Understanding the 9 Fruits of the Spirit

How important are the 9 Fruits of the Spirit? Consider two types of teams…

For the winning team, it’s easy for all the players to gel. Mistakes are met with, “It’s okay. You’ll get it next time.” You celebrate each other’s accomplishments even if you’re having an off day. And you’ll do anything—sacrificing your own ambition and comfort—for the sake of the team. 

But when a team is losing, the opposite is true. Teammates fly in fits of rage when someone messes up. They’re envious of their teammates’ success. They only care about their own selfish ambitions, form factions, and have open hatred for each other. 

Of course, it’s the old chicken-and-the-egg problem. The winning team’s good habits lead to more wins, and the losing team’s destructive behaviors lead to more losses. 

That’s why the first job of any new head coach is to “change the culture.” They know that implementing an explosive offense or stalwart defense is impossible without teamwork

My friend and Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy said, “The No. 1 thing a new coach has to do…set the identity of the team. That is so much more important than the X’s and O’s.”

In the NFL, sometimes coaches are afforded a year or two to set the culture, while the fans (and the owner) weather losses in hopes that he’s setting up a foundation for success. 

That’s exactly what an early Christian apostle was doing for the church in Galatia when he outlined each fruit of the spirit.

 

Who talks about the 9 Fruits of the Spirit?

In the Book of Galatians, Chapter 5, the apostle Paul asks the church in Galatia not to live by the old law as outlined in the Old Testament. To continue the team metaphor, he’s telling them not to follow the team rulebook and think that it’s going to change the culture. 

Paul tells them they’re free from following the law, but not to waste this freedom on the flesh (our selfish, pleasure-seeking desires).

 

What does Paul call the behaviors of the flesh?

Paul says that the behaviors of the flesh are “sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like.”

Notice something? Most of the list are hallmarks of a bad team—of which there’s no room for them on God’s team. As Paul says, “I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

 

Why follow the 9 fruits of the spirit?

Paul wants the church of Galatia to use their freedom, granted by Jesus dying on the cross for our sins, to deny their flesh and choose the 9 fruits of the spirit.

 

What are the 9 fruits of the spirit?

  1. Love: unconditional, selfless care for others.

  2. Joy: a deep, God-given sense of contentment that transcends circumstances.

  3. Peace: Tranquility, harmony, and a composed attitude in the face of conflict. 

  4. Patience: The ability to endure difficult circumstances and deal with others in a long-tempered manner.

  5. Kindness: Being considerate, gentle, and generous with others.

  6. Goodness: Having integrity and character, and that are morally upright and beneficial.

  7. Faithfulness: Being trustworthy, true to your word, and steadfast in your beliefs.

  8. Gentleness: Acting with humility and treating others with tenderness and respect.

  9. Self-control: Exercising restraint and discipline over your desires, words, and actions.

 

Produce the fruits of the spirit in your life.

Paul tells us that the presence and work of the Holy Spirit give you the ability to live out each fruit of the spirit and reflect the character of Christ.

What kind of team do you want to be on? Of course, everyone would choose the winning team with the winning characteristics (fruit of the spirit) every time. But all too often, our actions show that we’ve chosen the losing team. 

How can you exemplify the fruit of the spirit and make your family, your friends, or your work better? 

 

Bring the Fruits to Your Friendships with MenHuddle.

What about your group of friends? Are you lifting each other up or bringing each other down? Want a game plan to get you started? Download the PLAYBOOK FOR LEVEL 5 FRIENDSHIP.

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What Does it Mean to Make Disciples?

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Did you know that you’re called to make disciples? What does it mean to make disciples, and how do you do it?

 

Sounds like a huge task, doesn’t it? 

 

Now, imagine you’re one of the apostles standing before Jesus after He’s risen from the dead and gives you this mission: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18-19). 

 

Facing this huge, important task, they didn’t ask, “What does it mean to make disciples?”

 

How come? 

 

Like any hard task, it helps to have a model. I got pretty good at throwing a football because of my dad. A quarterback himself, he molded my fingers to the laces, guided my hands to where I should hold it and showed me how to throw with a quick release and a strong spiral. 

 

I didn’t have to learn from a set of instructions. It had already been shown to me.

 

That’s the beautiful thing about Jesus giving this mission to His disciples at this point in the story. When He first met them, they’d have no idea what to do. But Jesus had intentionally showed them exactly how to make disciples with His perfect example throughout His ministry. 

 

Jesus had already modeled it for them—and He’s modeled it for you, too!

 

 

What Does it Mean to Make Disciples?

