Living - Ascending Leaders · Fruitful Living Session 1: A Life that Matters A life that matters In...

Livinga six-session small-group experience

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Fruitful

Fruitful Living

A product of ASCENDING LEADERSCopyright © 2010 by ASCENDING LEADERSAll rights reserved. A photocopy of any portion of this book is theft of intellectual property.

ISBN: 978-0-9845455-0-6To view a sample of this book, go to www.ascendingleaders.org Version 1a

Much of the content was previously published in Module 1 of the Spirits Fruit unit of the Gearing Up disciple/character formation series of ASCENDING LEADERS 2005, 2006, 2007.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Cover design by Geronimo Design, Inc.

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1 Introduction

3 Session 1 A Life that Matters

9 Session 2 Two Bigger Questions

15 Session 3 Actions

21 Session 4 Examination

27 Session 5 Balanced Character

33 Session 6 Attitude Counts

Table of Contents

FRUITFUL LIVING

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Dear friends,

Life is a journey—a hike if you will. Some hikes are long and some are short. Some are up steep inclines to incredible vistas, while others are pleasant strolls through quiet meadows. Some hike alone—others hike in groups. My favorite hikes are with my wife and children. Let’s think of this small-group experience as a hike together. It is a hike that will exercise our spiritual legs, but is not overly demanding.

This experience will take us down a trail lined with fruit-laden vines and trees. Imagine it—succulent wild blackberries and blueberries within reach as you hike past. This hike will explore growing sweet fruit in your life, rather than the picked-too-early, chemically ripened, and rushed-to-the-store tasteless fruit in the supermarkets.

Here are just a few of the many passages in Scripture about this path along fruit-bearing vines and trees:

7 “But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. 8He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8, emphasis added

By their fruit you will recognize them … Matthew 7:16, emphasis added

A thriving tree or vine will produce luscious fruit. A thriving Christ-follower will produce awesome fruit. Fruitfulness begins in Jesus. One who relies on Jesus will bear fruit, even in difficult times. That fruit is the Christ-like aspect of love, exemplified in characteristics like peace, patience, forgiveness, self-control, joy, faithfulness, goodness, gentleness and kindness. May this experience grow more vibrant fruit in your life.

While Larry Baden, Elaine Higgins, Don Watt and I worked on the core content, many more people have put their thumbprint on this to make it even better. Geronimo Garcia, Ben Vincent, Cynthia Sanchez, Terri Oesterreich and Don Watt influenced the layout. Other editors include Phoebe Bode, Judy Hagey and Judi Black. Don Watt also provided the group discussion questions. This study is more effective than it would have been if just one person had developed this—that is the result of teamwork.

The desire of all of us at ASCENDING LEADERS is that you will experience life-long life-transformation causing you to fall more deeply in love with God and grow to more resemble Jesus Christ in your actions—bearing ripe fruit, as He bore and bears fruit.

May the fruit of the Spirit be more and more evident in your life!

Mike JohnsonExecutive Director of Ascending LeAders

FRUITFUL LIVING

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IntroductionFruitful Living

OBJECTIVES . . .

As a participant, you will:

• experience life change, even if in an elementary way, by participating in exercises regarding the Fruit of the Spirit.

• attempt in a basic manner the practice of allowing the Spirit of God to develop your “Christ-likeness.”

• begin to understand the various facets of the Fruit of the Spirit.

Be sure to check the Fruitful Living Links and Addendums page under Documents at http://www.ascendingleaders.org for further resources, links and new ideas—in order to have the most up-to-date experience.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, . . . Galatians 5:22

A farmer that wants a productive fruit orchard commits to a long-term effort. She/he must be attentive to issues like irrigation, fertilizers, pest control and pruning, to name just a few. At the same time, the fruit trees do the actual work. The Bible uses this fruit metaphor to describe the life-long character-maturing process that God desires in His followers. This study has been adapted from a general, more intensive, small-group learning experience from Ascending LeAders titled Spirit’s Fruit. It is an introduction to the amazing partnership we have with God in seeing our character develop to become more like Jesus.

Instructions for study participants

We will keep this brief, but here are a few pointers on how to use this study. In general, each “session” in this study is divided into three unique learning experiences.

1. Personal preparation: Each participant should read the session material and do the short exercise at the end of the reading. Your small-group will get the most out of this study if you each read the session’s pages and do the exercise before you meet. If you are ever short on time, you will be better served if you skim the reading and do the exercise, than if you would do just the reading and skip the experience of the exercise. Jump in, the water is refreshing!

2. Small-group discussion: When you meet as a small-group or class, be sure to participate in the discussion. The group discussion questions follow the exercise page for each session. You are NOT expected to have answers for these questions before you meet as a small-group, just join in and share your thoughts and insights.

3. Hiking Partners: The last question on the group discussion page can most effectively be addressed in smaller sub-groups of 3-4 people, we call “hiking partners.” This is a time to step out and apply the principles from the session. We have found that sharing one’s personal application to these principles with a couple of other growing friends will build the type of mutual encouragement that is found in being in the body of Christ. If it is feasible to keep the same “hiking partners” each week, this encouragement experience is even stronger. Our desire is that this is not simply a learning experience, but an opportunity for the Spirit of God to work in our hearts to make our natural behaviors be more like Jesus.

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FRUITFUL LIVING: I ntro duc tion

Instructions for group discussion leaders/facilitators

Here are a few basic pointers on how to use this study most effectively. This study is designed for a small group of 3-15 people. It consists of three complementary learning experiences:1. Individual study: Be sure to encourage people to do the reading and exercise. Most people find they

can do this in 20-45 minutes.2. Small-group time: Begin each session by reading the covenant together (found in the margin of the

discussion page). We believe it is important to hear the points each time you meet. Believe us, each person’s remembering and acting on these covenant points will help your group flourish! We have provided you with some discussion questions that allow the group to further reflect on the principles, concepts and implications of the session. The group discussion facilitator can feel free to pick and choose from the questions or add follow-up/relevant questions of your own. Also, the goal is for the group to reflect and process the material, not to necessarily complete all the questions.

3. “Hiking Partner” time: We highly recommend you break into “Hiking Partner” sub-groups of 3-4 for the last 10-20 minutes of your group time. Our experience shows that when a small-group regularly breaks into “Hiking Partner” subgroups the participants normally experience profound life-change, while the experience for those that do not meet as “Hiking Partner” subgroups is far less effective. Encourage them to consider what issues God may want them to face. However, coercing someone to propose some application is NEVER the intention of this study.

Session 6 (the last session) is designed to be different than the other sessions. It is a time for some celebration. We encourage you to have some extra refreshments and let various people share what they have learned, and most importantly applied, from the first five weeks. It can be a time where “hiking partners” talk about their plans for long-term application of allowing the Spirit of God to grow character in their lives.

