Reordering Love: Embracing the Spirit's Transformative Power
Summary
Good morning, everyone. As we gather today at Commonplace Church, I'm excited to introduce our new series, "The Fruit of the Spirit," inspired by Galatians 5:22-23. Over the next nine weeks, we will explore each aspect of the singular fruit of the Spirit, understanding that while it manifests in various attributes like love, joy, peace, and so on, it is fundamentally one holistic expression of the Spirit's work in us.
Today, we delve into the first aspect: love. But before we can fully appreciate this fruit, we must understand its biblical context and how it contrasts with worldly perspectives. The concept of love, especially as it pertains to the spiritual fruit, is vast and complex. It's not merely an emotion or a passive state but an active engagement shaped by our relationship with God and others.
In our exploration, we reference not only the scriptures but also insights from St. Augustine, who in his work "Confessions," discusses the idea of "Disordered Loves." Augustine suggests that our main issue isn't that we love the wrong things, but that we love the right things in the wrong order. This aligns with the biblical narrative where sin has disordered our ability to love properly—shifting our focus from God's glory to self-glory.
This disorder is evident in how we often seek personal affirmation and glory, even in spiritual contexts, rather than seeking to glorify God. Our love becomes self-centered, not God-centered. However, the Spirit invites us to reorder our love, starting with a renewed love for God that overflows into a love for others, including our enemies. This is not a humanly possible feat; it requires the divine intervention of the Holy Spirit.
The love that the Spirit cultivates within us is agape love—unconditional, sacrificial, and pure. It challenges us to love not just those who are easy to love but also those who oppose us. This is vividly illustrated in the life and teachings of Jesus, who commanded us to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us. It's a radical call to live out the reality that we were once enemies of God, yet He loved us unconditionally.
As we reflect on this profound type of love, we recognize that it's not about passive acceptance or mere tolerance. It's an active, challenging, and often messy endeavor. It involves forgiveness, reconciliation, and a genuine desire for the well-being of others, regardless of their actions or beliefs.
This series aims to not only teach about the fruit of the Spirit but also to encourage each of us to embody these qualities in our daily lives. By doing so, we become visible testimonies of God's transformative power through the Spirit.
Key Takeaways:
1. Understanding Spiritual Fruit as Singular: The fruit of the Spirit, though described with multiple attributes, is singular, emphasizing the holistic work of the Spirit in our lives. This understanding challenges us to view spiritual growth not as developing separate virtues in isolation but as cultivating a comprehensive, Spirit-led character. [19:26]
2. The Role of Visual Learning in Spiritual Growth: Utilizing visual metaphors and analogies, like the fruit and the vine, connects deeply with how we learn and understand spiritual truths. These images help us grasp the interconnectedness of the Spirit's fruit in our lives and the necessity of remaining connected to Christ, our true vine. [22:17]
3. Love Reordered by the Spirit: True spiritual love, as reordered by the Holy Spirit, challenges our worldly perceptions of love. It calls us to love not based on personal gain but on the intrinsic value God places on every individual, including our enemies. This love is a direct reflection of God's unconditional love for us. [49:17]
4. The Cost of Loving as Christ Loves: Loving like Jesus involves significant personal cost. It requires us to forgive, embrace, and serve those who may not reciprocate or even appreciate our efforts. This type of love is only possible through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit within us. [57:37]
5. Mercy as a Reflection of Divine Love: Extending mercy, especially to those who may not seem to deserve it, mirrors the mercy God extends to us. It's a powerful testament to the reordering of our love through the Spirit, enabling us to see and treat others as God sees and treats us. [59:29]
Chapters:
0:00 - Welcome
18:04 - Introduction to the Fruit of the Spirit Series
19:26 - Exploring the Singular Nature of the Fruit of the Spirit
22:17 - The Importance of Visual Metaphors in Understanding Spiritual Truths
49:17 - Discussing Love Reordered by the Holy Spirit
57:37 - The Cost of Divine Love in Action
59:29 - Closing Prayer and Reflection on Divine Mercy
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
2. John 15:1-5: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
3. Genesis 1:27-28: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the nine attributes listed as the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23?
2. According to John 15:1-5, what is necessary for a branch to bear fruit?
3. In Genesis 1:27-28, what command does God give to humanity after creating them in His image?
4. How does the sermon describe the concept of "Disordered Loves" as discussed by St. Augustine? [30:49]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the analogy of the vine and branches in John 15 help us understand our relationship with Jesus and the importance of abiding in Him? [23:32]
2. What does it mean to have our love reordered by the Holy Spirit, and how does this contrast with worldly perceptions of love? [49:17]
3. How does the concept of "Disordered Loves" explain the way sin has affected our ability to love properly? [30:49]
4. Why is it significant that the fruit of the Spirit is described as singular rather than plural in Galatians 5:22-23? [19:26]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current relationship with God. Are there areas where your love for Him might be disordered, focusing more on self-glory than His glory? How can you begin to reorder this love? [35:34]
2. Think of a person in your life who is difficult to love. How can you rely on the Holy Spirit to help you show agape love to them this week? [49:17]
3. The sermon mentioned that loving like Jesus involves significant personal cost, including forgiveness and serving those who may not reciprocate. Can you identify a specific situation where you can practice this kind of love? [57:37]
4. How can you incorporate the practice of abiding in Jesus into your daily routine to ensure you are bearing spiritual fruit? [25:02]
5. The sermon highlighted the importance of visual metaphors in understanding spiritual truths. Can you think of a visual metaphor that helps you grasp the interconnectedness of the Spirit's work in your life? [22:17]
6. How can you extend mercy to someone who may not seem to deserve it, reflecting the mercy God extends to us? [59:29]
7. Identify one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc.) that you feel needs more cultivation in your life. What specific steps can you take this week to nurture this attribute? [19:26]
Devotional
Day 1: Spiritual Growth as Holistic Formation
The fruit of the Spirit, as described in Galatians, is not a collection of separate virtues but a singular, holistic manifestation of spiritual maturity. This understanding invites believers to view their spiritual growth comprehensively, recognizing that the development of one aspect of the fruit inherently influences and enhances the others. This interconnected growth ensures that as one cultivates love, joy, peace, and other attributes, they are not isolated improvements but part of a unified transformation led by the Spirit. This holistic approach challenges believers to seek a balanced spiritual life where every virtue is nurtured simultaneously, reflecting the fullness of the Spirit's work within us. [19:26]
Bible passage: Ephesians 4:15-16 - "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."