 

1. Share the Good News.

Jesus told his disciples about a different kind of Kingdom. Each of his disciples followed Him because they understood He was offering them something new. No longer were they waiting for a Messiah. No longer were they playing the rule-following religious thought of the self-righteous Pharisees. 

 

Jesus showed them they didn’t have to be perfect or act perfect in this Kingdom. In fact, what the culture calls weakness was strength. And that life, through Jesus, was eternal. That is the good news that you received, beginning your discipleship. And that is the good news Jesus wants us to share with others.

 

 

2. Jesus showed the Word.

As John the Baptist proclaimed, Jesus didn’t need to get baptized before going forth and starting His ministry. “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”  

 

But he was showing us how new believers who have received the word are to be baptized to symbolize their new life in Christ. In Matthew 28, after telling his followers to make disciples, He includes “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” 

 

Beyond the act of baptism, Jesus wants us to have real relationships with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Throughout scripture, Jesus spoke to the Father and showed us what it meant to live with the Holy Spirit inside of us.

 

What does it mean to make disciples and show them the word? We go through life with them as true friends, show them how to speak to our Heavenly Father through prayer, and live with Holy Spirit inside of us—by “being rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17) and spending time alone with God.

 

 

3. Jesus showed his disciples how to teach the Word.

At certain points throughout the gospels, Jesus tells a parable to the crowd and only reveals its meaning to His disciples. It wasn’t because Jesus wanted to make the interpretation exclusive. Instead, he knew some people listening would reject anything for their own personal reasons. Consider the rich young man who could not sell everything he owned to begin his discipleship and follow Jesus. 

 

The disciples on the other hand were all open to Jesus’ message, so He teaches it to them. In the same way, by spending time with Jesus and His Word, we can learn how to teach it to new disciples. 

 

 

4. Jesus modeled the servant attitude.

The night before Jesus was crucified, He got down and served the disciples by washing their feet. He was showing us that discipleship is always about serving. We must remember that God has put us there to serve their needs, as physical as their dirty feet and as spiritual as their eternal salvation.

 

 

Jesus Painted the Picture for Making Disciples

So, what does it mean to make disciples? Jesus gave us a clear picture. But He also gave us an important promise.

He assures us, “I am always with you to the end of the age.”

 

 

Build Deeper Friendship with MenHuddle.

If you’re looking to deepen friendship and mutual mentoring, check out the LEVEL 5 FRIENDSHIP PLAYBOOK—a guide that will help you connect with other men in a meaningful way and catalyze spiritual growth in each other’s lives.

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How to Receive God’s Blessings in Your Life

Wondering how to receive God’s blessings? You’ve already received more than you even realize. A blessing is any kindness, mercy or good thing that comes from God. 

 

God can give you everything you need and more to share with others, the Apostle Paul tells the church in Corinth. But it’s not always the blessing you expect, and it’s not simply the next thing you want in life. It’s according to God’s will—and so much better for it!

 

Now that we know what they are, let’s look at how to receive God’s blessings. 

 

How to Receive God’s Blessings.

 

1. Receive your identity from God.

Bill Walsh was the head coach of the 49ers when I played for them in 1986. One of his great skills was helping his players overcome self-doubt and play up to a potential they didn’t know they had. Together, Bill and I would watch my film, the “Good Jeff” plays and the “Bad Jeff” plays. 

 

Importantly, he defined me by my “Good Jeff” plays without ignoring the bad. That affirmative distinction gave me the confidence to step up my game in leadership and execution to become the better player I could be. 

 

God does the same thing for us by calling us his sons. That is your real identity—you don’t have to earn anything else. And when you learn to listen closely, He also calls you what you can become. 

 

In Judges, Gideon is a young, poor Israelite who has been hiding from the oppressive Midianites for seven years. But the angel of the Lord visits him and calls him a “great warrior” and a “mighty man of valor.” It’s not who he is yet, but the man he will become.

 

God sees the entire story and blesses you with the identity, vision and confidence to become who you were meant to be. 

 

Practical tip on how to receive God’s blessings: Pray to God and call Him “dad.” Let Him tell you who you are to Him and how He feels about you.

 

 

2. Receive your purpose.

Your perfect Heavenly Father wants to bless you. It’s God’s will to give you all kinds of blessings: healing, forgiveness, understanding, freedom from sin…the list is infinite. 

 

One of the most rewarding things He gives is a specific mission. According to a men’s survey, 50% of respondents say that a lack of purpose causes them significant stress. 

 

God blesses you with certain traits, passions and gifts. You’re meant to use them and carry out God’s will and benefit others. For Gideon, it was to free his people from the Midianite’s rule using his ingenuity. For me, it’s to inspire families and men to work as a team to lift each other up and thrive. 

