Sermons / Cultivating Faithfulness in a Culture of Broken Promises

Today we continue our Fruitful Series studying the Fruit of the Spirit as given to us in Galatians 5. When Paul describes faithfulness as part of the fruit of the Spirit, he has in mind fidelity, loyalty, courage, and a life that is utterly reliable and true to its word. Faithfulness is trustworthiness towards God and towards others. Then Paul introduces us to Gentleness, not weakness or timidity, but strength expressed through humility, consideration, restraint, and self-forgetfulness. Both faithfulness and gentleness are revealed in the character of God, perfectly exemplified in the Son of God, and cultivated by the Spirit in the lives of God’s children. In a culture where commitments are easily broken, harshness is often celebrated, and self-interest comes naturally, followers of Jesus are called to live differently. Today, we’ll examine where these fruits may be lacking in our lives and humbly ask God to make us people who are faithful in our commitments and gentle in our relationships.