Since our experience indicates that some of the most important life impact occurs in the hiking partners’ interactions and relationships, you will be best served by adjusting your small-group time to be sure to give time for the hiking partners to meet. Overall, a session (excluding the personal preparation time) can last from 45- 75 minutes. If you have time constraints, we recommend that you skip some of the discussion questions in order to preserve 10-20 minutes for the hiking partner subgroups.


Fruitful LivingSession 1: A Life that Matters

A life that matters

In this learning experience, you will begin the process of understanding how the dimensions of the Spirit’s fruit are shown in your life.

One of the most difficult problems faced by many people who live in a so-called advanced society—which probably includes people reading this—is the desire for a life of meaning and significance. We want to know that we matter, that we are not merely the product of some random, coincidental happening.

Life can be hard. It can have times of terrible physical and emotional pain. Some of the difficulties are beyond our control; some of them are the result of the decisions—for better or for worse—that we have made. On the other hand, history has demonstrated that people will willingly suffer for something they believe matters. The chronicles of the past and present are full of men and women—millions of them —who lived sacrificially or sometimes even died the most difficult of deaths for a cause in which they believed. We too are capable of such devotion, given the proper motivation.

Therefore, suffering is not the problem; the problem is not suffering. The problem is not a “hard life,” but rather, for far too many of us, a life that is too easy. It is generally true that if we live a life of total ease, utterly devoid of pain and suffering, we are also living a life of insignificance. Note that we are not defining significance as fame and honor but rather as being used by God to bring His redemption into the world for lasting change.

Larry: The Greek philosopher Aristotle said, “The masses choose the lives of grazing animals.” When I

first heard that, it stopped me cold. I was in college, in a class on the history of Western philosophy,

and that statement etched itself vividly in my mind. What a tragedy: a life of such insignificance that

nobody cares about anything beyond creature comforts. A person has no more value than a cow.

What a depressing image.

But the most tragic aspect of our empty lives is that we have chosen them. It seems incomprehensible that a Christian, who has been redeemed by the living God, would willingly consent to an existence of insignificance.

But there is a reason for such a seemingly nonsensical choice. People will accept appalling, meaningless lives if they do not believe there is a better option for them.

The better way of life that is available to believers in Christ is found simply in being followers of Christ. That means growing more like Him as we seek to conform our character to His. This seeking and conforming are evidenced in our lives by the fruit that the Holy Spirit grows in us. It may be difficult to believe that such a life is possible for us, given our lack of progress in the past and our current discouragements; however, a life full of the Spirit’s fruit is possible. This study is about how God calls us to live a life for Him, thereby growing or maturing us into being like Christ.

It seems incomprehensible that a Christian, who has been redeemed by the living God, would willingly consent to an existence of insignificance.


A new creation

Paul wrote the following to the Christians living in Corinth:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

The Bible is very clear that every Christian has the Spirit of God dwelling within them. Notice these verses:

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 1 Corinthians 6:19

We receive God’s Spirit into our lives when we place our trust in Christ and accept the gift of eternal life that He offers. At that point, we are a new creation. We have all that the Spirit of God has to offer us. Jesus once told a very scholarly religious leader that it is just like being born all over again.1 In one sense, everything that the Spirit of God has to offer is available to us the moment we accept Christ. However, the Bible uses a picture of babies growing to adults to describe the process of maturing (and thus changing) in how we experience the Spirit’s work in our lives. A six-day-old baby is no less a human than a forty-year-old adult. But, we expect that the adult is wiser, far more capable, able to help others and able to face life than the baby. The same is true with the character development associated with the fruit of the Spirit. Read through the list in this verse that describes the “Fruit of the Spirit.”

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

We all have rough mental pictures of love, joy, peace and the others in the list. They are characteristics, or perhaps more correctly, character traits we can observe in people. The bottom line is that all Christians have the “seeds” of these traits. A mature Christian demonstrates these traits consistently and especially in the face of trials, disappointments and the tough side of life. Unfortunately, a person who has been a Christian for many years, but does not show this fruit, is a great disappointment to God and often to others.

Later sessions deal with the key questions of the how, when and what of growing this fruit in our lives. Here are just a few basic points:

1. Just like growing up physically and socially, spiritual maturity takes time.

2. We don’t do this on our own. It is the work of the Spirit of God, with us as willing partners.

1 See John 3:3-16 for the conversation.

FRUITFUL LIVING: S ession 1

We have all that the Spirit of God

has to offer us.


3. We grow in the context of life, not in a classroom. In fact, some of the most significant spiritual maturing occurs in the hardest times of life.

4. Becoming spiritually mature is of great advantage to us and those who love and trust us.

It’s one package

For just a moment we are going to dip our toes into some theology. Don’t worry, we won’t get in over our heads. Read the verses from Galatians again, but notice where we have italicized for emphasis.


It seems a bit awkward to talk about singular fruit and then list a whole bunch of fruit. Unless God does not want us to think of this as a bunch of different fruit. Students of the Bible have looked at this and come up with some options. Here are a couple:

1. Some, such as Christian Schwarz, say that fruit is singular but argue that the English text should have a colon after “love.” 2 The Greek text has no punctuation, allowing some room for this idea. Also, the list in Galatians is similar to another that Paul wrote:

12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:12-13

In a further instance, 1 Corinthians 13:13 says of faith, hope and love, “ . . . the greatest of these is love.” Love does appear in these Scriptural settings to be on a level above the others. In this explanation, the fruit is love, followed by a semi-colon, and the other virtues in the list are all different aspects or manifestations of the one fruit, love. This argument certainly is possible and has a lot of merit, yet cannot be settled conclusively.

2. Others say that fruit is singular, and the listed virtues (including love) are different parts or aspects of that one fruit, like a watermelon, for example. It has several segments like the meat, the rind, and the seeds but is one single watermelon. We could give this unnamed fruit the name “Christ-likeness” and see love, peace, patience, etc. as dimensions of “Christ-likeness.” Hmm. A celestial watermelon, certainly perfectly ripened and sweet . . .

2 Christian Schwarz, The 3 Colors of Love, St. Charles, IL: ChurchSmart, 2004, p. 56, used by permission.


Love does appear in these Scriptural settings to be on a level above the others.



We are not going to take sides in this theological discussion or even make a big deal about the singleness of the fruit. But, we want to make one point. It’s a complete integrated package. God wants to grow in us all the dimensions and aspects of the wonderful character He implanted in us the moment we gave our lives to Him. And that is a big deal!

If we want to see what the dimensions of the Spirit’s fruit look like in real life, then we can look at Jesus.

In this study, we will consider the various dimensions of the fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Love heads this list for a reason. New Testament scholar Gordon Fee points out that the word “love” captures the essence of the character of God as displayed in His relationship with His people.3

Here is where we can begin to really understand the fruit. First, it is not of great importance whether fruit is singular or plural. Second, it is not essentially a collection of segments, nor is it some variety of celestial watermelon. All these are relatively unimportant concerns. What is important, once more, is that the fruit of the Spirit is a description of the character of God as manifested in Jesus. It is this that the Holy Spirit loves to grow in us.

