Things that oppose the Kingdom of God and things that exemplify it:
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Galatians 5:19-24 (ESV)
Called “the fruit of the Spirit” what are the 9 characteristics of the Christian?
The first Characteristic of the Christian is Love, what did Jesus say about love in Matthew 22 and Mark 12?
How do we teach ourselves to love the way Jesus does?
- Give
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (ESV)
- Serve:
8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen
1 Peter 4:8-10 (ESV)
How does giving and serving secretly/anonymously work in our hearts more effectively?
When we teach ourselves to love this way, what does 1 Peter 4:11 say happens?
What is another action that you can take to teach yourself to love others? See 1 John 3:16 and Ephesians 5:2
What person in your life are you having difficulty loving? How can you be generous to them and serve them to teach yourself to love them like Jesus loves?
Shore Community Church 