Fruit Check | The True Nature of Goodness

Today’s focus is on the fruit of the Spirit—specifically, the quality of goodness. In a world where most people believe themselves to be “good” and where virtue signaling is rampant, it’s easy to confuse performative acts with genuine character. Yet, true goodness is not about impressing others or curating a flawless image; it’s about the Holy Spirit producing God’s character within us, so that integrity becomes our very nature, not just a mask we wear. Goodness, as described in Galatians 5:22-23, is not a checklist or a performance, but a deep, Spirit-driven transformation that makes us consistent in public and private, willing to do what is right even when it’s costly or unseen.

The culture around us often offers a counterfeit goodness—one that is audience-dependent, selective, and exhausting to maintain. We see this in social media personas, public acts of charity, and even in church culture, where religious performance and comparative morality can take the place of authentic transformation. But the biblical vision is radically different. God’s goodness is His essential character, and when the Spirit fills us, that same goodness overflows from our lives. We are not called to manufacture goodness by sheer willpower, but to make space for the Spirit to work, trusting that God will produce His fruit in us.

This means examining the gap between our public image and our private reality. Are we the same person when no one is watching? Do we do good only when it benefits us or when others will notice? The Spirit’s goodness is consistent, costly, Christlike, and overflowing. It’s not about reputation, but about character. Small, unseen acts of integrity—like doing the right thing at work when no one is watching—train us for greater faithfulness when bigger challenges come. The call is to self-examination, honest prayer, and accountability, so that our lives reflect God’s goodness in every sphere, not for our own glory, but so that others may see and glorify our Father in heaven.

Key Takeaways

• 1. True goodness is not a performance for others, but the Spirit’s work of transforming our character from the inside out. When we try to manufacture goodness through willpower or for the sake of reputation, we end up exhausted and inconsistent. The Spirit’s goodness, however, is a natural overflow of God’s character within us, making integrity our default, not our exception. [47:40]
• 2. The world’s version of goodness is often audience-dependent and performative, rewarding virtue signaling and selective morality. But biblical goodness is consistent whether or not anyone is watching, and it is willing to do what is right even when it is inconvenient or costly. This kind of goodness cannot be faked or sustained by human effort alone. [56:14]
• 3. The difference between doing good and being good is profound: doing good is about reputation, while being good is about character. God calls us to be people whose private lives match our public witness, so that our actions flow from who we are, not from a desire to be seen or rewarded. This integrity is cultivated in the small, unseen choices of daily life. [54:14]
• 4. The Spirit’s goodness is not legalistic, performance-based, transactional, or selective. Instead, it is Christlike, consistent, and overflowing—reflecting Jesus’s character and impacting others even when unnoticed. When we allow the Spirit to fill us, we become God’s handiwork, ready for the good works He has prepared, and our lives become a testimony to His grace. [52:56]
• 5. Self-examination and accountability are essential for closing the gap between public performance and private character. By honestly assessing where we are tempted to perform rather than embody goodness, praying for the Spirit’s transformation, and inviting trusted community into our journey, we grow into people whose lives glorify God in every circumstance. [72:05]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [42:39] - Introduction and Worship Reflection
• [43:16] - Recap: The First Four Fruits
• [44:29] - What Does It Mean to Be Good?
• [45:46] - Virtue Signaling and the Gap in Character
• [47:02] - The Challenge: Performing vs. Producing Goodness
• [47:40] - Biblical Goodness: Inside-Out Transformation
• [48:18] - Reading Galatians 5:22-23 Together
• [49:37] - Paul’s Third Way: Spirit-Produced Goodness
• [50:16] - God’s Goodness as Essential Character
• [52:15] - Fullness of Goodness: Not Our Effort
• [53:37] - What Spirit-Produced Goodness Looks Like
• [54:58] - Counterfeit Goodness in Culture and Church
• [56:14] - Audience-Dependent Morality
• [58:09] - Christian Counterfeits: Performance and Comparison
• [60:38] - Letting Your Light Shine for God’s Glory
• [61:58] - Spirit-Sustained Goodness vs. Exhaustion
• [63:53] - Real-Life Example: Integrity When Unseen
• [67:40] - Goodness in Finances, Work, and Relationships
• [70:09] - Public and Private Consistency
• [72:05] - Self-Examination and Action Steps
• [74:38] - God’s Work in Our Community
• [75:21] - Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) — > But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) — > For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Matthew 5:16 (ESV) — > In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Observation Questions

1. In Galatians 5:22-23, what is listed as the source of goodness in a believer’s life? How does this differ from simply trying to be a “good person”? ([47:40])
2. According to Ephesians 2:10, what is the purpose of the good works we are called to do? Who prepares these works? ([52:15])
3. In Matthew 5:16, what is the intended result of our good deeds being seen by others? Who is supposed to get the glory? ([01:00:38])
4. The sermon described “virtue signaling” and “performative goodness.” What are some examples given of this kind of behavior? ([45:46])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that true goodness is not about impressing others or curating a flawless image, but about the Holy Spirit producing God’s character within us. Why is it so easy to fall into the trap of performative goodness instead? ([45:46])
2. What does it mean for goodness to be “consistent, costly, Christlike, and overflowing”? How does this challenge the way most people think about being good? ([54:14])
3. The difference between “doing good” and “being good” was highlighted. Why is it important for our private lives to match our public witness? ([54:14])
4. The sermon encouraged self-examination and accountability. Why are these practices necessary for closing the gap between public performance and private character? ([01:12:05])

Application Questions

1. The pastor shared a story about doing the right thing at work when no one was watching, even though it was inconvenient and exhausting ([01:05:45]). Can you think of a recent situation where you had the choice to do the right thing when no one would notice? What did you do, and what was the outcome?
2. Are there areas in your life where you find yourself acting differently in public than in private? What are some small, specific steps you could take this week to close that gap? ([01:12:05])
3. The sermon talked about “audience-dependent morality”—being good when someone is watching, but not when alone ([56:14]). Where are you most tempted to act for the approval of others? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to transform your motives?
4. The pastor suggested a prayer: “Holy Spirit, produce the fruit of goodness in me. Close the gap between my public performance and my private character…” ([01:13:22]). How comfortable are you with praying this honestly? What might hold you back from asking God to reveal areas where you are just performing?
5. Who is someone in your life you trust enough to hold you accountable in an area where you struggle with integrity? What would it look like to invite them into that process this week? ([01:14:00])
6. The sermon challenged us to let our light shine so that others would glorify God, not us ([01:00:38]). What is one way you can do a good deed this week that points people to God rather than yourself?
7. The pastor described the Spirit’s goodness as “overflowing”—so full that it spills out onto others ([54:14]). When was the last time someone noticed Christlike goodness in you without you trying to get credit? How did that feel, and what does it teach you about the Spirit’s work?