3 Gordon Fee. God’s Empowering Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul, Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1994, p. 446, used by permission.

What is important, once

more, is that the fruit of the Spirit

is a description of the character of

God as manifested in Jesus.

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Assessing the Dimensions of the Spirit’s Fruit in Your Life

Pause . . . and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to an honest and complete assessment of the Spirit’s fruit in your life.

Then complete two fruit of the Spirit profiles: We have located four different self-scoring profiles which will give you some further idea of your strengths and weaknesses for each dimension of the Spirit’s fruit. Please complete the 35-item CCI2 (Christian Character Index) on the Web. It can be taken at no financial cost.

The second profile is a friend’s analysis of your character, Assessment of a Friend’s Spiritual Fruit, which has been developed by ASCENDING LEADERS. You will need to e-mail your friends as soon as possible so they have time to complete their portion of the profile.

Go to http://www.ascendingleaders.org, click on Documents, and then click on Fruitful Living Links and Addendums to find the links to the 35-item CCI2 (Christian Character Index) and the ASCENDING LEADERS-authored Assessment of a Friend’s Spiritual Fruit.

If you are interested, there are two other useful profiles. You will need to order these books right away if you want to complete them as part of your analysis. This is optional and has the additional cost of purchasing the books:

1. The 3 Colors of Love by Christian A. Schwarz (St. Charles, IL: ChurchSmart Resources, 2004). The Fruit of the Spirit Test is on pages 63-69.

2. The Christian Life Profile Assessment Tool Workbook: Discovering the Quality of Your Relationships with God and Others in 30 Key Areas by Randy Frazee (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005) includes a character profile.

There is also a 65-item CCI (Christian Character Index) online. While similar to CCI2, it may give you some additional insights. You will find a copy of that assessment in the book Cultivating Christian Character by Michael Zigarelli (Fairfax, VA: Xulon Press, 2002. p. 22-27).

Go to http://www.ascendingleaders.org, click on Documents and then click on Fruitful Living Links and Addendums for information on purchasing these books.


Exercise One . . . Take a Step of Action!

Please review this covenant - remembering and acting on these points will help your group flourish. Read them aloud together before you begin your discussion.

Covenant

» I will keep in mind that our primary goal is to foster intentional growth in Christ-likeness.

» I will listen for God in each person’s reflections and stories, encouraging whenever I see the opportunity.

» I will avoid judging, advising and any “know-it-all” attitude.

» I will trust our group with my own experiences and reflections just as they are, with no disguises.

» I will maintain confidentiality. What is said in our group, stays in our group.

Group Discussion QuestionsTHESE QUESTIONS WILL BE DISCUSSED IN YOUR GROUP TIME



Session 1

Why is it problematic to have a life that always strives to avoid suffering? Does this mean we should choose suffering? Why or why not?

Brainstorm a bit on this. What might be some reasons that the Bible uses the metaphor of “fruit” to describe the character traits found in Galatians 5:22-23?

Why do you think that the Galatians 5:22-23 describes what seems to be a list of different character traits as a singular fruit rather than calling them fruits?

The authors define significance as “being used by God to bring His redemption into the world for lasting change.” Have someone read Romans 5:1-5. Talk about the relationship among a significant life, character and suffering.

Why would I want to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in my life? What’s in it for me? What’s in it for others?

Break into smaller groups (3 or 4 people). If you don’t know each other, share a bit about yourselves. Share with each other about your expectations. Why did you agree to do this study? How would you like this learning experience to impact your life? Have someone pray for your smaller group.


Fruitful LivingSession 2: Two Bigger Questions

Two bigger questions

In Session 1, we discussed whether fruit is singular or plural. However, there are two more important questions: What does it look like? and How do we get it?

Armed with an understanding of the fruit and its dimensions, we turn to the crucial question of how to obtain the fruit of the Spirit. But how do we get the fruit? This is a very important question because if we answer this one wrong, we spend a lot of time working a fruitless plan for growth. The answer is simple: We get it by giving the Holy Spirit freedom to work in us, drawing us into a closer relationship with both the Son and the Father, and making us over into the image of Jesus Christ. He makes us Christ-like. That’s why we call it the “fruit of the Spirit.” The answer is simple, but the Spirit’s fruit is not as easy to attain as it is simple to describe. Simply put, the Holy Spirit transforms us into Christ-likeness, thereby developing the fruit of the Spirit in us.

After understanding that this “fruit farming” task is primarily the work of the Spirit, it is also equally important to understand that it is not entirely the work of the Spirit, to the exclusion of effort on our part. We certainly do have a part. This is a little confusing, because we are the “vineyard,” but we are also the “first assistant farmer.” So, we assist the Spirit in growing fruit in ourselves? Sounds strange, but it’s true, and it works. We are partners in this with the Holy Spirit. It is only when we try to go it alone or crowd out the Spirit that the project fails miserably. The task is primarily the work of the Spirit; yet He has chosen to give us the privilege of partnership in this adventure in farming. And, it is truly wonderful when we can see growth in our own lives that we had a small part in producing.

While we are on this point, let’s talk a minute about modesty, and who should get the credit for all this fruitfulness. After all, there are two actors in this: both Christ and His follower. When someone compliments us, do we turn away the kind words with something like, “Aw, shucks, it’s just all God.” Or do we say something like, “Thanks, I am happy you noticed. God is working in me.” Modesty is good. False modesty is not.

There is a story of a man visiting in British Columbia, Canada. He attended an Indian Pow-Wow,

where there were all sorts of competitions and games. As he stood watching preparations for a two-

man canoe race, he was approached by a very large, muscular Indian man, who said, “Will you race

with me? Be my partner?”

The visitor—who was rather small and decidedly not athletic—did not feel like he could say no to

this super-sized stranger.

It is only when we try to go it alone or crowd out the Spirit that the project fails miserably.


Soon he found himself in the bow of a canoe, on the water, waiting for the starting pistol. At the

sound of the shot, his “senior partner” began paddling like a machine. All the visitor could do was

stay low and out of the way. His task became simply staying in the canoe and watching the show as

they flew across the water.

There was no contest: They beat everyone in sight by a big margin.

At the awards ceremony afterwards, they were given a trophy, and the friendly giant looked at him

with a huge smile, and said, “We won!” Yes, the man thought, “We” won. He had been little more

than ballast in the canoe, while his partner did all the work, but still, “We won.” They were a team,

and each had an essential role.

So it is in fruitful living. “We” win, and we understand that the real work and even our own empowerment to do anything is by the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, at the end, “We” win. The Holy Spirit privileges us by inviting us on His team, even though He really could do it without us, if He so desired.

