Rooted in God: The Journey of True Goodness
Summary
Good morning, Liberty family! Today, we explored the profound concept of goodness as a fruit of the Spirit, emphasizing that true goodness is rooted in God. We began by acknowledging that goodness is not merely a human trait but a divine one. Without God, there is no true goodness. This is evident from the very beginning of creation, where God declared everything He made as "very good." The New Testament reinforces this, stating that every good and perfect gift comes from above. Our lives should be a testament to God's goodness, as He has been faithful and good to us all our lives.
We delved into the struggle of goodness, recognizing that while we desire to do good, our sinful nature often hinders us. The Apostle Paul expressed this struggle, acknowledging that in our flesh, no good thing dwells. However, through Christ, we are made righteous, and God works in us to bring about His goodness. This process of sanctification is ongoing, as God continues to make things right in our lives.
We also discussed the importance of community and relationships in our journey of goodness. God uses others to help us grow and become more like Jesus. Serving others is a vital part of this journey, as it reflects the goodness of God in our lives. We are called to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God, serving both within our homes and in the broader community.
Finally, we emphasized that salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works. However, once saved, good works naturally flow from our lives as evidence of God's work within us. We are God's handiwork, created to do good works that He prepared in advance for us. This journey of goodness is empowered by the Holy Spirit, who works in us to will and to act according to God's good pleasure.
Key Takeaways:
- The Source of Goodness: True goodness originates from God. Without Him, our attempts at goodness are empty. Genesis 1:31 and James 1:17 remind us that all good things come from God, and our lives should reflect His goodness. [41:06]
- The Struggle of Goodness: We all struggle with doing good due to our sinful nature. Paul acknowledges this in Romans 7:18, but through Christ, we are made righteous, and God works in us to bring about His goodness. [45:55]
- Community and Relationships: God uses others to help us grow in goodness. Serving others is a reflection of God's goodness in our lives. We are called to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. [53:17]
- Salvation and Good Works: Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works. However, once saved, good works naturally flow from our lives as evidence of God's work within us. [01:13:51]
- Empowered by the Holy Spirit: The journey of goodness is empowered by the Holy Spirit, who works in us to will and to act according to God's good pleasure. We are God's handiwork, created to do good works that He prepared in advance for us. [01:16:44]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - Valentine's Day and a Puppy
- [02:30] - Men's Conference Announcement
- [03:45] - Introduction to the Fruit of the Spirit
- [05:10] - Understanding Goodness
- [07:30] - The Source of Goodness
- [10:15] - The Struggle of Goodness
- [13:00] - Community and Relationships
- [16:30] - Salvation and Good Works
- [19:45] - Empowered by the Holy Spirit
- [22:00] - The Role of Confession and Cleansing
- [25:30] - The Importance of Serving
- [28:00] - Encouragement to Join LifeTrack
- [30:45] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Galatians 5:22-23
- Genesis 1:31
- James 1:17
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Galatians 5:22-23, what are the fruits of the Spirit, and how is goodness described in relation to them?
2. In Genesis 1:31, what does God declare about His creation, and how does this relate to the concept of goodness?
3. How does James 1:17 describe the origin of good and perfect gifts, and what does this imply about the source of goodness?
4. The sermon mentioned that "goodness is aggressive kindness in action." How does this definition help us understand the nature of goodness? [41:06]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the understanding that "true goodness originates from God" challenge or affirm your current perspective on goodness? [41:06]
2. The sermon discussed the struggle of goodness due to our sinful nature. How does Romans 7:18 illustrate this struggle, and what role does Christ play in overcoming it? [45:55]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that community and relationships contribute to our growth in goodness? How does this align with the biblical call to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God? [53:17]
4. How does the sermon explain the relationship between salvation and good works, and what does this mean for a believer's life? [01:13:51]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you are trying to achieve goodness without relying on God? How can you shift your focus to recognize God as the source of goodness? [41:06]
2. Identify a specific struggle you face in doing good due to your sinful nature. How can you invite Christ into that struggle to bring about His righteousness in you? [45:55]
3. Think about your community and relationships. How can you actively serve others this week to reflect God's goodness in your life? [53:17]
4. Consider the concept that salvation is a gift from God, and good works are a natural outflow. What are some good works you feel called to pursue as evidence of God's work within you? [01:13:51]
5. The sermon emphasized the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering our journey of goodness. How can you be more attentive to the Holy Spirit's guidance in your daily actions and decisions? [01:16:44]
6. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's goodness through others. How can you be that source of goodness for someone else this week?
