Posts tagged 'fruits of the spirit'

  • Practicing All the Virtues

    As we come to the end of this series, I thought it would be helpful to consider how we can cultivate all nine virtues of Galatians 5:22–23—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—in our lives and grow in our practice of these fruits of the Spirit.

    by Peter Amsterdam

  • Virtues for Christ-Followers: Gentleness

    Gentleness, our eighth virtue in the list of fruits of the Spirit, is one that is less frequently focused on than the others. We find it referenced throughout Scripture in relation to both Jesus and His Father.

    by Peter Amsterdam

  • Virtues for Christ-Followers: Faithfulness

    The seventh virtue in our list is faithfulness. Much is written throughout both the Old and New Testaments about faithfulness.

    by Peter Amsterdam

  • Virtues for Christ-Followers: Goodness

    Goodness is the sixth virtue in the list of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5. Goodness is an attribute of God, and part of His very nature.

    by Peter Amsterdam

  • Virtues for Christ-Followers: Kindness

    The fifth fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22 is kindness. Kindness means loving words spoken and caring deeds done. It is having a compassionate heart and putting that compassion and love into action.

    by Peter Amsterdam

  • Virtues for Christ-Followers: Patience

    God’s patience is found all throughout Scripture, and in the New Testament we are called to cultivate this virtue in our lives, as we learn to be patient as well.

    by Peter Amsterdam

  • Virtues for Christ-Followers: Peace

    As we place God at the center of our lives and we entrust our lives into His care, we experience His peace, which is a fruit of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

    by Peter Amsterdam

  • Virtues for Christ-Followers: Joy

    As Christians, our joy emanates from our faith in what the Bible has taught us. It is helpful to examine ourselves to see if we are living in the richness of the joy of the Lord.

    by Peter Amsterdam

  • Virtues for Christ-Followers: Love

    The following article illustrates the power of God’s love, and our great need for it.

    by Peter Amsterdam

  • The Creed (Part 5)

    After expressing Jesus’ deity as the Son of God, who is of the same essence as the Father, the creed then moves on to addressing Jesus’ humanity and the events of His life—the manner in which He died, His resurrection, ...

    by Peter Amsterdam

  • More Like Jesus: Reflections on Kindness and Goodness

    As we continue this series of quotations on the topics that were originally covered in the More Like Jesus series,1 the focus will be on kindness and goodness. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, ...

    by Peter Amsterdam

  • Jesus—His Life and Message: The “I Am” Sayings

    The Vine

    Jesus’ final “I Am” saying, like His statement I am the way, and the truth, and the life, was spoken on the night before He died. Judas, who betrayed Him, had left the gathering, ...

    by Peter Amsterdam

  • More Like Jesus: Kindness and Goodness

    When the apostle Paul was writing about living a godly life, about living in and being led by the Holy Spirit, he listed what he called the “works of the flesh,” which included things like enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, and envy.1 ...

    by Peter Amsterdam

  • More Like Jesus: Gentleness

    One aspect of Christlikeness which is less frequently focused on than most is gentleness. Somewhat surprisingly, we find it mentioned throughout Scripture in reference to both Jesus and His Father. It is also included in the fruit of the Holy Spirit. ...

    by Peter Amsterdam

  • More Like Jesus: Peace

    Peace, one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, plays an important role in our becoming more like Jesus. It is rooted in our being in right relationship with God, which is possible because of His gift of salvation. Peace is also the outworking ...

    by Peter Amsterdam

  • More Like Jesus: Patience

    In the book of Exodus, we’re told that when Moses was on Mount Sinai, God revealed something of His character:

    [Moses] rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai … The Lord descended in the cloud ...

    by Peter Amsterdam

  • More Like Jesus: Self-Control

    In Galatians chapter five, the apostle Paul listed nine aspects of the fruit of the Spirit, beginning with love and ending with self-control. Part of building Christian character, of becoming more like Jesus, is having the ability to control ourselves ...

    by Peter Amsterdam

  • Self-preservation

    I recently saw a TV show set in Great Britain during the early part of World War II. The Nazis had defeated France, and the British expected imminent invasion. For some, the uncertainty, the fear of the future ... (Audio included.)

    by Peter Amsterdam