Fruit of the Spirit Week Five: “Long-suffering”

TCB Website? Work in Progress. Prayer Requests? Finding this helpful? Anything I could change about the presentation and/or information? Website? Work in Progress. Prayer Requests? Finding this helpful? Anything I could change about the presentation and/or information?

It’s all Greek to me

Uses in Scripture: of God: of Christ: of the Saints: of God: of Christ: of the Saints:

Working Definition: Long-suffering: To display a pacing that is in line with God’s timing. A. With God Himself. B. With Ourselves C. With Believers D. With Non-believers Long-suffering: To display a pacing that is in line with God’s timing. A. With God Himself. B. With Ourselves C. With Believers D. With Non-believers

With God Himself: (How do we develop long-suffering?) 1. Develop a high view of His sovereignty. 2. Use previous experiences to calm yourself “in the now.” 3. Develop a non-linear understanding of God’s plan and timing. (How were/are the patriarchs saved?) 4. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord. 5. The closer you are to God through prayer, study, worship, the more comfortable you will become with the unknown. 6. Other suggestions? 1. Develop a high view of His sovereignty. 2. Use previous experiences to calm yourself “in the now.” 3. Develop a non-linear understanding of God’s plan and timing. (How were/are the patriarchs saved?) 4. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord. 5. The closer you are to God through prayer, study, worship, the more comfortable you will become with the unknown. 6. Other suggestions?

With ourselves: (how can we develop long-suffering?) 1. Remember that we are works in progress. 2. Don’t measure your Christianity by the amount, frequency or intensity of your sin (because that is all relative). Rather, measure your growth by your awareness and reaction to your sin. 3. Be aware that one of the greatest weapons the enemy possesses (especially for young women) is self-doubt. 4. Other suggestions? 1. Remember that we are works in progress. 2. Don’t measure your Christianity by the amount, frequency or intensity of your sin (because that is all relative). Rather, measure your growth by your awareness and reaction to your sin. 3. Be aware that one of the greatest weapons the enemy possesses (especially for young women) is self-doubt. 4. Other suggestions?

With Believers 1. Be humble in your theology. 2. Romans 14/15: Consider the weaker brother, don’t flaunt your Christian liberty. 3. Allow convictional and secondary issues to be convictional and secondary issues. 4. Allow for change in philosophy in others, both toward and away from solid theology. 5. Other ideas? 1. Be humble in your theology. 2. Romans 14/15: Consider the weaker brother, don’t flaunt your Christian liberty. 3. Allow convictional and secondary issues to be convictional and secondary issues. 4. Allow for change in philosophy in others, both toward and away from solid theology. 5. Other ideas?

With Non-Believers 1. Don’t make the mistake that far too many Christians do and hold non-Christians to the standards of Christ. 2. Jesus saves, we invest. 3. Be very quick to forgive, slow to judge, challenge them in love. 4. Find a way to fellowship with sinners, without sinning. (This can be VERY tricky...err on the side of holiness...avoid even the appearance of evil.) 5. Other thoughts? 1. Don’t make the mistake that far too many Christians do and hold non-Christians to the standards of Christ. 2. Jesus saves, we invest. 3. Be very quick to forgive, slow to judge, challenge them in love. 4. Find a way to fellowship with sinners, without sinning. (This can be VERY tricky...err on the side of holiness...avoid even the appearance of evil.) 5. Other thoughts?