Here is the opening to our Bible Study At Wesley UMC in Orange. The video series is given by James Merritt and is on the Fruit of the Spirit. The title of the series is “Tasty.” Come join us for a meal(at 5:30), prayer (at 6:15) and a comprehensive study on the Fruit of the Spirit (at 6:30).
If you’ve known Jesus for very long, you’ve likely had this experience: you’re in some random place, with random people…and something catches your ear. You don’t mean to eavesdrop, but you’re just so intrigued by what you are hearing. It’s a discussion between two people. The first is being incredibly rude and disrespectful. Yet, the second doesn’t seem to notice. He continues to respond to the verbal attack with kindness and a smile.
You say to yourself, “Man, if that were me, I’m not sure I could keep it together like that.” But you know what? You can! Jesus said, “By their fruit you shall know them.” That’s exactly what you just experienced when you witnessed the counter¬cultural response to an obvious wrong. You just observed what we know as “the fruit of the Spirit” in action. Because love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self¬ control seem so commonly discussed in church today, we often gloss¬ over when we hear them mentioned. Yet, you’ve noticed them in others and were intrigued.
That same intrigue is what God will use to draw others to us. Perhaps you’re uncomfortable sharing your faith verbally, but you can always open the door by allowing others to see His best in you through these nine fruits. Join Dr. Merritt as he bites into each fruit and reveals the benefits they add to life. You’ll find that true evangelism is sparked from being “tasty” in distasteful situations.
Wesley United Methodist Church, Orange TX 