A More Perfect You
The Pursuit of Perfection in Christ
The Fruit of the Holy Spirit
Part 2
Teaching Strategy
The focus of this lesson is a continuation of the way that spiritual life and character are produced in the lives of disciples. Of special note is the first spiritual fruit developed by the Holy Spirit – Love.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Know: Understand how the Holy Spirit produces fruit in a Christian.
- Feel: Recognize the importance of love.
- Do: Submit to God’s will as we work towards actual perfection.
Body of the Lesson
Discussion Questions
Below are suggested questions to use during the guided discussion portion of the lesson. There are also suggested responses to questions to help students grasp the various concepts. These are provided to assist the discussion and are not considered as “right or wrong” responses.
1. What is signified by contrasting walking by the flesh and walking by the Spirit?
Look for responses that relate to destruction resulting from walking by the flesh and eternal life resulting from submitting to God's will.
2. What is significant about listing love as the first fruit produced by the Holy Spirit?
Its primary position signifies the importance of love in all things. Love is the nature (characteristic) of God (I John 4:7-8). If we are walking by the Spirit, then this key characteristic will grow in our lives as well. As we seek to become more Christlike, love will become the major characteristic seen by others in us (John 13:35). Through the practice of love in our own lives, we learn more about God, His will and why He continually blesses us in the way that He does.
3. Answer the following questions from I Corinthians 13:
If we don't have love, we're missing the essence of Christianity.
See the listing from I Corinthians 13:4-7.
See I Corinthians 8-12. Love never fails, falls away and is always present. Since love is the main element in the character of God and God is eternal, so too is love.
There are various understandings of this word:
- Christ's return
- Completion of the writing of the New Testament
- The relationship established between God and the Christian upon baptism (One's growth from conditional perfection to actual perfection)
4. Why is love the greatest of spiritual gifts?
- Love is eternal (Galatians 3:26; Galatians 5:5; Revelation 22:4)
- God is love (I John 4:7-8)
- It is the power of life (John 3:16)
- It is how we will be known (John 13:35)
5. How can you use this lesson to grow spiritually and help others come into a relationship with Jesus?
Walking by the Spirit begins the process of creating perfect love in us and will be completed when we are accepted into the presence of God when our Lord returns.