Mike: Here is a case in point from my own life. I have had the tendency, especially in situations of

disagreement, to let my sensitivity become over-sensitivity. My wife and others who know me well

can tell you this is true of me. My wife has recently said to me that she is impressed that of late I

have not been nearly as reactive as I used to be. The types of things to which I would have reacted

in defensiveness no longer bring that response as often or as intensely. I am more able to at least

check my feelings of over-sensitivity (that doesn’t mean they don’t still spring up). Now, when my

wife praises that, I could say that I can take no credit because it is all the transforming work of

the Spirit in my life, and that’s true. At the same time, when my wife or someone who knows me

well compliments me on this change, I can also say, “ Thank you,” because I have willingly and

intentionally partnered with the Holy Spirit for this change in my life.

1. The Holy Spirit causes several good outcomes to spring from this cooperative work.

2. Foremost among them is our increasing likeness to Jesus Christ.

Another good but often overlooked outcome of this cooperative arrangement is that we become accustomed to being led by the Spirit of God. With an understanding that the entire goal of the redemptive, formative process is a relationship with God, we move closer into being accustomed to working together with and listening to God, through the Spirit.


. . . the real work and even our own empowerment to do anything is by

the Holy Spirit.

Another good but often overlooked

outcome of this cooperative

arrangement is that we become

accustomed to being led by the

Spirit of God.


How does this work in practical terms? To understand this better, let’s look at a hint from Paul:

21Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:21-24, emphasis added.

Here Paul speaks of three actions: to put off, to be made new and to put on. Let’s look at each one in turn.

1. The first phrase is “to put off.” The question here is: Who is doing the action? And the answer is: we are. The sentence is cast in the active voice. The “you” is the follower of Christ. We are responsible —as the Holy Spirit empowers us—to stop living the old way, doing the defeating behaviors.

2. The next is “to be made new.” This phrase is expressed in the passive voice. Here we are not doing

anything, but rather having something done to us. Something outside us is renewing us. That something, or rather someone, is the Holy Spirit.

3. Finally, Paul says we are “to put on”—active voice again—to cooperate with the Holy Spirit at work within us by practicing behaviors and building action habits in the new person He is developing within us.

Paul expressed a similar thought in:

5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:5-10

So the pattern is like this: We do something. God does something. We do something more, and God does something more. We act first, but in truth, even then we act only after the Holy Spirit has prompted us and we choose to respond. Then, after our first response, the Holy Spirit works in us, renewing us and making us into the likeness of Jesus. As He does that, however, we don’t just sit around shouting hallelujah, but we are also busy: acting, putting on new ways to replace the old ones we recently put off.


So the pattern is like this: We do something. God does something. We do something more, and God does something more.


The Holy Spirit nudges us toward wanting to be fruitful, that is, more Christ-like. We might experience the Holy Spirit in a variety of ways, but in fact, it is common that we experience nothing more than a vague idea that we are unhappy being the way we are. Then, as we yield to the Holy Spirit, He begins the task of bringing forth the fruit—the character of Jesus in us. Our part, as He continues to nudge and prompt us, is to “put off” the old ways and “put on” the new. Our part is simply to stop doing the things we know we should not be doing anyway, and to start doing the things we know we should be doing. We don’t even have to spend time checking ourselves to see what we need to put off or put on. The Holy Spirit will even tell us this, bringing things to mind in His timing. And we do all these things, of course, not in our own power, but in response to His prompting and in His power.

So what, then, do we do to encourage growth and fruit in our lives? The first—and obvious, but often overlooked step—is that we have to want it. We have to want to live a life that is more gracious, more balanced, more like the life of Jesus. We may not put it in those terms, but the bottom line is that there must be in us some degree of unhappiness with our present state.

Most of us do have this desire, at some level. We want to do well in life—at least, better than we are doing now. That basic desire is likely the work of the Spirit in us already. But what if we don’t want to change? What if we don’t especially care? That’s unlikely if you have come this far on the ASCENDING LEADERS path. Still, if we are honest, some of us aren’t sure we really want to change. We just don’t care all that much. Some are satisfied with living a life of simply being okay.

Our first step in such a case is to get some want to, even when we don’t want to. And we can never get too much want to: The deeper our desire, the more God can work in us. The principle here is that, while God will seldom override our preferences and choices, the opposite is also true, that He will nudge and gently push us in a different direction and then take full advantage of any positive response.

Don’t have the want to? Don’t feel anything in yourself drawing you? It is not something we can simply conjure up. But the fact that you are in this Fruitful Living group is a hopeful sign. It is also important to recognize that we cannot settle for “just okay.” We are either seeking to live a life that honors and pleases God or we are not. There is no “just okay”—another way to say “mediocre”—with God. He calls us to be like Him, and that certainly is not just okay.

The best way to address a lack of desire is to pray, tell Him how you feel, that you aren’t as enthusiastic as you might be or that He wants you to be. Remember that praying is talking with God and listening to Him. You might not feel like talking with God. But, assuming that you are sufficiently honest in your approach to life, be willing at least to explain to God why you want to be left alone. Or, if you want to change but for whatever reason are hesitant, ask Him to give you both a greater desire for change and a sense of peace about it all. Or tell Him why you want Him to just go away and leave you alone. But tell Him. And keep telling Him.

Pray persistently and pray insistently. God delights in hearing and answering your prayers. He will answer your prayers in His own time and in His own way.


. . . the bottom line is that there

must be in us some degree of

unhappiness with our present state.

We are either seeking to live a life that honors

and pleases God or we are not.


Getting practical

Pause . . . and ask God to bring to mind His concerns for your growth in the fruit of the Spirit in your life.

Then analyze your results from the 35-item CCI2 profile: Look at the results of the profile, and in particular, those dimensions of the fruit that scored in the lower half of the list. Ask God to give you a sense of one that is particularly important in your life now. Choose one of the dimensions. In the space below, write as specifically as you can what you think might be the issue.

Now, look at page 11 in the reading. See if you can use Paul’s three actions to describe: what you feel you can “put off”; where you need to be “made new” and what you would “put on.” Choose practices to “put on” that you are reasonably sure you can complete over the next week. Put this into practice in the next days and weeks.


Exercise Two . . . Take a Step of Action!


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Session 2

Describe the “partnership” between the Holy Spirit and us as we grow spiritually.

Have someone read John 15:1-11. This is another passage on growing “fruit” in our lives. Explain what it means to “abide in Christ.” How is this related to the partnership discussed in this session?

Are there things that seem confusing or uncomfortable about the reading, especially our joint effort with God? Talk them over. Help each other with insights.

Both Exercises One and Two suggest taking a character assessment. What did you do with the exercises? Share any insights you gained.

Imagine you have a friend who comes to you and says he/she wants more self-control in certain areas of life. What would you suggest to them? (Be as practical as you can.) Break into smaller groups (3-4 people) for 10-20 minutes. How would you like to improve your partnership with God in allowing Him to grow character in your life? Pray for each other and pray for the others in your group this week.


