The Gift of the Spirit: The Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:16-26, 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (October 10th, 2021)

Begin with Prayer

In silence, invite the Holy Spirit to guide you. Suggested prayer:

Empowering God, send your Holy Spirit to move us to understanding; to help us to believe the gospel; to give us strength and wisdom to live by it. Amen. (Worship Sourcebook Q.3.5.8)

Reconnecting and Debriefing Take a moment to check in with one another (2 minutes each). 1. What is one way that you feel the Holy Spirit has worked in your life recently? 2. What Fruit of the Spirit do you believe today’s world has an especially great need for?

Introduction Whether we gather in person or online, our goal remains the same: to be a people apprenticed to the life of Jesus. His life and teaching is our example and our source of truth. Remember the commitments we make to each other to foster safety and freedom as we pursue spiritual growth together: • Whenever possible, please listen to the sermon prior to gathering (Sunday or online). • While we are meeting (even online), commit to focussing rather than multitasking. Be all here. • Give every person an equal opportunity to share, even if it takes time to form or finish their thoughts. • Be respectful and non-judgmental. • Honour sharing boundaries (only what you have permission to share, no gossip) and guard confidentiality (what we

share here stays here). • Don’t try to fix, problem-solve or rescue; keep pointing one another to the truths of the gospel for our lives.

Listening to God’s Word Our broken world is crying out for men and women who have trustworthy character that is focused on working for the common good. Philosophers and ethicists have wondered how such virtue can be produced in a person. Is it produced purely by human effort? Is it only under fear of punishment that we will be good? What makes it so difficult to be a good person? Let’s discover together why God’s gift of Himself in the Holy Spirit is the answer to these age-old questions, and how we can receive his help in becoming truly good people. Small Group Discussion Read Galatians 5:16-26, then discuss together. • What is your first thought when you read through this passage? • Many of the “desires of the flesh” described here are tolerated, encouraged or even celebrated in

our world. What negative impact do these have, not just for Christians but for human society in general?

• How do the desires of the flesh listed here appear in society today? • What desires of the flesh do you know have an influence in your own life? What are their

consequences? • Why is being “led by the Spirit” a better way than being “under the law” (v 18)? • Why are the fruit of the Spirit good for everyone? • How has the fruit of the Spirit in your life made a difference for yourself or someone else? (v.22-

23)?

• What Fruit of the Spirit do you sense a need for in your life in this season? • What new actions might help you cooperate with the leading of the Spirit?

• Read 2 Corinthians 3:17-18. What would freedom from the influence of the desires of the flesh look like to you?

• In what ways can you celebrate how the Spirit has led you to freedom (vs.17)? • How have you experienced God changing you “from one degree of glory to another” (vs.18)? • How is the Holy Spirit calling you to respond to or act?

Practice: Cultivating to the Spirit In Renovation of the Heart, Dallas Willard encourages Christians to get very practical about the areas of their life where they know they need change. This is not “works righteousness” – we are not earning anything with God. Rather, we are actively cooperating with God, or “cultivating to the Spirit,” just as a gardener prepares and organizes her garden to receive the natural elements that give life to the plants, and guard against threats to that life. Use the guiding questions to facilitate your conversations with the Spirit.

Pruning: Take 10 minutes to reflect: • Guiding Questions: * Observe the desires of the flesh that you see having undue influence in your life. *

Reflect: How does this desire of the flesh keep me from loving God and loving others? What makes me more vulnerable to its influence? * Confess any known sin to God. * Look ahead: When do I anticipate this desire of the flesh being especially tempting in the coming day or week?

Cultivating: Take 10 minutes to prepare and submit: • Guiding Questions: * Imagine yourself in the potential situation of negative temptation or positive

opportunity in the coming week. * Reflect: What biblical truth about God, God’s work, and your identity do you need to remember, to help you fight this temptation or step into this opportunity? What fruit of the Spirit is most needed in this situation? Is there a verse that addresses this situation that you can memorize? * Prepare: What specific actions can you take now, or plan to take then, that will help you keep in step with the Spirit instead of following the desires of the flesh? Get very practical – think about your imagination, your thoughts, your words, your body, including the parts most involved in the temptation, your social environment and needed support). * Pray and ask the Spirit to fill you and guide you toward goodness and away from what is wrong.

Caring for One Another • Thank God for his mercy and for the guidance of his Holy Spirit in your life. • Do you or your family have a need that the Life Group can help meet?

Use the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) as a guide, based on what you’ve shared together, and spend some time listening to God and praying for one another.