Passage: Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

These are the fruit of the spirit - but these characteristics aren't inherantly in us.  God is working in our lives so that these fruits are cultivated.  Spirit of God brings these things into us!

The static picture of “The Fruit of the Spirit” – they don’t just hang there!  This makes the fruit look passive.  They are to be lived out in terms of relationships.  But would it be possible for someone living alone to live out the spirit?  Maybe, but by in large, the Spirit is given to us for us to live together in love.

Passage: Galatians 5:25 - Galatians 6:5
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gal%205:25-6:5;&version=31;

Gal 5:25 – we’re walking in step with God, with his presence in us.
Gal 5:26 – Relationship component

Evaluation
 Who is praying knowledgably for me?
 Who is struggling with me?
 When I have questions…
 When I experience joy…
 If you’re living significantly in community = Growth of the Fruit of the Spirit

Consciously choose to be involved
 Connect with a small group – connect with Christian community
 Don’t just read of the spirit – live it out in community
 Bible reading and prayer will naturally increase with an increase of community = spiritual growth

Because we’re living significantly in community + Loved by God = Growth of the Fruit of the Spirit = Live out the Law of Christ

Golden Rule  = Galatians 5:14 – Lev 19:18 = can be twisted = How we love ourselves
Problem: Treat others as I treat myself.  So how do we love ourselves then? What if that is not appropriate/good enough?
Problem: “If it’s good enough me, it should be good enough for you.”

Law of Christ = Galatians 6:2 = John 13:34 = How He Loved Us
Christ’s self-sacrificing love is the new standard – sacrificial
What am I willing to sacrifice?  (Ephesians has reference for Husbands and wives.)

How well do you know Christ’s love for you?
Have you experienced Christ’s love?  His death on the cross was for you!
That’s the starting point for obeying His law.  Soaked and saturated in his love.
It’s about how HE LOVED US.
Not forcing ourselves to do these ‘loving acts’ – but that we let ourselves be loved by Christ