kind word and move the spotlight onto God. We must grow to a place where we recognize that anything good in us or in our lives is a gift from God; therefore, we must never miss the opportunity to give Him credit and testify to His goodness. So how then do we live out the fruit of gentleness? What about the old expression, “nice guys finish last” – does meekness really work?! If Christ-likeness is truly and sincerely our goal, we must turn to the life of Jesus, Himself (Mark 12:9-21) as our example. As Jesus performed many miracles, He was growing in popularity. In response, Jesus did not rally the troops and prepare for a great takeover. World domination was never Jesus’s goal. Instead, Jesus did the opposite. He warned His followers not to speak about Him publically. The author Mark would then turn to the prophetic writings of Isaiah, chapter 42:1-3, “Behold my servant whom I have chosen […] a bruised reed he will not break and a smoldering wick he will not quench […]” This is truly the definition of gentleness: full understanding of who God is and we are. A quiet power that lies not in us but in the God who has called us to fulfill His purpose, His plans in His timing.

The Bottom LineWhenever we are gentle like Jesus, reeds (people) in our lives will not be broken further. Through gentleness we can be used by God to restore and make all things new. With gentle love and with God’s power, no one is beyond redemption and no relationship beyond restoration. If we are gentle like Jesus, even the smallest ounce of hope and slimmest change of opportunity will not be extinguished. Trust Jesus to do the heavy lifting. He will defend, judge and bring wrath to those who deserve it. But He will do so with righteousness. Ask God to fill you with gentleness from the Holy Spirit so you can be used by God at just the right time.

Family ActivityThe fruit of the day is a grape! You can make a grape stress ball with your kids by taking a purple

balloon and using a funnel to fill it with flour until it is about the size of a tennis ball. Draw a happy face on the balloon and let the kids gently play with it while you discuss today’s fruit of the spirit.

Remind your kids to be gentle with the balloon so that it won’t break! Proverbs 15: 1 says, “A gentle answer turns anger away.” When we practice this fruit of the spirit, we are also

promoting the other fruits of the spirit like peace, kindness and love. When we read the New Testament, we find the life of Jesus is marked by gentleness as He compassionately loves broken

and hurting people. What an example for us! Talk with your kids about how gentleness can be displayed in their words and actions with friends and family.

Memory Verse

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Proverbs 15:4

Week 10

Missions

Journal

SALVATIONBreaking the ice for a gospel-conversation is always difficult. However, if you have attempted to establish a relationship with your neighbors, friends and co-workers it is a lot easier. When you do start to talk about spiritual things, remember to listen as much as you talk. No one likes to be lectured or bombarded with theological facts. God loves the person you are sharing the gospel with more than you do! Your job is simply to be faithful in the proclamation of what God has done for you and in you - the Holy Spirit will take care of the rest; and with that attitude, be prepared to watch God work as you lead someone to Christ in salvation!

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Self-control is a unique Fruit of the Spirit. To this point all other fruits have been an encouragement toward action. More or less, when we embrace the Fruit of the Spirit we will see an active, measurable, tangible difference in a person’s life. The fruit of self-control is slightly different. If someone is exercising self-control, can you actually see it? Isn’t great self-control actually the absence of an action? Yes and no. In the Old Testament, broken city walls were a symbol of final collapse. If and when a city ever lost its fortification against the outside world, all hope of order and control would be lost. In many ways, if a city lost its walls it lost its identity. Without its border protecting it, the city lay exposed to be the victim of any preying adversary – natural or human. In Proverbs 25:28 King Solomon likened an undisciplined spirit to a city without its walls. But the human heart that lacks self-control is worse than that of a city without walls. Living without self-control is to give no regard to God or His glory. Let’s take a look at two weeds which prevent self-control:

