PRAYER
O gracious and holy God,
give us diligence to seek you,
wisdom to perceive you,
and patience to wait for you.
Grant us, O God,
a mind to meditate on you,
eyes to behold you,
ears to listen for your Word,
a heart to love you,
and a life to proclaim you,
through the power of the Spirit
of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
SERMON
Galatians 5:22-25 NRSV
By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.
POINT: Without
POINT: One of the most common virtues used to describe God’s character in the scriptures is
Deuteronomy 32:3-4 NRSV
For I will proclaim the name of the Lord,
ascribe greatness to our God!
The Rock, his work is perfect,
and all his ways are just.
A faithful God, without deceit,
just and upright is he.
Psalm 25:10 NRSV
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
Psalm 33:4-5 NRSV
For the word of the Lord is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness.
He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.
Proverbs 3:3-4 NRSV
Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will find favor and high regard
in the sight of God and of people.
POINT: There are many challenges or obstacles that must be faced when striving for faithfulness to God.
Hurdle: fear that it won’t get
Hurdle: the fear of
POINT: We don’t trust that our lives won’t feel pain or we won’t have heartache, but that when we do, God is