Fruitful LivingSession 3: Actions

Actions

To this point, we have examined some of the Biblical basis for understanding the fruit of the Spirit. We have talked about the way in which the Holy Spirit works in our lives to bring about the transformation toward Christ-likeness. Finally, we have touched on prayer as a means to increase our desire to mature as a follower of Christ. Now, we will look at more concrete actions that you can take to begin moving in the direction of maturity. At ASCENDING LEADERS, we believe that people grow best when all three of the following conditions are present:

1. An intentional focus on the issue;

2. An effort through time,

3. A community of other like-minded people.

In order to help you grow, here are several ideas.

A construction project

The first idea has to do with constructing a building. Peter writes that all of us who are Christians are “being built into a spiritual house.” 4 Together we’re God’s dwelling place. It is helpful here to think of ourselves as co-laborers with the Holy Spirit in constructing the “building” of Christ-likeness in us. Previously, we talked about Paul’s instruction to the Ephesians to “put on” the new ways. One metaphor for working with the Holy Spirit to transform your life is to think of spiritual growth as a construction project.

When you want to erect a building, the first part to construct is the foundation. A solid foundation is needed for erecting a high-quality building. In buildings with concrete foundations, the builder begins by assembling “forms,” smaller “structures” that reflect the shape of the foundation and that enable the pouring of the foundation itself. The forms, however, are definitely not the foundation itself. Even though the forms reveal the shape of the foundation, forms are merely empty shaping devices, meant to aid in the construction of “the real thing.” Workers who build the forms are not engaged in fruitless exercise, but are building with the understanding that others are going to come and fill in with the real substance of what the patterns represent.

In a like manner, we can consider our lives as the “forms” for Christ-likeness. The Holy Spirit is the Master Builder who fills our lives with the spiritual fruit of a building that grows higher and higher above the foundation as He works in our lives. As we respond to His calls to “put off” our old ways and “take on” new ways of thinking and acting, He fills in and builds upon our “forms” the true substance of the Spirit’s fruit. We experience His calls for change in the contexts of Bible study, of prayer and listening to God, and in community with other maturing disciples.

4 1 Peter 2:5

It is helpful here to think of ourselves as co-laborers with the Holy Spirit in constructing the “building” of Christ-likeness in us.


Imitation

Another way to think of growing is in the concept of imitation. Someone said that there are three stages to becoming like someone: act as if, think as if and become. For example, if you want to “love your neighbor as yourself,” how can you make that happen?

Larry: Some years ago, a woman told me about her neighbor, who was both thoroughly unpleasant

and thoroughly disliked by the entire town, and the unpleasant neighbor and her equally unpleasant

family never seemed to care. At this time, however, this neighbor’s family was dealing with major

problems – illness, money problems and an array of other issues. They were in real trouble and had

no resources and no friends to turn to. The first woman—a follower of Jesus—wanted to know

what she should do. She didn’t even like the neighbor, but she thought she should do something. We

can admire her desire to “be Jesus” to her neighbors, especially the unpleasant ones.

I told her about the “act, think, become” principle. Here’s what I said: Begin to pray for the neighbor

and for your attitude toward her. Ask God to bless her and to make you a channel of His blessing

to her. Then, act as if you love her. Do something good for her: bake a pie and take it over. Nobody

refuses that. Begin doing simple things, loving things—with no expectation of anything in return.

Over time—and it won’t take long—you will begin thinking differently about this lady, because you

will have invested something of yourself in her. You will begin thinking of her in loving ways. You

will begin seeing her as God sees her. And as you continue, you will find that at some point you have

begun to truly love her.

The reason this is effective in changing us is that the technique reflects so many of Jesus’ commands to His disciples: “Go and do . . . ” for example:

Jesus replied,“Go back and report to John what you hear and see.” Matthew 11:4

If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. Matthew 18:15


Another way to think of growing is in the concept

of imitation.



. . . If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. Matthew 19:21

. . . You give them something to eat. Mark 6:37

. . . go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them. Luke 5:14

. . . Jesus told [the expert in the law], “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:37

He did not typically give instructions to His disciples for them to analyze His commands, nor did He want them to decipher His actions, nor did He expect them to understand fully. He simply told them what they should do and to “get at it.”

This correlates with the earlier example about building forms. If we are trying to build the dimension of love into our lives, we begin by doing loving acts. We know that we are not being as loving as we could be (we may even feel two-faced because of the disparity between our actions and our feelings). Nevertheless, over time, the Holy Spirit will begin to fill in the “form” of loving deeds with genuine love for the object of our caring actions.

As you read the previous paragraph you may have found yourself wanting to object, “that is hypocrisy—doing other than what you feel.” There is a very important difference here: when a disciple of Christ builds a form in this way, he/she readily acknowledges that the form is not the substance. It is only a first step in developing the substance, and that first step is a faith step, in confidence that the Master Builder will fill the form with something better. The hypocrite, on the other hand, presents the form as substance: The actions of the hypocrite are an end in themselves rather than a tool for growing. When actions look better than the substance of the person, the result is hypocrisy—something done to give an impression that is better than the truth. But what we are talking about here are actions that are better than the substance. Such actions are not to give a false impression but are done as an exercise to move the substance toward more “Christ-likeness.” The difference is in the motive and attitude with which the action is done.

When actions look better than the substance of the person, the result is hypocrisy —something done to give an impression that is better than the truth.

18 © 2 0 1 0 A S C E N D I N G L E A D E R S

Notes:



Your Learning Style

Pause . . . and thank God for giving you a style of learning that works well for you.

Then discover your preferred learning style.

Go to http://www.ascendingleaders.org, click on the tab Documents, and then click on Preferred Learning Styles. Complete that profile and record your results below. This will help you better understand how you learn best, which will help you choose exercises which will help you grow in the Spirit’s fruit, as well as in any other area.

Style Score

1.

2.

3.

And, by now you may have had enough friends respond to be able to tally the results. Spirit’s Fruit Links and Addendums will link you to a tally sheet for the results. You can choose a manual tally sheet or one which will automatically complete the equations.


Exercise Three . . . Take a Step of Action!


Covenant









Session 3

Explain in your own words the “forms” metaphor used in the reading in your own words.

What do you think/feel about the idea of acting with love toward someone before the feelings of love are in place? Is this hypocrisy? Why or why not?

Have someone read 1 John 2:3-5. Assume that obedience to God’s command involves doing something like giving time/money to someone in need. You meet the need by giving time/money (you act). Discuss the following motives for this action: to impress my close friends of my spirituality, to just obey the Bible/God, to train my heart to be compassionate, to meet a need that pulls deeply at my heart. How does motive effect God’s view of the action.

Assume that a motive to impress others is hypocrisy even if the external action is consistent with the teaching of the Bible. How can we guard against this motive (wanting to impress others) in our lives? Have someone read James 2:14-24. James asserts that a Christian can’t really claim to have faith (or perhaps be faithfully following God) if there are no actions and only claims of internal feelings. How is acting on what we know is right an act of faith? Do you think it will stimulate the proper feelings? Why or why not?

