Fruitful 7: Goodness
We're saved by grace, not by our goodness. But our faith should produce the fruit of 'goodness'. Let's spend time thinking about how that works.
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Video notes
- Goodness is the outward expression of a kind heart
- Good works are never the means to salvation
- We must regularly remind ourselves that we are saved by grace
- But we must also see that faith necessarily leads to goodness
- This is true in God’s character, and it is true in those filled with the Spirit
- Goodness very closely linked to generosity, most clearly seen in gift of Christ
- We must not reduce our Christian life down to Bible ministry
- We have been fighting against seeing ministry as social work but must not go to the opposite extreme
- Good works adorn and authenticate the gospel
Questions to think about
- Think back over the last week or so. What good works has the Lord prompted in you? What opportunities to show abundant goodness have you passed over?
- How much of your time and energy does Bible ministry take? How much space is there to show goodness to others? How might good works adorn or authenticate your Bible ministry?
- What would generous goodness look like in this coming week? What situations do you know about in church life which call for you to show the Spirit’s fruit?
Prayer ideas
- Thank God for his abundant goodness to you!
- Confess any imbalance or missed opportunities to show goodness to others
- Ask for the Spirit to fill you so that you might have the desire to do the good works prepared in advance
- Seek wisdom to get the ‘balance’ of ministry right in your own context
Further passages to reflect on
James 2:14-26
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