An Uncontrollable BodyPaul has much to say in the New Testament about excessive eating and drinking. The Bible does not declare food and drink evil, but rather their excess. Philippians 3:17-18 teaches us that there is a descriptor of the enemy of God, “[…] their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” If God is not our source of satisfaction as the strength of the walls around our hearts and minds, we will surely be victims of our body’s own lust. Paul goes on to teach in Ephesians 5:18ff the difference between being filled with much wine or being filled with the Holy Spirit. In each example a person gives up complete control and supremacy of their life. For the drunkard, he or she succumbs to the authority of alcohol – for the Christian, the Spirit of God. The tragic truth is no matter what the substance anything we allow to control us and fuel our desires is an idol. May we never forget 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

An Uncontrollable SpiritWe’ve all seen it. The woman who yells out in frustration or the golfing buddy who snaps his club across his knee (as if it were the putters fault the ball didn’t go into the hole!) On the surface, temper tantrums like this seem funny. If a tantrum is thrown by (someone else’s) toddler it can even seem cute. But there is nothing funny or cute about an uncontrollable spirit. There is an old expression, “You might be the only Bible a person ever reads.” It’s true. God can and will use your life for general revelation of Himself, but He will never use the man or woman who lacks the fruit of self-control. Anger, envy, covetousness – all fruit of a sinful heart. Perhaps the single greatest indicator that you worship sin and self, that you have another god other than God Himself, is an uncontrolled spirit.

In order for us to consider a life that embraces the fruit of self-control, let’s take a look at the example Paul gives us in 1 Corinthians 9:24: The Athlete.

The Aim (v. 24) The athlete runs so he can win a prize. Paul teaches us there are two types of runners: those who run hap-hazardly without purpose and those who run with a goal. To produce the fruit of self-control we must have purpose and priority in our lives: Christ-likeness.

The Rules (v. 25) The athlete runs with devotion to the goal. Paul teaches that we should be spiritual in all matters. No arena of our life is off limits. To produce the fruit of self-control we must exercise temperance in all areas of life.

The Discipline (v. 27) The athlete runs with discipline and boundaries. Paul teaches that we should have an active pursuit of self-control. This is not a spiritual fruit we can achieve with permanency. To produce the fruit of self-control we must create ever-changing boundaries and levels of accountability.

The Bottom LineSelf-control is not a monastic lifestyle. We are not called by God to shave our heads and live in a castle. However, the fruit of self-control begins with perspective. Take time to pray and ask God to forgive you where you’ve failed to exercise self-control of the body and of the spirit. Ask God to show you ways you can improve in these areas. Also, take time to remember who God is and who you are. Nothing in my hand I bring, only to the cross I cling! Begging for and actively pursuing God’s presence will produce the fruit of self-control.

Family ActivityOur final fruit is the blueberry, because at least for me, it takes some self-control to not eat the

entire carton! We all know what it’s like to lose our temper, say something we shouldn’t, or eat all the Oreos. It can be so difficult to make the right choice when it’s not the easy choice! Talk about

this with your family and have some discussion about why self-control can be such a struggle. Give each person an index card and have them write a situation where it is tough to have self-control. Next go through the cards and encourage them think of ways they can stop and think of a way to

exhibit self-control in each situation. I Corinthians 9:25 says, “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” The reward of

self-control is eternal, and just like the other fruits of the spirit, it is a gift of the Holy Spirit available to us when we ask for it!

Memory Verse

[...] for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.2 Timothy 1:17

Week 11

Missions

Journal

Have you ever considered missions to be a lifestyle? Or, if you were honest, have you always thought of missionaries as only those who live in a mud hut in a far away country? Being a missionary is a lifestyle. God has specifically placed you in your neighborhood and in the job you have for a purpose. The New Testament word for his is “oikos” - your circle of influence. Instead of thinking mission trips are your only chance to be a missionary, embrace a lifestyle that is on mission every day. Your neighborhood is your mission field, your workplace is your mission field - and the fields are white unto harvest!!!

NOW WHAT?!

