Fruit of the spirit Week One: Overview

outline of course outline of course Ten week study: Overview tonight, then one week on each “fruit”, fellowship night at Roby’s house: tentative date: Wednesday, December 2nd. Discussion Oriented Class Homework!!! Each week I want each person to come up with one good question regarding that week’s study. (application question, theological question, etc.) Example: “How can we measure self- control? Is it strictly in regard to our anger, or resistance to temptation? Or are their other ways that the evidence of our self control is getting better and can be observed?” Ten week study: Overview tonight, then one week on each “fruit”, fellowship night at Roby’s house: tentative date: Wednesday, December 2nd. Discussion Oriented Class Homework!!! Each week I want each person to come up with one good question regarding that week’s study. (application question, theological question, etc.) Example: “How can we measure self- control? Is it strictly in regard to our anger, or resistance to temptation? Or are their other ways that the evidence of our self control is getting better and can be observed?”

Prayer Requests

Why do we want to know more about the fruit of the Spirit? Why do we want to know more about the fruit of the Spirit? 1. To see what characteristics are becoming of a believer 2. To see where we may have strengths/weaknesses 3. To measure our growth 4. To measure the growth in our accountability partners 5. To measure the growth of our significant others 6. To measure the health of our fellowship groups 7. To measure the health of our congregations 8. To discern the relative spiritual maturity of an unknown teacher 1. To see what characteristics are becoming of a believer 2. To see where we may have strengths/weaknesses 3. To measure our growth 4. To measure the growth in our accountability partners 5. To measure the growth of our significant others 6. To measure the health of our fellowship groups 7. To measure the health of our congregations 8. To discern the relative spiritual maturity of an unknown teacher

The fruit of the Spirit: Some Background The fruit of the Spirit: S ome Background Author: Paul Book: Galatians 5:22-23 Two Schools of thought on Galatians chronology: First school argues for an early date (A.D. 49) making Galatians the earliest of Paul’s writings. Second school places authorship around A.D. 54/55 putting it in the same timeframe as Romans and the Corinthian letters (books that share several commonalities as Galatians) Author: Paul Book: Galatians 5:22-23 Two Schools of thought on Galatians chronology: First school argues for an early date (A.D. 49) making Galatians the earliest of Paul’s writings. Second school places authorship around A.D. 54/55 putting it in the same timeframe as Romans and the Corinthian letters (books that share several commonalities as Galatians)

The fruit of the Spirit: Some Background The fruit of the Spirit: S ome Background REASON: The main reason for Paul’s letter was to refute the Judaizers who had come into the church shortly after its inception, and began to teach the necessity of circumcision to be saved. These agitators also attempted to discredit Paul personally. POINT: Essentially, there is a flavor of “Let’s turn from these new- fangled teachings and remember the essentials of the Gospel.” It is in this context that Paul offers the Fruit of the Spirit. Remember: The Fruit of the Spirit is the second list offered in this passage, the first being the Works of the Flesh. (Paul lists 18 Works of the Flesh vs. only 9 Fruit of the Spirit.) REASON: The main reason for Paul’s letter was to refute the Judaizers who had come into the church shortly after its inception, and began to teach the necessity of circumcision to be saved. These agitators also attempted to discredit Paul personally. POINT: Essentially, there is a flavor of “Let’s turn from these new- fangled teachings and remember the essentials of the Gospel.” It is in this context that Paul offers the Fruit of the Spirit. Remember: The Fruit of the Spirit is the second list offered in this passage, the first being the Works of the Flesh. (Paul lists 18 Works of the Flesh vs. only 9 Fruit of the Spirit.)

Translation discrepancies Translation discrepancies Amongst the major English translations (KJV, NJKV, NIV, ESV, NASB, RSV, ASV) there is little difference. Some interchange “gentleness” and “kindness” but that’s really about it. Next Week: We begin with “Love” Come up with one good discussion question for “Love” Amongst the major English translations (KJV, NJKV, NIV, ESV, NASB, RSV, ASV) there is little difference. Some interchange “gentleness” and “kindness” but that’s really about it. Next Week: We begin with “Love” Come up with one good discussion question for “Love”