If you want to be an apple...

In our Wednesday night Bible class, we recently started a study of the Fruit of the Spirit. As kids we sang about the nine behaviors listed in Galatians 5:22-23--how they're not an apple, or not a banana ('nana.) We may have rushed through the song so quickly that we didn't fully grasp how important these 9 traits are to our Christian walk.

For a couple of weeks, we've focused on love. We would love for you to drop in on our Bible study. Learn (or refresh your memory) as we learn (and refresh our memories) about how God wants us to walk.

--------------------------------------------------------------

16: I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

17: For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

18: But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19: Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,[a] fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,

20: idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,

21: envy, murders,[b] drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23: gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

24: And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

--Galatians 5:16-25 (NKJV)

Quietly Trying to do Good Things

Yes, we've been quiet more than we've been here (online). Wanna know what good things?

Well...Drop by (in person) to see. ;-)

Until we see you, here's a Bible verse to consider before you do your next good thing.

"My dear friends, you should be quick to listen and slow to speak or to get angry. If you are angry, you cannot do any of the good things that God wants done."

--James 1:19-20 (Contemporary English Version)

You're welcome any time. Click here to grab the directions.

4 Daily Bible Reading Resources

Often in the new year, we declare a New Year's resolution to read through the entire Holy Bible. Noble. Doable. Possible. Sometimes, however, with so many other things pulling at our time--work, family, bills; the world;--around February we let 1, 2, then 3 days slip.

Devote some portion of every day to being more like the Master. A tiny sentence--Luke 2:52--lets us know that "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature" (NKJV) and that He grew in "favour with God and man."

The world may pull on us, but we must connect with God through His Word and through prayer. If we want to be in favor with God (like His Son, Jesus Christ), with need to know what He wants from us. We'll only find out how to give that to Him in His Word. So, don't resolve to just read. Resolve to STUDY the Bible.

Four Ways to Read Your Bible Every Day

1. Back to the Bible's Blended Reading Guides (found via the Christian Chronicle)
2. Ron Thomas' Daily Bible Reading Plan (found via Forthright)
3. Daily Bible Reading Calendar (Flatwoods church of Christ, Flatwoods, KY)
4. List of different ways to read through the Bible on Bible Gateway.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness..."--from Matthew 6:33. Read full context at Matthew 6:25-34.

Image