Special Days

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God is good. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament tell us this. Goodness is often associated with kindness (last week’s fruit), the ultimate example being Jesus becoming human and enduring humanity’s evil in order to re-unite us with God. But goodness is larger than kindness. God is completely holy and righteous, with no trace of evil, in all he does and says. The cross symbolizes how God can take something intended for evil and turn it into a source of blessing, something that we also see in the story of Joseph. This is very good! God gives us his Holy Spirit so that we can also be good and do good, as the Spirit leads and works in us.

Sorry, but there is no recording of this sermon. You can read the sermon in Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) ; 加 拉 太 書 5:22-23 (CUVS)
Titus 3:4-8 (NLT) ; 提 多 書 3:4-8 (CUVS)

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Kindness is one of those fruits that is evident to other people. Often it doesn’t cost us anything, but sometimes it does. Pastor Ryan highlights a few examples of this costly kindness in the Bible and encourages us to be intentional about looking for opportunities to be kind.

“Being Fruitful: Kindness,” by Pastor Ryan Emmons

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) ; 加 拉 太 書 5:22-23 (CUVS)
Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NLT) ; 耶 利 米 書 9:23-24 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also download Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

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Patience is not easy for most of us, especially in our “instant” culture. God the Father and Jesus each model a different aspect of patience for us, and the Holy Spirit in us can help us live out both kinds.

“Being Fruitful: Patience” by Pastor Ryan Emmons

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) ; 加 拉 太 書 5:22-23 (CUVS)
1 Thessalonians 5:12-15 (NLT) ; 帖 撒 羅 尼 迦 前 書 5:12-15 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also download Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

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Peace is part of the fruit of the Spirit. But what does “peace” mean in this context? God gives peace between adversaries, peace with him individually, and peace in our hearts as we trust him. Peace also flows from us into our relationships as we allow the Spirit to work in us. What is our part in doing our best to live at peace with everyone?

“Being Fruitful: Peace” by Pastor Ryan Emmons

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) ; 加 拉 太 書 5:22-23 (CUVS)
Romans 12:14-18 (NLT) ; 羅 馬 書 12:14-18 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also download Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

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Many things in our lives can bring us joy, at least for a while. But the joy that comes from faith in God’s promises is unshakable.

“Being Fruitful: Joy” by Pastor Ryan

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) ; 加 拉 太 書 5:22-23 (CUVS)
Romans 14:17-19 (NLT) ; 羅 馬 書 14:17-19 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also download Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

Photo by Anna Kolosyuk on Unsplash

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God is Love, and we are called to love each other — but not just as a task that we have to do. Love, as part of the Fruit of the Spirit, is an outcome of the Spirit dwelling within us, a way we reflect the image of God to the world. Our love for others gives evidence to our claim to have Jesus in our lives, as well as other things.

“Being Fruitful: Love”, by Pastor Ryan Emmons

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) ; 加 拉 太 書 5:22-23 (CUVS)
1 John 4:7-16 (NLT) ; 約 翰 一 書 4:7-16 (CUVS)

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also download Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

Photo by Anna Kolosyuk on Unsplash

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The fruit of the Spirit is not formed in us because we follow a law (legalism) or because we are free to operate outside of law (moral freedom). Instead, it forms because God has placed his Spirit within our hearts. The result of God’s presence and work inside of us is that our character becomes more and more like God’s. The character of God in us is revealed by the presence of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

Ezekiel 36:25-27 (NLT) ; 以 西 結 書 36:25-27 (CUVS)
Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) ; 加 拉 太 書 5:22-23 (CUVS)

Pastor Ryan led us in this prayer by John Stott:

“Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.

Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.

Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

One book Pastor Ryan is using as a basis for this sermon series is Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit: Growing in Christlikeness, by Christopher Wright.

You can set up a real-time transcript when you listen on your device. You can also download Pastor Ryan’s sermon notes (not a transcript).

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