Fruit of The Spirit
Small Group Guide: What Does a Christian Look Like? (Week 3)
Series: What Does a Christian Look Like?
Message Focus: The Fruit of the Spirit – Starts with Love
Icebreaker Question:
When was a time in your life you were trying really hard to “be better” or “do better,” but later realized what you really needed was grace?
Scripture Reading
Galatians 5:22–23 (CSB)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.”
Supporting Passages:
John 4:1–42 — The Woman at the Well
John 15:5 — “Remain in Me … you will bear much fruit.”
1 John 4:16 — “God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God.”
Sermon Summary
This week’s message reminded us that the Fruit of the Spirit isn’t something we climb toward—it’s something that flows from grace. For many of us, our instinct is to treat the Christian life like a ladder: “Be better. Do better. Maybe then I’ll reach love, joy, and peace.” But that approach leaves us exhausted and ashamed. We saw this in the woman at the well. She came to the well at noon—alone, empty, and hiding—and expected Jesus to hand her a list of what to fix. Instead, He offered her living water. She didn’t climb to Him; He came to her. That’s grace. The message challenged us to rethink our approach to spiritual growth: The Fruit of the Spirit doesn’t grow through grit or guilt, but through grace—the kind that flows from Jesus. When we start with love—God’s love for us—joy and peace begin to overflow naturally. Patience, kindness, and goodness follow as the Spirit works within us.
Grace roots us. The Spirit produces fruit.
Group Discussion
Reflect: Which “fruit” from Galatians 5:22–23 do you see most naturally in your life right now? Which one feels most difficult to cultivate?
Reframe: Have you ever viewed the Christian life like a ladder—trying to “be better” or “do better” to prove your love for God? How did that approach affect your relationship with Him?
Deep Dive: Read John 4:10 and 13–14. What do you notice about how Jesus interacts with the woman? What does His offer of living water teach us about God’s heart?
Real Talk: The woman left her jar behind after encountering Jesus (John 4:28). What “jar” might you need to leave behind—something that represents striving, guilt, or self-reliance?
Application: What would it look like this week to “start with love” instead of starting with effort? Where do you need to receive before you try to achieve?
Encouragement: Who in your life reflects the Fruit of the Spirit in a way that seems rooted in grace, not performance? What can you learn from their example?
Closing Reflection & Prayer
What is one “jar” you want to leave behind or one area where you want to begin by remembering God’s love.
Spiritual fruit is not proof of effort but the evidence of abiding.
“Jesus, thank You for meeting us at our wells—right where we are.
Teach us to stop striving and start drinking deeply of Your love.
Fill us with Your Spirit so that love, joy, and peace flow naturally from our lives.
Help us leave behind shame, guilt, and performance, and rest in Your grace.
May our lives reflect the fruit that only You can grow.
Amen.”
Series: What Does a Christian Look Like?
Message Focus: The Fruit of the Spirit – Starts with Love
Icebreaker Question:
When was a time in your life you were trying really hard to “be better” or “do better,” but later realized what you really needed was grace?
Scripture Reading
Galatians 5:22–23 (CSB)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.”
Supporting Passages:
John 4:1–42 — The Woman at the Well
John 15:5 — “Remain in Me … you will bear much fruit.”
1 John 4:16 — “God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God.”
Sermon Summary
This week’s message reminded us that the Fruit of the Spirit isn’t something we climb toward—it’s something that flows from grace. For many of us, our instinct is to treat the Christian life like a ladder: “Be better. Do better. Maybe then I’ll reach love, joy, and peace.” But that approach leaves us exhausted and ashamed. We saw this in the woman at the well. She came to the well at noon—alone, empty, and hiding—and expected Jesus to hand her a list of what to fix. Instead, He offered her living water. She didn’t climb to Him; He came to her. That’s grace. The message challenged us to rethink our approach to spiritual growth: The Fruit of the Spirit doesn’t grow through grit or guilt, but through grace—the kind that flows from Jesus. When we start with love—God’s love for us—joy and peace begin to overflow naturally. Patience, kindness, and goodness follow as the Spirit works within us.
Grace roots us. The Spirit produces fruit.
Group Discussion
Reflect: Which “fruit” from Galatians 5:22–23 do you see most naturally in your life right now? Which one feels most difficult to cultivate?
Reframe: Have you ever viewed the Christian life like a ladder—trying to “be better” or “do better” to prove your love for God? How did that approach affect your relationship with Him?
Deep Dive: Read John 4:10 and 13–14. What do you notice about how Jesus interacts with the woman? What does His offer of living water teach us about God’s heart?
Real Talk: The woman left her jar behind after encountering Jesus (John 4:28). What “jar” might you need to leave behind—something that represents striving, guilt, or self-reliance?
Application: What would it look like this week to “start with love” instead of starting with effort? Where do you need to receive before you try to achieve?
Encouragement: Who in your life reflects the Fruit of the Spirit in a way that seems rooted in grace, not performance? What can you learn from their example?
Closing Reflection & Prayer
What is one “jar” you want to leave behind or one area where you want to begin by remembering God’s love.
Spiritual fruit is not proof of effort but the evidence of abiding.
“Jesus, thank You for meeting us at our wells—right where we are.
Teach us to stop striving and start drinking deeply of Your love.
Fill us with Your Spirit so that love, joy, and peace flow naturally from our lives.
Help us leave behind shame, guilt, and performance, and rest in Your grace.
May our lives reflect the fruit that only You can grow.
Amen.”
Posted in Bear Fruit