November 16, 2025

CULTIVATE: BE WEIRD, BE BLESSED

November 16, 2025

 Pastor Jonathan Falwell

As we continue our November study of the Fruit of the Spirit, we are learning that we cannot produce this Fruit in our lives. As Pastor Jonathan said, “These are the ‘Fruit of the Spirit,’ not the ‘Works of the Believers.”  We are human, with a sinful nature, and cannot produce spiritual actions on our own. However, because the blood of Jesus Christ has saved us, we now have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, working through us as we are obedient to Jesus Christ. We should walk daily with Him, allowing the Spirit to guide us, granting us wisdom, and convicting us when we’re reluctant to do what’s right—and much more. And when we are trying in love to obey His commands, the Holy Spirit continues to produce Fruit in our lives. He is the One who works in us, both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Focal Passages: Galatians 5:22-25.

Abiding in Him:

  • Read John 15:5, 7-8. John begins by giving us an illustration of a healthy fruit-bearing plant. What is the one thing we know about a plant that has fruit? What happens if the root is separated from the branches that hold the fruit? What can the branch do if it is cut from the root? What will it do—quickly?
  • What does God mean when He tells us to abide in Him? What are some ways we can do this? What are some other ways—perhaps those that are not as comfortable for us—to abide in Him?
  • What does He mean that His words must abide in us? If we are truly abiding in Christ, will we ask anything for ourselves except what He wants for us? Would we ask only for those things that enrich our lives to bring more glory to Him? Would we ever ask anything wrong, or harmful, or coveted, or from pride, and expect to get it?
  • Why do we want to be filled with spiritual fruit? Do we wish to have fruit in order to be complimented, or puffed up because we are so great? What does verse 8 specifically tell us?
  • How will people know we are Christ-followers? What does it mean to be His disciple?

The Fruit of Kindness:

  • Being kind is not the same as being nice; can someone tell the meaning of kindness, and how it differs from being nice? Can we be kind to someone who has just wronged us? Can we be kind to someone we don’t like?
  • Read Prov. 25:21. Can we do this? Why does the motive of our heart determine whether we receive a reward from God or satisfy the flesh? What should our motive be when we’re kind? Why would God reward us for serving someone who is really our enemy? What do we mean when we say kindness is much more than a show?
  • Why would we show kindness to people who don’t know us, or people who don’t like us, or people who know we don’t like them?

The Fruit of Goodness:

  • Does anyone recall what goodness means, in this context? Is goodness one of God’s character qualities? What are some Scriptures saying He is good? (Ex. 34:6, Psa. 52:1b, Rom. 2:4, 11:22, 2 Thess. 1:11). Why are these verses so wonderful?
  • Can someone please explain what is meant by this: “Goodness is an external representation of the internal heart”?
  • Goodness in this context is an active representation of our thoughts. Can you rephrase that sentence? Read Matt. 15:18, James 3:2, 6, 8. How do these verses illustrate how impossible it is for us to control our tongue, and how necessary it is that we lean completely on the Spirit?

The Blessing of CALM:

  • Read John 14:25-27. Why would Kindness and Goodness result in a life of peace? Where does our peace come from? Read Rom. 5:1 and 8:6. Do these verses tell us that grasping for peace anywhere except in salvation through Jesus Christ is useless?
  • Why did Jesus tell us to guard our hearts from worrying about trouble, and not to let fear take hold over us? Read 2 Timothy 1:7. Where is our faith when we allow fear to attack us?

ACTION STEPS:

  • Figure out how to abide in Him. We should walk in worship, soak in the Word, focus on prayer, and believe His promises.
  • Look for the odd opportunity to be kind rather than not. This will take intentionality. Each time you do this, you train your heart to look for those opportunities.
  • Bless someone this week without any ulterior motive. Do something out of the ordinary “for the glory of God and the good of others” (Dondi Costin).

Close: 

When we think of the Fruit the Holy Spirit bears in our lives daily, we have to ask ourselves, what are God’s priorities for us as believers? His first priority is for us to love Him with everything we are, heart, soul, mind, and strength, and everything in our day should be done out of a heart of deep love for Him. His second priority is for us to love everyone who crosses our path and be willing to help them—as the Good Samaritan did. How do we love these unknown people? We should see them as Jesus sees them: with compassion, for they are made in the image of God. We can smile, give a genuine compliment, or look for a way to bless them, like holding a door open, letting them go ahead of us in any line, or allowing their car to go ahead of ours in a traffic snarl, wherever we are. We may lose a minute or a few minutes. Over the length of our lives, will those really matter, since we are serving God? Probably not. But our rewards will be a life of love, joy, peace, kindness, and goodness. And possibly even patience.

By Sandy Day

November 16, 2025                                                                                                    

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