Sunday, 9/28/2025

GOOD NEWS FOR RELATIONSHIPS: Part 1

Galatians 5:22–25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

John 15:1–5 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ² 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. ³ Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ 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. ⁵ 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.

To bear fruit, we must: 

• Be connected to the Vine (John 15:1) 

• We must Receive nourishment from the Vine (John 15:4-5) 

• Remain in the Vine (John 15:5) 

• Accept pruning (John 15:1-2) 

• 
  

Bear fruit as evidence 

John 15:8 “”By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 

Fruit bearing in love, in our lives shows we are His disciples. 

Bring glory to God. 

When we disconnect through disobedience, we wither (John 15:6). 

Jesus said Love one another as I have loved you. 

We need love that lasts a lifetime. 

ASK WHAT LOVE IS

The popular misconceptions:

• Love is only a feeling. 

• Love is uncontrollable. 

• God has a different kind of love in our lives.

• The Bible says that Love is controllable. 

What God says about love. 

God says that Love is a choice. Colossians 3:14 “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” 

Love is a matter of conduct. I John 3:18 "Let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and truth." 

Your heart will always be read in your actions.  

ACT LIKE LOVE ACTS

I Corinthians 13 is the definition of how love acts. 

"Love is kind, patient, isn't jealous, doesn't brag, is not arrogant, doesn't act unbecomingly and is not provoked." 

Love is patient-

Love is patient, tells me that love is alive when it has time. You spell patience "time”

It tells me that love is dying when it's hurried, in a rush. It tells me that love is dead when it cannot wait.  

The most important part isn't waiting with each other. It's when we have to wait for each other that we really struggle.

Patience means I make allowances for the faults of another person. 

I find strength and motivation to be patient with other people in God's patience with me. 

Love is alive when it has the time. 

Love is alive when it cares, is dying when it forgets, is dead when it ignores.

"Love is kind". 

Kindness means the ability to care for each other in the practical details of everyday life.

Kindness means that I have to adapt to meet the practical needs of another person. 

Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you." 

The only way I can have a relationship of love with God is because He's willing to forgive me. 

The only way we can have relationships with each other is by being kind enough to forgive each other.  

Love is alive when it is secure, when it has the strength and foundation of security, it's dying when it starts doubting, and it's dead when it stops trusting. 

I Cor. 13:4  "Love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." 

Security is one of the number one issues in relationships. 

Love is alive when it's secure.

Love is alive when it's giving, it's dying when it's exchanging and it's dead when it's taking. 

The best relationship, the most healthy kind of relationship is a give and give relationship. 

Love is a lot more than romance. 

Much of love isn't romantic, it's just sacrificial giving.  

Sacrificial giving is what eventually builds real romance in life. 

Romantic love demands constant attention. Real love gives constant attention.  

By the way you act you can change the way that you feel. 

1 Corinthians 13:7"Love always protects, love always trusts, love always hopes  and love always perseveres " 

Act in love and not in fear. 

We have a God who specializes in resurrections. If He can resurrect Jesus Christ from the tomb He can resurrect a relationship. 

Make the choice to love. That's your choice that you can make.