Outline With Discussion Questions:
What is goodness?
Definition: Goodness is God’s actions and intentions directed toward his creation, especially humanity.
Who determines what is “good” and what is not? How do we know whether or not a thought or action is good?
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. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-25
Goodness in Galatians 5 is that part of our character that takes knowing what is good and transfers it to doing what is good.
How do we learn Goodness in our character?
1) We learn goodness through knowing God’s goodness.
I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.
Romans 15:14
- Psalm 16:2 – I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
- Psalm 23:6 – Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
- Psalm 34:8 – Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
- Psalm 100:5 – For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
The scripture trains our minds to know the goodness of God; Singing this in worship trains our emotions to know the goodness of God.
Learning from the Scripture about God’s goodness is essential for transforming our Character to reflect his goodness in our own lives, especially during seasons of life where our circumstances are tempting us to doubt God’s goodness.
Book Recommendation: 90 Days of God’s Goodness by Randy Alcorn
How is the church essential for learning God’s goodness, and changing our character to reflect it?
2) We learn goodness through good works
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:16
Good works reflect the glory of God in our lives outward to other people.
When we do good works, it influences others for the glory of God.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10
3) We learn goodness through sharing the good news.
Why is the Gospel Good News?
Hebrews 10:24 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works”. How do we do this? Why is the church essential to doing this?
Other Relevant Passages:
11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
James 2:14-17
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