Break into smaller groups (3-4 people) for 10-20 minutes. You have a couple of options. You can each describe a specific way the study is encouraging you toward character growth. Or, you can share some of your own experience with motives and actions in your life. Remember the covenant and honor confidentiality. Pray for each other before concluding.


Fruitful LivingSession 4: Examination

Examination

In the last session, we considered the importance of action, obeying God even when our internal feelings don’t line up with our actions. If we act in a godly manner to impress others, it is hypocrisy. If, however, we obey God with our actions to train our feelings, that is an entirely different behavior. In this session, we will take a closer look at the different ways to use assessments (in the exercises) to guide our joint efforts with the Spirit in growing to be more like Jesus.

Jesus made a seemingly outrageous command to His disciples to be perfect:

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48

Yet the Apostle Paul said that perfection would not be achieved this side of heaven:

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Philippians 3:12

The writer of Hebrews seems to add some more confusion with this statement:

because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Hebrews 10:14

Part of the problem is that we may think that the word “perfect” implies “sinless perfection.” Instead, it means mature, or complete or becoming like Jesus. So, there are three great truths expressed in these verses that don’t really conflict:

1. The goal for our behavior is to be like God. To grow in consistency over time as we face each decision, each temptation and each opportunity by submitting to His will.

2. Only Jesus accomplished this every moment of every day. But we should be in the process of growing toward this goal.

3. The ability to act, think and choose like Christ is present in us from the moment we trust Christ. We have all we need to be what God expects. It’s a case of growing into our potential.

. . . we may think that the word “perfect” implies “sinless perfection.”


When we began a relationship with Jesus as Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit came into our lives. This began the process of life-long transformation. He works each day to transform natural instincts so that we can act and react to people in a supernatural, God-honoring fashion. The Holy Spirit will always be faithful to grow this kind of love in us. The two big questions are: Will we cooperate? Will we submit?

So, how does the assessment process help in all this? Both the Old and New Testament say that weshould examine ourselves. Here is one example:

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you . . . 2 Corinthians 13:5

Self-examination

God tells us to examine ourselves. Using the tools in the exercises is one approach to an examination. Taking the assessment, thinking about it and praying about it is probably the most important of our recommendations. Remember, the Spirit of God loves to shape our maturing to be more like Christ. This simple evaluation process can encourage us to submit to His work in our life. It is interesting that organizational experts have long learned that one of the most powerful techniques for improving a particular behavior of a group is to simply measure it and discuss the results.

Get multiple opinions

Another helpful analysis is to take several assessments and compare. The next page contains a table with the results of several assessments for one person. The characteristics at the top of each column rated highest (strongest) for that survey. They then progress to the lowest (weakest) at the bottom of the column. The various assessments don’t use identical characteristic lists (but they are close enough to be useful). Also, note that dimensions of the Spirit’s fruit which scored the same are shown in a single box as hyphenated terms (e.g., love-joy-faithfulness all scored the same in column 2, page 23).


Remember, the Spirit of God loves

to shape our maturing to be

more like Christ.


35-item CCI2 results

ASCENDING LEADERS Assessment of a

Friend’s Spiritual Fruit results

The 3 Colors of Love

Fruit of the Spirit results

The Christian Life Profile

Assessment Tool results (for

virtues)

65-item CCI results

Faithfulness Love-Joy-Faithfulness

Faithfulness Self-Control Self-Control

Joy Gratitude Self-Control Faithfulness FaithfulnessPatience Compassion Patience Humility Gratitude

Love Kindness Goodness Peace-Patience JoyForgiveness Patience Peace Love-Joy-Kindness-

GoodnessPatience-

Gentleness-LoveKindness Forgiveness Kindness Hope Kindness-

GenerosityGratitude Gentleness Gentleness Inner Peace

Compassion Joy ForgivenessCompassion

It is possible to gain some interesting insights from multiple perspectives. For example, all the assessments for this person rated faithfulness high on the list. That would encourage him/her to believe it is an area of strength. Perhaps forgiveness and gentleness are worth praying about as areas for improvement. If the Assessment of a Friend’s Spiritual Fruit results came back with one characteristic ranked very different from the other self-evaluations, it could be a sign of a blind spot. This characteristic would be a topic to discuss with trusted friends to discover something that the person did not realize.

Comparing results over time

It is possible to take the tests repeatedly over time. This should allow us to look for some progress. Here is one word of caution. It is possible to start “memorizing” your previous responses to questions and manipulate the assessment.

Understanding trends in our culture

Comparing ourselves to others is often a very foolish, pride-building and relationship-damaging exercise. However, comparing ourselves to a population can also give some insights. Michael Zigarelli, noted author and professor of management and leadership from a Christian perspective, completed a survey of over 5,000 Christians worldwide, the 65-Item CCI. Average scores were summarized in the graph on the next page (note that the survey limited ratings to a minimum of 10% and a maximum of 90%).


Comparing ourselves to others is often a very foolish, pride-building and relationship-damaging exercise.



Overall, persons who took the survey rated themselves highest in self-control (68.3%). The characteristics of faithfulness and gratitude were close at second and third. Falling at the bottom of the rankings were inner peace, patience and gentleness and forgiveness (58.2%).5

It is interesting that this group of apparently motivated Christians evaluated themselves as they did. It does not appear that they were looking at themselves “through rose-colored glasses.” Most of us think there is always room for us to be more like Jesus.

Although comparing our assessments to this population summary is probably not nearly as valuable as just doing the assessments and opening our hearts to God, it does give some additional insights. For example, the issue of forgiveness is a challenge for all of us. Looking at our list might help us understand weaknesses that are systemic to our current culture. However, that does not give us an excuse to ignore a weakness. Hopefully, it motivates us to submit to what God is doing and talk it over with Him. In the end, it is His assessment that counts.

5 Michael Zigarelli, Cultivating Christian Character, Fairfax, VA: Xulon Press, 2002, p. 32, used by permission.

However, that does not give us an excuse

to ignore a weakness.


Profile Results

Pause . . . and thank the Holy Spirit for the strengths He has developed in you and ask Him to transform the weaker dimensions.

Then compare your profile results: By now you have taken at least the first two, and maybe more, self-study profiles of the dimensions of the Spirit’s fruit in your life. If you have not yet, you now need to tally and average the Assessment of a Friend’s Spiritual Fruit on the tally sheets ASCENDING LEADERS provides. See Spirit’s Fruit Links and Addendums for a link to the tally sheets. Use the table below to record the results of the assessments. List them under the correct column heading, from strongest to weakest. In doing this, you will note that the profiles define some of the categories a little differently, as we discussed before. Remember to hyphenate the Spirit’s fruit that scored at the same level (e.g., kindness-joy).

35-item CCI2 results

ASCENDING LEADERS Assessment of a

Friend’s Spiritual Fruit results

The 3 Colors of Love

Fruit of the Spirit results

The Christian Life Profile

Assessment Tool results (for

virtues)

65-item CCI results

What does a comparison of your completed profiles reveal regarding the stronger or weaker dimensions in your life?