Reflection: How can you integrate the pursuit of various spiritual virtues to ensure a balanced growth in your spiritual life?
Day 2: Visual Metaphors Enhance Spiritual Understanding
Utilizing visual metaphors such as the vine and branches helps believers grasp complex spiritual truths and the interconnectedness of the Spirit's fruit in their lives. These images serve as powerful educational tools that resonate with visual learners and aid in deeper understanding and retention of biblical teachings. By envisioning the spiritual life as remaining connected to Christ, our true vine, believers can better appreciate their dependence on Him for spiritual nourishment and growth. This dependency is crucial for bearing the fruit of the Spirit, emphasizing the need for a constant, living connection with Jesus. [22:17]
Bible passage: John 15:4-5 - "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper daily connection with Christ to ensure you are continually nourished by His presence?
Day 3: Reordering Love Through the Spirit
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in reordering our love, aligning it with God's priorities rather than worldly values. This divine intervention transforms our love from being self-centered to God-centered, enabling us to love others based on the intrinsic value God places on every individual, including our enemies. This reordering challenges us to extend love unconditionally, reflecting the same unconditional love that God has for us. Such love is not based on personal gain but is a pure reflection of God's love, made possible only through the Holy Spirit's work within us. [49:17]
Bible passage: Colossians 3:12-14 - "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
Reflection: Who in your life do you find difficult to love, and how can you ask the Holy Spirit to help you love them as God loves you?
Day 4: The Cost of Loving as Christ Loves
Loving like Jesus involves a significant personal cost. It requires believers to forgive, embrace, and serve those who may not reciprocate or even appreciate our efforts. This type of sacrificial love is only possible through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. By relying on the Spirit, believers can extend love in challenging circumstances, mirroring the love Jesus showed, even to those who opposed Him. This commitment to loving as Christ loves is a powerful testament to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. [57:37]
Bible passage: 1 Peter 4:8-10 - "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."
Reflection: What personal sacrifices might you need to make to love others earnestly and without reservation, as Christ loves you?
Day 5: Mercy as a Reflection of Divine Love
Extending mercy, particularly to those who may not seem to deserve it, is a profound reflection of the divine love and mercy God extends to us. This act of mercy is not just an emotional response but a deliberate choice that aligns with how God treats us. It challenges us to see others through the lens of grace and compassion, recognizing that we, too, were once undeserving of God's mercy. By showing mercy, we embody the reordering of our love through the Spirit, demonstrating God's character in our actions toward others. [59:29]
Bible passage: Titus 3:4-7 - "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
Reflection: How can you show mercy today to someone who may not seem to deserve it, as a reflection of the mercy God has shown you?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "In our own abilities, it's just not possible because we default to this disordering of love. Think about it this way. You don't hear too many folks say, I wish I could be more of a hater, right? I wish I could be like pissed off more. I wish I could just be despised or be more bitter, right? No, that's the heart's default. What you do hear is this. I wish I could love people better. I wish I could be more loving." [57:37]
2. "It's love that breaks down barriers. It breaks down walls. It breaks down prejudice. It's love that accepts. It's love that forgives. It's love that sees values of image bearers." [01:02:06]
3. "The only way we will be able to reorder our love is through Your work. Would You humble us. Would You allow us to rest in Your transforming work in our lives God." [01:07:04]
4. "It's not just sitting back. It's abiding. But also action. It, it, it's attention. I, I, I get it, right? Resting in Jesus, being led by the Spirit. But, but we can't be dormant. We can't be stagnant." [26:24]
### Quotes for Members
1. "The fruit of the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit, it's reordering what sin has disordered. That's, that's what it's doing. So, in order to really draw that statement out, here's what we have to understand as well. That for something to be reordered and something to be disordered, we, we have to declare also its original order, the way it was originally ordered." [33:59]
2. "The Spirit's reordering is love of enemy. So God, in His love, He ordered a creation that recognizes overall human value and dignity. Sin, disorders, love now to reflect worth that's based on conditions. It's a love that asks, what's in it for me? It's selfishly. And the spiritual fruit of love now reorders human value with this incredible call to love our enemy." [49:17]
3. "Sin disorders love by presenting now individual glory as true love. But original order, what? It declares God as being worthy of glory. Right? And we can receive love through understanding his glory. That's how we experience true love." [43:03]
4. "We love because he first loved us. That's the order. And it's tragic. See, Paul's trying to point this out all throughout Galatians. Like the reality of sin's disordering love. And thankfully, he's also pointing to the hope that Christ offers in reordering God's love. Through the spirit." [43:51]
5. "The reality of image bearing. The fact that God chose us in love to image him. To bear his image. Right? And so now why does this idea of image bearing, why does that throw off the maybe the false understanding of some unwanted creation narrative?" [39:19]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?