LENT STUDY - WEEK 3

GOODNESS

Leader – You are a God of enduring goodness and kindness, and you desire your people to act out these qualities in the world. Forgive us Jesus, for we have failed so often, to do good.

Forgive us for extending kindness only to those we feel deserve it.

Forgive us for allowing ourselves to be led astray.

All Respond: Lord have Mercy, Christ have Mercy, Lord have Mercy on us.

Worship - producing the fruit of goodness is a true mark of godliness.

Goodness means working for the benefit of others and not yourself.

Galatians 6: 9-10

Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

1. Luke 6:35

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

Jesus says that we are to carry His light and let that light shine before men and not attempt to hide it.

Part of His light are these 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit shining through an anointed believer. Nonbelievers are really drawn to someone who has some degree of these nine fruits manifesting through their personalities.

However, there is something extra special about the quality of goodness. Many Christians can effectively witness to others by just living right and being a good example and role model for others to follow.

One of the key qualities a nonbeliever will pick up on in a solid Christian is this quality of goodness. This quality has an ability to really get down deep into the core of a believer’s personality.

This particular fruit and quality is so important for each Christian to have.

Discussion – can you easily draw many more people to the Lord using this fruit?

KINDNESS

As a result of more people being impatient, having short fuses, and with everyone always being in a hurry – many people have lost the ability to treat others with kindness and respect.

A kind word, a kind action to another person can really do wonders for them.

When you really study the life of Jesus in the New Testament, you can really tell how kind He always was with other people in His dealings with them.

Jesus is without question, the ultimate role model for all of us. He was fully walking and operating in all 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4: 32 NIV

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Kindness in action

Gentleness in dealing with others.

Patience in taxing situations.

Maintain relationships through gracious aid in times of need.

Discuss - Are we are surrounded by God’s kindness every day?

What evidence of his kindness shows in our lives? Jesus set the ultimate example of kindness with his life. Following his example can be difficult, but God calls and equips believers to be kind.

Colossians 1:15, NIV

"The Son is the image of the invisible God" -

Ephesians 4: 31–32

Read the Passage

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Being kind, tender-hearted and forgiving, flows from constantly remembering that God first forgave us and that we need his forgiveness daily, as the Lord’s Prayer reminds us: “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matt. 6:12; cf. Luke 11:4).

Say together the Lord's prayer followed by

Video Lord's prayer - Nathan Pacheco

https://www.toutube.com/watch?v=JU1wN-ITA6U

Lent Study Week 2 - Forbearance & Self-control

Leader: You are a God of deep forbearance, and you desire your people to be a people of forbearance

Forgive us Lord, for we have been impatient and unkind. Forgive us for our thoughtless busyness that allows us to push others aside in favor of our own agenda. Forgive us for simply dismissing those who have stood in opposition to us, rather than taking the time to know them.

Spirit teach us how to bear with each other, especially when it hurts. Help us to refuse retaliation in favor of kindness

All Respond: Lord have mercy, Christ have Mercy, Lord have mercy on us

Leader: You are a righteous God and you ask us to live according to your word and character. Forgive us Lord, for we struggle sometimes to control ourselves in the midst of a world filled with temptation. Forgive us for giving-in too easily.

All: Lord have mercy, Christ have Mercy, Lord have mercy on us

Leader – Our sin has been crucified with Christ Jesus, and we are forgiven. We

are free to walk in the fullness of the life offered to us by the Spirit of God

All: Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit

Amen

Forbearance

One of the main definitions of the word forbearance or longsuffering is that it is referring to patience. Patience is another sorely needed quality in the fast paced world in which we live in today.

Where do we see lack of patience in the world?

•       Just watch people standing in line at the grocery store or at your local fast food restaurant and watch how short some people’s fuses are today.

•       Road rage is still a major problem on some of our highways. Look at someone the wrong way and they will want to try and take your head off.

•       Many people have been killed or seriously injured because someone lost his temper over something that was very trivial.

James 1:19 Listening and Doing

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry

Here are some different definitions for the word forbearance:

1.    Patient endurance and steadfastness under provocation

2.    Forbearance under ill-will, with no thought of retaliation

3.    Forbearance under suffering and endurance in the face of adversity

4.    Ability to endure persecution and ill-treatment

Romans 2:4

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? Read More

“Do you presume” is probably directed against Jews who thought that their covenant relationship with God would shield them from final judgment. After all, they had often experienced his kindness and forbearance and patience. They thought such blessings showed that they were right with God and had no need to trust in Christ, but Paul says the opposite is true: God’s blessings should have led them to repent of their sins.

Group discussion – how do we deal with situations such as these?

How do we learn to ride and flow with the patience of the Holy Spirit in our daily life? 

A Prayer for Patience

Holy Spirit, create in us a clean heart that seeks the best in others. Help us to show empathy and compassion to everyone, and to do so with gentleness and respect. When people or circumstances don’t meet our expectations, empower us to show grace and understanding. Help us to see situations from Your perspective so that we can rejoice at all times and show patience when needed.

In Jesus’ name we pray

 Amen

Self-Control

Proverbs 10:19-21 NLT

Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut. The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless. The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.

Proverbs 13:3 NLT

Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything.

Psalms 141:3 NLT

Take control of what I say, O LORD, and guard my lips.

