One Tree, One Fruit
Paul calls it the "fruit" of the Spirit rather than the ________ of the Spirit
Fruits. There is only ONE fruit
What are the three Upward Fruits?
Love, Joy, and Peace
What are the three Outward Fruits?
Longsuffering (patience), Gentleness (kindness), Goodness
What are the three Steadfast Fruits?
Faithfulness, meekness, and self-control.
Jesus said, "Ye shall know them by their ________."
Fruits
What produces fruit naturally when it is healthy and connected to its source?
A tree
This fruit isn't dependent on whether things are going well
Joy
Biblical longsuffering is more than waiting in line patiently. Who does it especially require us to be patient with?
Difficult people
Faithfulness asks this question:
"Can ________ count on me?"
God
Why does a tree produce fruit?
So the fruit can benefit others / reproduce.
Fruit is evidence of something that is happening on the inside. What is that something?
The Spirit working in us / spiritual life
Complete this statement from the lesson:
"Happiness depends on what ________. Joy depends on ________."
"Happiness depends on what ___HAPPENS_____. Joy depends on ___WHO GOD IS__."
Gentleness isn't weakness. It is ________ under control.
Strength
Meekness does NOT mean weakness. What does it mean?
Strength under God's control.
What happens to a branch when it is disconnected from the vine?
It eventually dies and stops producing fruit.
We said that you can't simply "tape" fruit onto a tree. What did this illustrate about Christianity?
You can't fake spiritual transformation
Peace doesn't mean that you have no problems. What does it mean?
Trusting God in the middle of your problems/storms
Goodness isn't simply avoiding bad things. What does goodness actively do?
Does what is good / helps others / chooses what is right.
Self-control means that your emotions, desires, and impulses don't get to ________.
Control you.
In John 15, Jesus teaches that sometimes fruitful branches are ________ so they can produce more fruit.
Pruned
According to Galatians 5, what must we do instead of trying to produce spiritual fruit through our own NATURAL strength?
Walk in the Spirit
Why did we call love, joy, and peace "Upward Fruit"?
Because they primarily describe our relationship with God, requiring us to look UPWARD
We used a tube of toothpaste to illustrate this principle: when life "squeezes" you, what does it reveal?
What's already inside you—your character.
What do faithfulness, meekness, and self-control all have in common?
Surrender to God / bringing ourselves under God's control.
What was the main question of our Fruit Inspection lesson?
"If someone inspected my life, what would they find?"