There is an undeniable truth in nature: whatever kind of seed is planted, it is that kind of fruit which it will produce. For example, if you plant an apple seed there is no biological way it will produce an orange. If you plant rows of peach tree seeds, you will never get an orchard of banana trees. Likewise, we can never knock all the fruit off the limbs of a tree and hope that it will produce something different next harvest. In the same way, if our lives produce a certain kind of sinful fruit. No matter how passionately we may want to produce Fruit of the Spirit, it will never be accomplished by mere behavior modification. In order to sincerely produce spiritual fruit that is God-honoring, we must beg God for a heart change. A fresh start includes uprooting an old way of life and planting new, spiritually healthy seeds in its place. Spiritual fruit is the result of a supernatural work in man’s heart. Do not forget, man is not idle in the pursuit of spiritual fruit. God is wholly responsible for the planting of the seed and the spiritual cultivation of healthy desires. It is the responsibility of us, the Christ-follower, to remain obedient to act out those new desires. We must live lives with open hands and a humble heart. A vine, like a tree, has one purpose – to produce good fruit. The branch on that vine finds its true purpose only when it grows on the vine and produces fruit. Jesus teaches us in John 15 He is the true vine. If we as branches are attached to anything other than Jesus Christ, we will surely produce sinful fruit. God is the vinedresser. He cuts away the branches on the vine that produce sinful fruit and risk damaging the whole plant. God is also the farmer who prunes fruitful branches so they may grow back stronger and healthier than they ever thought they could. Every fall my wife and I debate back and forth about pruning the foliage in our yard. She loves thick, robust roses, hydrangeas and weeping willows. She wants bigger, better and more grand crepe myrtles than the year before. And yet where we disagree is on her unwillingness to trim the existing branches. She knows that’s what it takes for a healthy plant and we inevitably cut what is necessary. Our spiritual process is nearly the exact same way. Even when there might be good spiritual fruit produced in our lives, God is there to prune and cut away any branch that might become sinful. He allows life challenges not because He is unkind, but often because He knows the pruning will make us strong. God sovereignly prunes away to turn good fruit into great spiritual fruit. Finally, consider this. While it is one thing to overcome the desire to produce sinful fruit, it is another thing altogether to produce good fruit. Anyone can boast they are not as bad as someone else. They are not doing what they are not supposed to do - they are obeying the rules. But where is God’s honor in that manufactured righteousness? There is a great contrast between works and fruit. A machine on an assembly line does work. It can assemble, put together, do. But a machine can never produce natural fruit. Organic production is impossible for a machine programed to work. Whenever you think of “works” you immediately think of strain, effort and sweat. Whenever you think of fruit, you think of natural, healthy, beautiful life. The wonderful thing about organic spiritual fruit is the more that is produced, the more it makes! As we give love to others, we naturally desire to love more. When we exercise patience, we understand the need to exercise even more. If we are kind, gentle and live in self-control these are all fruits that grow in authenticity and sincerity. The Bottom LineFruit was never intended to be grown and left on the shelf. At Farmer’s Markets and fruit stands worldwide people line up not only to look at the fruit, but to taste and experience its flavors. The world around us is starving for a taste of true fruit. Family, friends, neighbors and co-workers all around us as eating the poisonous fruit of this world. Let us be faithful to walk with God and abide in Him. We are to trust in the Word of God, obey His commandments, meditate on them daily and delight in Him. Under these conditions, fruit is certain and God is honored with our lives.

Memory Verse

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Ephesians 2:8

Family Activity

Be encouraged family devotions don’t have to be perfect or deeply theological. For many children and families, simply getting in the rhythm of family devotion time is a “success”. More than a financial trust fund or a legacy of fame, children need parents who will invest in them spiritually. Do your children know you love Jesus? Is God a priority in your home? You may pray for your children, but praying with your children daily is a sure way to help them grow spiritually, show them you love them and teach them God is the strength and foundation of your family. Take a few moments every day to read a Bible story. Take time each week to have spiritual conversations. Don’t be shy about taking advantage of time in the car or unexpected one-on-one time to talk about spiritual things and how much God loves us. Live by example; children watch and learn from what they see and hear.

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