 

Practical tip on how to receive God’s blessings: Ask God how He can use your gifts to benefit others. Where is that sweet spot of what God needs and what you can offer? 

 

 

3. Receive the blessings of God’s work.

In John 15:5, Jesus tells us “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” 

 

This verse shows us one of the most important aspects of how to receive God’s blessings. It’s not a one-time “reception,” if you will. The act of receiving makes up your daily relationship, one that you invest time, care and attention into. 

 

But it’s also a promise from God. If we do receive God’s blessings every day, we will bear his fruit. 

 

You’ll see God’s blessings everywhere—in the improvement of your relationships with your wife, children and friends. You could see this transformation yield results in your spiritual growth. And you’ll see how God has used you to become a blessing to others—that is one of the most powerful blessings of all. 

 

Practical tip on how to receive God’s blessings: Set aside time every day to be with God and receive his blessings. You’ll begin to appreciate all the blessings He’s already given you even more and see opportunities to pass your blessing onto others. 

 

Build Deeper Friendship with MenHuddle.

If you’re looking to deepen friendship and mutual mentoring, check out the LEVEL 5 FRIENDSHIP PLAYBOOK—a guide that will help you connect with other men in a meaningful way and catalyze spiritual growth in each other’s lives.

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Tips for Unlocking Spiritual Growth

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From a young age, the world tells us men that we have to keep growing to earn our manhood—our muscles, our bank account, our dating history. Other, smarter voices tell us to grow our character and become better husbands, fathers, and friends. But without learning how to grow spiritually, all this important work is unsustainable. 

 

Spiritual growth is the act of inviting Jesus into your life and becoming more like Him. Recently, I wrote about the journey of spiritual transformation that men need. Today, though, I want to provide practical tips on how to grow spiritually. 

 

Because far too often, people talk about it in nebulous terms when, really, it should be the most concrete thing in your life. So, here are 15 tips for unlocking spiritual growth in men, broken out into three major categories.

 

Invite Spiritual Growth Into Your Life.

Even though I grew up in a Christian household, I remember when I truly decided to live for God. It came at the end of college when I thought I had everything I wanted—friends, girlfriends, and a shot at an NFL career. Still, I was insecure and unhappy. Thankfully, God was tracking me down. Suddenly, making my purpose to live for him made a whole lot of sense. If you haven’t yet started your journey of spiritual growth, I encourage you to begin immediately.

  1. Clear away any previous conceptions that you have of God, and let Him show you who He really is. 
  2. Tell Jesus you believe He is the Son of God. 
  3. Thank Him for dying for your sins and ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit.
  4. Commit to following Him for the rest of your life.
  5. Find a local community of believers to join.

 

Receive From God.

Once you’ve accepted Christ into your life, you can grow spiritually by receiving from God. Receiving might sound like a passive thing, but it’s not. I like to compare it to making a reception in football. I got to play with legends like Jerry Rice and Steve Largent. They both tirelessly practiced eying the ball with great focus, snagging and tucking it away with a vice grip so no one could knock it loose. It’s the same way you should approach your receiving.

  1. Be intentional. Set up a private space to be with God and receive your identity as His son
  2. Study Jesus’s life and apply His relationship with the Father to your own.
  3. Write down your questions, fears and struggles. Expect to see His answer and healing eventually.
  4. Pray from Jesus’ pattern of prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) and ask Him who you should pray for.
  5. Thank Him for everything He’s given you. 

 

Bring God Into Your Daily Life and Relationships. 

Even though we need to spend time alone with God, spiritual growth in men is not a private thing. Use the power of a team to catalyze spiritual growth by bringing Him into every moment of the day and inviting Him to change your relationships. This is where you really start to see the fruits of your progress. You might find that you have more patience, grace, and forgiveness.   

  1. Pause and pray spontaneously throughout the day, alone or with someone if they’re open or need it. 
  2. Find someone who has been where you are now to mentor you in your spiritual journey. 
  3. Make a commitment to a friend or a few close friends to meet every week and help each other become more like Christ. 
  4. Serve your wife and children the way Jesus served his disciples. When you focus on what you can give instead of want you need, you’ll be amazed at the joy and depth it will bring to your life.
  5. Give back by sharing your journey of spiritual growth with others. 

 

Spiritual growth in men is not just possible—it’s what God asks from us. The good news? No one is perfect. But Jesus is, and He’ll be with you every step of the way.

 

Build Deeper Friendship with MenHuddle.

If you’re looking to deepen friendship and mutual mentoring, check out the PLAYBOOK FOR LEVEL 5 FRIENDSHIP—a guide that will help you connect with other men in a meaningful way and catalyze spiritual growth in each other’s lives.

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