Sermon Central
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Fruit Of The Spirit 10 Part Series
Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Sep 19, 2008 (message contributor)
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1. Key To Fruit-Bearing
Contributed on Sep 19, 2008
The parable of the Vine and the branches gives us the assurance that however weak and frail we are, God the Trinity can and will produce beautiful fruit in our lives. It is not a question of will power or any kind of self effort. All that is needed is con
Opening illustration: Suppose you walked into your kitchen one morning and found Jesus sitting at the table. What would you do? Would you say: "Jesus! I’m thrilled to see You! I just wish I had time to talk, but right now I’m running late for work. When I get home tonight, we’ll have a nice visit"? ...read more
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2. Love Demands
Contributed on Sep 24, 2008
The Fruit of the Spirit is God’s love and work in us, the love of Christ flowing in through His Holy Spirit in and out of us! All because we have a personal relationship with Christ, we have God’s living presence in us, living in us. The result is we have
Opening illustration: The teacher in our adult-education creative-writing class told us to write "I love you" in 25 words or less, without using the words "I love you." She gave us 15 minutes. A woman in the class spent about ten minutes looking at the ceiling and wriggling in her seat. The last ...read more
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3. The Joy Of The Spirit Is The Measure Of Its Power
Contributed on Oct 2, 2008
The problem is that we’ve confused joy with happiness. Happiness is dependent on happenings. Circumstances in your life dictate whether or not you are happy. Joy, on the other hand, is a gift from God - a fruit of the Spirit that transcends whatever is
Opening illustration: During an earthquake some years ago, the inhabitants of a small village were generally very much alarmed, but they were at the same time surprised at the calmness and apparent joy of an old woman whom they all knew. At length one of them, addressing the old woman, said, ...read more
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4. Peace Boulevard
Contributed on Oct 8, 2008
The Biblical word "peace" [Greek ~ Irene] signifies far more than merely the absence of war. It carries the idea of completeness and wholeness. It conveys a sense of inner-satisfaction and fulfillment. It communicates the idea of contentment and serenity.
Opening illustration: A four-year-old and a six-year-old presented their mom with a houseplant. They had used their own money to buy it and she was thrilled. The older of them said with a sad face, "There was a bouquet at the flower shop that we wanted to give you. It was real pretty but it was too ...read more
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5. The Greatest Power Is Often Simple Patience
Contributed on Oct 15, 2008
Life outside of Christ, Paul says. It’s angry life. Its confrontational politics and caustic talk shows. It’s accusatory e-mails that appear to have been sent from a flamethrower. As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with patience.
Opening illustration: This past week I read about a first-grade teacher who was having a difficult day. It had rained that entire day and the children couldn’t go out for recess, so they got more and more restless and hyperactive as the day wore on. The teacher couldn’t wait for the bell to ring ...read more
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6. The Power Of Kindness
Contributed on Oct 22, 2008
We all need the healing kindness of God because it’s rare to find it in the world around us. However, when you see God’s loving kindness working through others, it causes you to stop and take notice because it provides a glimpse into heaven and makes the
Opening illustration: For 30 years, Randy Murphy drove without a traffic incident, without being stopped by the police, and without a driver’s license. Then, the 46 year old Knoxville, Tennessee native’s luck ran out. On his way home from work as a dishwasher, he increased the volume on his radio. ...read more
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7. God's Goodness Or Your Goodness?
Contributed on Nov 4, 2008
We usually think of good as excellence, or good as effective purpose. Goodness has become individualized. We evaluate good or evil by evaluating the impact that one person has on other persons. When you and I determine good or evil, we compare imperfect p
Opening illustration: She thinks that because she made some bad choices in high school that a few actions make her a bad person. To look at her, she’s an all-American girl. She’s pretty, kind to small animals, lives in a nice home, drives a reliable car, and wears sensible shoes. But she thinks she ...read more
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8. The Gluing Fruit ~ Faithfulness
Contributed on Nov 13, 2008
Faithfulness is the “gluing” fruit that will preserve our faith and the other characters of the Spirit and identify God’s will so we can be dependable and trusting to God and others. It is the one fruit that we give to God, whereas the others are from the
Opening illustration: Mark Hatfield tells of touring Calcutta with Mother Teresa and visiting the so-called "House of Dying," where sick children are cared for in their last days, and the dispensary, where the poor line up by the hundreds to receive medical attention. Watching Mother Teresa ...read more
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9. The Strength Of Being Tender ~ Gentleness
Contributed on Nov 13, 2008
Gentleness is the character that will show humility, calmness, personal care, tenderness and the Love of Christ in meeting the needs of others. It is to be more than just a personality; it is to be who we are from the work of the Spirit within us.
Opening illustration: There is a story of a corporal at Valley Forge who was directing three men as they tried to lift a log into place. It was too heavy, but the corporal commanded again and again, “All right, men, one, two, three, lift!” A man in an overcoat came by and said to the corporal, ‘Why ...read more
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10. The Essence Of Your Strength ~ Self Control
Contributed on Nov 19, 2008
I guess of all the nine fruits of the Spirit, “self-control” is the one with which we might feel the greatest sense of unease. Self-control is allowing God to be in control of your will and heart and seeking the Spirit to enable us. Then we will know what
Opening illustration: Some years ago the press had reported that the president of a Midwestern theological seminary was fired after the Board of Directors determined that his temper had imperiled his leadership. The president confessed to “misappropriation of anger,” and after hours of agonizing ...read more