Exercise Four . . . Take a Step of Action!


Covenant








Session 4

Describe the concept of “perfection” as presented in the reading. Do you have any thoughts that might help clarify the concept? Do you have some questions about the way perfection is presented? In either case, share your thoughts.

Brainstorm for a bit. What are some other ways to examine our lives? Share any personal experience you have had with this?

Assessments are not “perfect.” How do you feel about the assessments? How did they help? What questions did they bring up? What insights did you gain? Imagine that, after you completed a couple of the self-assessments and also the Assessment of a Friend’s Spiritual Fruit, the results were a bit confusing. Imagine that forgiveness was your weakest area in the self-assessments you performed. But, it was one down from the top in your friends’ view of you. How do you process this information? How might you approach some very close friends to gain more insight? Should you talk with the friends who did the assessment or others? Why? Have someone read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. Paul uses a metaphor of athletic training to describe his own care in examining his choices in exercising rights that could negatively impact his mission (this is the context of 1 Corinthians 9). He may also have been thinking of controlling his passions that might get him into trouble. Supposing your assessment comes up with a low score for self-control, how might you use Paul’s principles or metaphor to approach a deeper examination of self-control? In general, how can you use the Bible to help in growing the dimensions of the fruit of the Spirit?

Break into smaller groups (3 or 4 people) for 10-20 minutes. Share in greater detail your own experience with either the assessments or some form of life examination. See if there are specific prayer requests. Pray for each other.



A Trinitarian view of the Spirit’s fruit

This is a good place to explore the thoughts behind the survey from The 3 Colors of Love. (This survey was listed as an option in Exercise 1.) Christian Schwarz has made it a life task to think and write about how life is connected to the Trinity. He uses three colors to represent “God 3-in-1,” the “Trinitarian God.”

» Green represents the Father and God’s Justice. » Red represents Jesus Christ the Son and God’s Truth. » Blue represents the Holy Spirit and God’s Grace.

Since we are limited to a black and white print media, we will not make too much about the colors. However, it is insightful and motivating for us to think a moment about the God of Justice, Truth and Grace. Schwarz connects the dimensions of the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5 with these three characteristics of God. He sees various aspects of the fruit matching up with Justice, Truth or Grace. In some cases a dimension, like patience, spans two trinitarian characteristics. Faithfulness and self-control he sees connected to truth. Joy is an overlapping dimension spanning truth and grace. See the figure below for the mapping of all the dimensions to the Justice, Truth and Grace characteristics.

God

Father

Son Spirit

Jus�ce (green)

FaithfulnessSelf-Control

Goodness

GentlenessKindness

Joy

Pa�encePeace

Love

Here are a couple of key points. First, as we develop our character in partnership with the Spirit of God, it is important to seek balanced, total character development. Secondly, when others who don’t know Christ see in us significant character flaws, it reflects negatively on their opinion of Christ.

As we study the dimensions of the fruit of the Spirit, we may want to focus and ask God to help us focus on areas of weakness. The second point is emphasized by this verse:

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20

Fruitful LivingSession 5: Balanced Character

. . . it is important to seek balanced, total character development.


Ambassadors in foreign countries represent the character of their country. Likewise, people who do not know the God of the Bible, but know that we claim to be His followers, will assume that our character is like His character. They see God in us, for better or worse.

Above all, love

Schwarz sees all of the other aspects of the fruit in Galatians 5 as part of love. Since the Greek has no punctuation, translators of the Bible have discerned as best as possible where to place punctuation. Schwarz believes that love here should have a semi-colon after it. Thus, each aspect after it is another way to express love. This argument is strengthened by 1 Corinthians 13:13.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Schwarz argues that “whether Paul writes about the fruit of the Spirit (as in Galatians 5:22-23) or presents an abundance of characteristics that constitute love (as in 1 Corinthians 13), he is constantly speaking about the same topic, just using a different point of reference.” 6 Earlier in 1 Corinthians 13, Paul writes:

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

If we consider love to be the essence of all the dimensions of the fruit of the Spirit, Schwarz claims that ”each of the characteristics of love listed in 1 Corinthians 13 can be related to the fruit of the Spirit of Galatians 5:22-23.” 7 The table below summarizes these relationships. 8

Identifier Galatians 5Dimensions

1 Corinthians 13Characteristics of Love

Justice compassion, fairness

Goodness Does not delight in evil, is not self-seeking

Truth Faithfulness always trusts, never failstrustworthiness, honesty Self-control is not rude, is not easily angeredGrace Gentleness does not boast, is not proudacceptance, politeness Kindness is kind

always hopesGrace and Truth Joy rejoices with the truthJustice and Truth Peace keeps no record of wrongs, always perseveresJustice and Grace Patience is patient, always protects

6 Schwarz, The 3 Colors of Love, p. 61, used by permission.7 Ibid.8 Scripture as organized and charted by Schwarz, The 3 Colors of Love, p. 22, 23, 43, 61, used by permission.


Likewise, people who do not know

the God of the Bible, but know

that we claim to be His followers, will assume that

our character is like His character.



Schwarz explains his thoughts in a much fuller sense in his book, The 3 Colors of Love. The self-test in that book will show you the direction you lean in your own fruitfulness. Here is the application of his insights. We may need practice in increasing our graceful side of love, or our truthful side of love or our justice (defined as justice for the marginalized in society) side of love. Again, there is a need for balance in our character. In summary, we need to passionately develop the love and character that God has made available to us through His Spirit, with an eye toward balance.

Again, there is a need for balance in our character.


Fruitfulness in Your Life

Pause . . . and ask the Holy Spirit to move you to be more conscious of Him in your life.

Then complete one or more of the exercises on this page.

A. A visual: Draw a picture of yourself that symbolically shows your strong virtues of Christ-likeness and the areas in which you are weaker. Then draw a future picture of yourself with much stronger fruitfulness. You could color these pictures using Schwarz’ Trinitarian perspective.

Or:

B. Commit to memory: Galatians 5:22-23.


Or:

C. Consequences of not cooperating with the Spirit: Reflect on and journal about a time when you did not fully cooperate with the Spirit’s work or prompting—perhaps a time in the last week or month. What were the consequences?9

9 Bill Hybels, InterActions Small Group Series: The Fruit of the Spirit, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1997, p. 14, used by permission.


Exercise Five . . . Take a Step of Action!


Covenant








Session 5

Give a quick summary of Schwarz’s view of love and the other dimensions of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 (see pages 5 and 28).

Discuss Schwarz’s thoughts on justice, truth and grace and the dimensions of the fruit of the Spirit (see page 27). How do gentleness and kindness show God’s grace? How do faithfulness and self-control demonstrate His truth? Try a tougher one, joy as it relates to both truth and grace.