7. The sermon mentioned the importance of confession and cleansing. Is there an area in your life where you need to seek God's cleansing? How can you take a step towards that this week? [50:10]
Devotional
Day 1: The Divine Origin of Goodness
True goodness is not a human invention but a divine attribute that originates from God Himself. From the beginning of creation, God declared everything He made as "very good," highlighting that goodness is inherent in His nature. The New Testament further emphasizes that every good and perfect gift comes from above, reinforcing the idea that our lives should be a reflection of God's goodness. Without God, our attempts at goodness are empty and lack true substance. As believers, we are called to embody this divine goodness in our daily lives, allowing it to be a testament to God's faithfulness and love. [41:06]
"For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations." (Psalm 100:5, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you actively reflect God's goodness in your interactions with others today?
Day 2: The Inner Battle for Goodness
The struggle to do good is a common experience due to our sinful nature. The Apostle Paul candidly expressed this internal conflict, acknowledging that in our flesh, no good thing dwells. However, through Christ, we are made righteous, and God works within us to bring about His goodness. This ongoing process of sanctification involves God continually making things right in our lives, transforming our desires and actions to align with His will. As we rely on Christ, we can overcome the struggle and allow His goodness to shine through us. [45:55]
"For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing." (Romans 7:19, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle to do good. How can you invite Christ to transform this area today?
Day 3: The Role of Community in Cultivating Goodness
Community and relationships play a crucial role in our journey of goodness. God uses others to help us grow and become more like Jesus. Serving others is a vital part of this journey, as it reflects the goodness of God in our lives. We are called to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God, serving both within our homes and in the broader community. By engaging in meaningful relationships and serving others, we allow God's goodness to be evident in our lives and the lives of those around us. [53:17]
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your community can you reach out to today to encourage and support in their journey of faith?
Day 4: The Relationship Between Salvation and Good Works
Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works. However, once saved, good works naturally flow from our lives as evidence of God's work within us. We are God's handiwork, created to do good works that He prepared in advance for us. This understanding shifts our perspective from trying to earn God's favor to living out our faith through actions that reflect His love and grace. As we embrace our identity in Christ, we are empowered to live a life of goodness that honors God and blesses others. [01:13:51]
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
Reflection: What is one good work you feel God has prepared for you to do today, and how can you take a step towards fulfilling it?
Day 5: The Holy Spirit's Empowerment in Our Journey of Goodness
The journey of goodness is empowered by the Holy Spirit, who works in us to will and to act according to God's good pleasure. As believers, we are not left to our own devices but are equipped by the Spirit to live out the goodness that God desires. This empowerment enables us to overcome our weaknesses and align our actions with God's purposes. By yielding to the Holy Spirit, we can experience transformation and become vessels of God's goodness in the world. [01:16:44]
"For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13, ESV)
Reflection: How can you intentionally rely on the Holy Spirit's guidance and strength to demonstrate God's goodness in a challenging situation today?
Quotes
You can't have good without God. The Anglo-Saxon word for God is good, leave God, G-O-D, out of good, G-O-O-D, and all you have left is a zero, all right? You can't have good without God. So I want you to think about the source of goodness. [00:42:54] (21 seconds)
Genesis 1:31, just make a note of all these references. Genesis 1:31, I'm laying a foundation here for the rest of the message. God saw all that he had made and he said it was very, everybody say it, it's very good. Everything in the beginning was good. [00:43:31] (16 seconds)
There's no goodness apart from God. A familiar passage, Psalm 100 verse five. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever. You're gonna see this repeated in the Psalms. The Lord is good, his love endures forever. His faithfulness continues to all generations. [00:44:59] (18 seconds)
He is God in the flesh. He said, there's none good but one. And that one is God. And so goodness is a God trait. You can't have goodness apart from God, okay? And so that leads me to talk about people are crazy. Here it is, the struggle of goodness. We all struggle with it, right? [00:45:55] (23 seconds)
And I love that word uprightness, because the devil comes along and he knocks us down. And he'll kick you when you're down. And he wants to keep you down. And there are areas of your life, even as a child of God, where the devil just knocks over in your life. And they're not right. But God, by his grace, comes and he makes them upright. [00:48:07] (22 seconds)
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5, 21, God made him who had no sin, Jesus is God in the flesh, to be sin for us. He took your sin, my sin, the sin of the world, on himself so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. [00:49:32] (19 seconds)
And that's true about every one of us. And so this is what can happen in your life. This is what I want for you today to happen in your life. In fact, my life verse is Philippians 1:6. Our family verse is Jeremiah 29:11, but my life verse, before I ever met Miss Tammy, was Philippians 1:6. Being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will continue to perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. [00:50:54] (34 seconds)
And so you don't clean yourself up to go to God. You go to God and he cleans you up. And you gotta start right here, abiding God's love. And then in verse three, for I know my transgressions and my sins always before me against you and you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight. [00:53:34] (17 seconds)
So allow the Spirit of God to cleanse you. He says, restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. And so the power for lasting change in your life is not going to be found in you. It's going to be found in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the one who works inside of us, changing us. [00:56:24] (23 seconds)
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