In the past few weeks, we have been teaching the kids about the fruit of the Spirit and the attributes that flourish from it. So far we have talked about love, joy, and peace, which grow from a relationship with God; we also talked about patience, kindness, and generosity which are seen in Christian’s relationships with other people. This weekend we continued teaching about the attributes of faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, which are revealed in the lives of Christians when they face difficult circumstances.

Faithfulness means commitment. Faithfulness means not turning away when difficulties arise. Faithfulness means staying true. God’s faithfulness is shown to us all throughout the Bible. It shows us that even when we turn away, God does not. God does not give up on us. When we face challenging times or an uncertain future, we can trust in God, who shows us the meaning of faithfulness. When we are faithful, we live as Jesus teaches us to live even when things are hard or we feel discouraged.

Gentleness is a quiet, inner strength and sensitivity to other people. We are careful about how we treat others, being sure not to hurt them with our words or actions. Jesus had gentle words for the lost, onely and desperate people He met. We can show gentleness by using kind words, good manners ad being a good listener. Jesus taught his disciples to show gentleness by serving others.

Self-Control means doing what is right no matter how we feel. Self-control allows us to resist the temptation to react with frustration or anger. Self-control means to make right choices in a consistent basis. Choosing the right people to be with, the right things to see and hear the right words to say. This can only happen when we receive strength from the Holy Spirit.

This week as you interact with your children, seek opportunities where they can develop and put into action the attributes we have been talking about.

This week’s lesson explored what it means to be patient, kind, and generous. Like the other attributes of the fruit of the Spirit, these were all modeled wonderfully in the example of our blessed Lord Jesus.

The second lesson in this series on the fruit of the Spirit deals with the wonderful attributes of patience, kindness, and generosity. Each attribute has a special place in God’s kingdom. Think back to some of the people you most admire. There is a pretty high likelihood that they have or had one or more of these attributes in abundance.

A lesson learned through these three weeks is how dwelling and meditating on God helps us to have the Spirit. Having God’s presence in our lives, in turn, can give us more patience, more kindness, and more generosity. We will bear more fruit that will bless others, simply by having more of God’s presence in our lives.

Many of us have heard the wise old saying that “patience is a virtue.” Being patient keeps us from making impulsive decisions. Being patient allows us to see the growth that occurs in long–term investments (whether in financial or humanitarian matters). Patience allows us to travel at a slow enough speed so we can appreciate God’s gifts around us. Patience allows us to function in stressful situations, helping us to be at our best when forces are tempting us to be at our worst.

Kindness can stem from patience, but kindness is its own special fruit. Kindness is to exude the love of God through action. Kindness is the proactive practice of good deeds. Kindness is the ultimate respecter of persons—even those whom have wronged you previously. Kindness builds relationships and does not tear them down.

Generosity is the fruit of giving more of who you are and what you have than what is expected. Most people understand that we all have an obligation to “give back to the community” in whatever form that might present itself. Generosity is a sibling to sacrifice, as many who are generous have sacrificed gifts and/or opportunities for the betterment of another human being. Consider how Jesus gave up immense power, prestige, and eventually his life for the continual betterment of others. To give much of what you
have in concern for another is to be generous.

May this week with your children be a time where another seed planted can lead to blessed fruit for God’s kingdom.

Over the next three weeks, we will take your children in a journey into Paul’s wonderful description of the “fruit” of the Spirit. The word fruit is used to show the good results that come from receiving and using God’s Holy Spirit, much like a healthy tree results in the bearing of fruit that others can eat.

Paul shares in the fifth chapter of his letter to the Galatian church what good fruit is when living with the Spirit of God. The list is wonderful: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are all qualities that when used, are a blessing to others and a blessing to ourselves.

We will used the next three weeks in May to explore three different qualities that overflow from the fruit of the Spirit, we will take time to learn deeply what each of these qualities are and how we can exhibit them in our lives. We will help the children memorize Galatians 5:22-23 over the next three weeks. We hope and pray that the children can take what they will learn and apply it to their lives, therefore, we are asking you as parents to use these next three weeks to share and experience each of the wonderful qualities of the fruit of the Spirit. This can only serve to bless you and your children and the lives of those around them.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”. Galatians 5:22-23

Our lessons in April explored the sacrifice of Jesus, as well as His amazing resurrection and afterward His instructions for our lives. Our focus in May changes to the powerful and misterious work of God’s Spirit.

This month, your children will be learning from Biblical accounts having to do with the work of the Holy Spirit. Three weeks will be spent on learning about the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). These are important lessons, as they teach us how we can know and show that God’s Spirit is with us and works in us and through us.

The children will learn that the same Spirit that was at work in the Bible is stil at work today. Nothing is impossible with God. Even when we feel that everything is faling apart around us, in the midst of change and turmoil, we believe that God is able to bring anything back to life or to create new things of joy and happiness as the old fades away.

We are excited to see what the Lord will do in the lives of your children as we teach them about the awesome power of His Spirit.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”. Galatians 5:22-23