We are sometimes told to build on our strengths. (For example, a person who has an aptitude for math may want to explore careers that demand that skill.) The reading implies that we should perhaps focus on our character deficiencies. Do you agree? Why or why not? What would be the result of ignoring our weaker dimensions of the fruit?

Can you think of someone who is particularly strong in character or in certain aspects of the Spirit’s fruit? How do you feel around that person? How does this impact your view of God? Schwarz links grace with kindness and gentleness (see the table on page 28). Do you agree with his opinion? What is grace? Talk a bit about the impact on others and our culture when the grace of God is demonstrated in our character and lives. Break into smaller groups (3-4 people) for 10-20 minutes. Since this is near the end of the study, share a bit about your experience during this study. What went well? How has the study given you insight and motivation into your own partnership with God in character development? Remember to pray for each other.



Attitude counts

Along with the need for balance, another important part of the picture of growing in Christ-likeness is attitude. The degree to which God will work in our lives is directly related to our attitude. Someone has said that a key to seeing God work is an “attitude of gratitude.” As we recognize God’s great love for us, His mercy and grace, and the high privilege He has given us to live as both His child and His representative on earth, it’s hard not to be grateful. As we have an attitude of gratitude to God, our hearts are softened, and we are more open and tenderhearted toward the Spirit’s prompting.

In their commentary on their paraphrase of Colossians, Brian Walsh, professor, university campus minister and author, and Sylvia Keesmaat, adjunct professor of Biblical studies and author, describe the result of a thankful attitude:

You will have the resources of such patient endurance and be sustained for the long haul of radical

obedience in the face of overwhelming odds if your life is embedded in gratitude. Joyful thanksgiving

is deeply empowering (emphasis added).10

If there is a need in this process of cooperating with the Holy Spirit and remaining focused on who we are in Christ and what He is calling us to do and be, it is to be “deeply empowered.” Not only in Colossians, but in his other letters, Paul encourages us to be thankful. In the first chapter of Romans, Paul explains that the principal differentiating characteristic of the wise person is thankfulness. In Philippians, he urges disciples to bring prayers and supplications to God in the spirit of thankfulness.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

Read the following two passages in preparation for the small-group discussion.

1. John 15:1-8 uses the fruit-growing metaphor to describe a disciple’s relationship with God.

2. Romans 5:1-5 points out that God’s love (perhaps a blanket term for the fruit of the Spirit) is placed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

10 Brian J. Walsh and Sylvia C. Keesmaat, Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsityPress, 2004, p. 40, used by permission.

Fruitful LivingSession 6: Attitude Counts

If there is a need in this process of cooperating with the Holy Spirit and remaining focused on who we are in Christ and what He is calling us to do and be, it is to be “deeply empowered.”


Covenant









Session 6

Congratulations, you have completed this study. Let this last discussion time be a bit more of a celebration. Bring some extra refreshments, enjoy each other. Here are three simple suggestions (you might divide your group time up into thirds after you munch on the goodies:)

1. Worship: The work of the Holy Spirit in a Christian is a marvelous thing. He comforts, convicts, encourages, transforms and empowers us. We have introduced the character transformation work that the Spirit does in this study. Discuss the following questions before you break up into smaller groups.

» What insights did you gain from reading John 15:1-8? What are some practical ways for us to abide in the vine?

» This session talked about the importance of gratitude. Why do you think thanksgiving is so important in the Christian life?

» Open the discussion time up for people to share their experiences, insights and questions from this study.

2. Apply: Break into the smaller groups of 3-4. Share with each other the most significant learning you have gained and potential action you will carry out from this study. Discuss the “Hike Further” thoughts from the next page. What steps might you take in the future?

3. Pray for each other: Still in your smaller group, pray for each other, especially for the key learnings and potential action steps you talked about. One way to pray is to have each person pray for the individual on his/her left.


Profited from this? Hike further!

The amazing gift of the Spirit of God in our lives is in some ways beyond description. One of His primary activities is to slowly transform us into people who think, act and feel like Jesus. This is just one study in a series. Learn more about the great gift of the fruit of the Spirit.

The Apostle Paul wrote an interesting list in his letter to the Christians in Galatia (part of modern day Turkey). This is what he said . . .

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. . . . 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25, emphasis added

Many people call this list (love, joy, peace . . .) the “Fruit of the Spirit.” These aspects of the fruit are secrets to deep friendships, meaningful partnerships and significant teamwork. Most interesting, Paul says they are characteristics of a life that is “in step with the Spirit.” They also deepen one’s love relationship with God.

Fruitful Living is taken from a unit titled Spirit’s Fruit that includes 10 integrated studies in one binder from Ascending LeAders. If you would like to go deeper in keeping in step with the Spirit, check out the Spirit’s Fruit unit. In fact, go a step beyond—pray about it—and even get into it! Possibly you could experience it along with your hiking partners and some other hikers. The time commitment each day is greater, but you get back your time investment with big bonuses in keeping in step with God. If you would like more information, go to the Ascending LeAders web site at www.ascendingleaders.org and look for the Spirit’s Fruit unit in the Gearing Up series.

The 10 studies in Spirit’s Fruit are: 1. Perspectives on the Spirit’s Fruit 2. Love 3. Forgiveness 4. Joy 5. Peace 6. Patience (and Gentleness and Humility) 7. Goodness and Kindness (and Generosity and Compassion) 8. Faithfulness 9. Self-Control 10. Review and Wrap-up (and a Guided Spiritual mini-Retreat and a “Fruit-Growing Plan”)

Thanks for hiking with us through the amazing foundation of Fruitful Living. Keep hiking together, in step with the Spirit.

FRUITFUL LIVING


FRUITFUL LIVING

If you want more:

Bajema, Edith. Discover the Fruit of the Spirit: Discover Your Bible Series. Grand Rapids, MI: Faith Alive Resources, 2004.

Frazee, Randy. The Christian Life Profile Assessment Tool Workbook: Discovering the Quality of Your Relationships with God and Others in 30 Key Areas. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005.

Hybels, Bill. Fruit of the Spirit: Living the Supernatural Life: InterActions Small Group Studies. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1997.

Lawrenz, Mel. Patterns: Ways to Develop a God-Filled Life. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003.

Schwarz, Christian. The 3 Colors of Love. St. Charles, IL: Churchsmart Resources, 2004.

Schwarz, Christian. The 3 Colors of Ministry. St. Charles, IL: ChurchSmart Resources, 2001.

Zigarelli, Michael. Cultivating Christian Character: How to Become the Person God Wants You to Be and How to Help Others Do the Same. Fairfax, VA: Xulon Press, 2002.

You may find additional, more current resources by going to http://www.ascendingleaders.org,

clicking on Documents and then clicking on Fruitful Living Links and Addendums.

Living - Ascending Leaders · Fruitful Living Session 1: A Life that Matters A life that matters In...

Documents

Transcript of Living - Ascending Leaders · Fruitful Living Session 1: A Life that Matters A life that matters In...