AHSS: Fruit of the Spirit (Lesson 3)

Living by the Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These lessons are to help you learn about each of these qualities and how you can live by God’s Spirit and grow in fruit. Find a quiet place with a peaceful view or play some soothing music to get you ready to grow in your faith. Journal about or discuss the lessons with a friend or two. Go back to the lesson and take a second look to see if you discover something new or have a change of perspective. It is your journey to take, and the path always leads to a closer relationship with God.
 
Galatians 5:22, Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 10:25-37, John 13:34-35 & 15:9-13, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, 1 John 4:7-12 & 16b-20. These are the verses that we looked at last week. Refresh your thoughts about these passages with new eyes and some distance from the initial reactions you may have had.

What happens when we, as Christians, live lives of love? What makes living a life of love difficult? When a Christian has a difficult time loving a person or a group of people, what can he or she do?

Meanings of Love There are four Greek words that mean “love.’

• Eros: This means romantic or sexual love. It is love based on natural biological attraction.Philea: This means what we commonly call “brotherly love.” It is love based on common interests and the affinity one might have for someone who has a similar view of life.
• Stergo: This means the love between parents and children. It can sometimes refer to the love between a pet and its owner or the love a people feel for a leader.
• Agape: This means love without expectation of receiving a benefit in return. It is the kind of love that God has for us. This is the word that Paul uses in Galatians 5:22 when he says the fruit of the Spirit is “love.”

When you think of the word love, what do you usually think of? What does it mean to you that the kind of love Paul says is the fruit of the Spirit is agape? What do you need to do to start showing this fruit more in your life? How does the Holy Spirit grow the fruit of love in our lives? What is our role in becoming people who are known for loving others?

“This is the most profound spiritual truth I know: that even when we’re most sure that love can’t conquer all, it seems to anyway. It goes down into the rat hole with us, in the guise of our friends, and there it swells and comforts.” Anne Lamott, Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith.

How have friends shown you this kind of love? What happens to relationships when people show God’s love to each other?

Read Romans 5:6-8 How did Jesus exemplify this idea of love going “down into the rat hole with us?

Reread John 13:35 If you made John 13:35 your personal mission statement, how would that affect your daily life? To answer this question, consider your career, your finances, your hobbies, your church life, your relationship with your family and neighbors, and all other components of your life.