Music listening based on the three readings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1ro7-Qjp5g

“Like a city whose walls are broken through, is a person who lacks self-control.” (Proverbs 25:28)

Here are some definitions of what the quality of self-control is all about:

Temperance, restraint of natural impulses.

Sober, temperate, calm and dispassionate approach to life, having mastered personal desires and passions.

Calls for a self-disciplined life following Christ’s example of being IN the world but not OF the world.

Restraint or discipline exercised over our behaviour

Group discussion - how easy do we find this?

2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Jesus Christ gives us the perfect example of self-control, because He lived a sinless life and possessed every fruit of the Spirit. Jesus demonstrated self-control because He was sent to earth to carry out the Father’s will. He was to live a perfect life in order to set an example for us, and in the end, He died for our sins so that we may have eternal life.

Self-control is needed for Forbearance, or patience.

A Prayer for Self-Control

Holy Spirit, let the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to You!

I don’t want to sadden You by living in a manner unworthy of the calling You have placed on my life

Instead, I want to live a disciplined, thoughtful life because I know this honors You.

So when I am tempted to give in to anger, selfishness, or pride, help me to consider others as better than myself, and allow me to do this with humility and grace. I surrender control of my life to You.

In Jesus name we pray.  Amen

Worship – Purify My Heart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB_gCVjoNpI

LENT STUDY - WEEK 1

Lent is traditionally a time of fasting and waiting in darkness but it can also be a time of fruiting

Galatians 5

Life by the spirit

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Our 6 week series will focus on the fruits of the Spirit

Peace & Joy

Patience/forbearance & self-control

Kindness & goodness

Faithfulness

Gentleness

Love

Today is Ash Wednesday – many Christians will receive a smudged cross on their foreheads

This year, Ash Wednesday also falls on Valentine's Day and presents an interesting opportunity for us to reflect on God's love during this somber time of reflection. 

Opening Prayer on Ash Wednesday

Lord, have mercy on us. We confess our sins to you. We have fallen short of your glory and without your mercy and grace, we would be dust.

We repent. Lord,and as we enter this Lenten season, be near us.

Help us, by your Holy Spirit, to feel right conviction and repentance for our sin.

Help us, by your Spirit, to have the strength to overcome the enemy. 

Thank you, Lord, that Easter is coming!

Death has no sting, no victory, because of Jesus!

Glory and honor and praise to His name! Thank you for rescuing us. Help us keep both the weight and the joy of this season in our hearts as we move through the next several weeks. Help us bear the good fruit of your Spirit. 

From dust we might have been formed, but our bodies, our spirits, ourselves, await beautiful redemption and the restoration of all things.. Amen.

Leader - You are the God of Peace, and you desire your people to dwell in that peace

ALL - Forgive us, Jesus, for we have caused divisions, knowingly and unknowingly, seeking our own good rather than the good of our community. Forgive us for any hurtful words we have thought or spoken.

Forgive us for our thoughtless gossip, and for the grudges we have held on to. Spirit, teach us to willingly forgive and to value relationships over being right, and to actively seek your peace with each other, and in all of our relationships.

Response -  Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy on us

Leader – our sin has been crucified with Christ Jesus, and we are forgiven. We are free to walk in the fullness of the life offered to us by the Spirit of God

ALL – Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit

Amen

PSALM 1 – Music Listening

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yUcC93khzU

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.

4 Not so the wicked!
    They are like chaff
    that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked leads to destruction

From this psalm we see a beautiful picture of what it means to live a righteous life, and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us

Believers in Christ SHOULD be different from disbelievers – they have been blessed with the Holy Spirit, allowing them to bear these spiritual fruits

Group activity and discussion - Peace - is an inner peace, reconciliation with God and living in harmony with others

We can divide peace into a few sub-headings

The Peace of God

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

Peace Among Nations

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. (1 Timothy 2:1–2)

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”(Isaiah 52:7)

Peace With Others

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers. (Psalm 1:1)

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2–3)

Peace in Hard Times

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7)

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11)

What do the Psalms About Peace

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe. (Psalm 4:8)

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm 34:14)

What Does Proverbs Say About Peace ?

Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy. (Proverbs 12:20)

A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot. (Proverbs 14:30)

JOY – Christian joy is not dependent on circumstances but is a deep sense of contentment and gladness that comes from a relationship with God

Again, we can divide this joy into sub-headings

God’s Joy

“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:7)

For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place. Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.   (1 Chronicles 16:26-28)

Joy From Relationships

Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind (Philippians 2:2)

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people (Philemon 7)

 Assurances of Joy

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning ( Psalm 30:5)

Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy (Proverbs 12:20)

“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:12)

Joy in Life

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing               (James 1:2-4)

I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete (2 John 12)

Closing Prayer

Lord we thank You for the words You have shared with us in Galatians 5, reminding us of the fruits of the Spirit that guide our lives.  Your wisdom, Lord, is a precious gift, and we seek to live in accordance with Your teachings.. Lord, we pray that You would help us bear these fruits in our lives, as a reflection of Your character. Help us to spread joy and be a source of peace in a world filled with turmoil. We pray for the guidance of Your Holy Spirit to lead us on this journey of faith. Help us to walk in Your ways, to live by Your Word, and to rely on Your strength.

Amen.

Hymn - You shall go out with joy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn89fzRMuQI

Our God Reigns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1LQCJDtC-E