Into The River

Eighth message in Branches series on the fruit of the Spirit and union with Christ. After love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, we arrive at gentleness.

Galatians 5:22-24

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Gospel of Matthew 11:25-30

"All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

"Look to Christ. He deals gently with you. It’s the only way he knows how to be. He is the high priest to end all high priests. As long as you fix your attention on your sin, you will fail to see how you can be safe. But as long as you look to this high priest, you will fail to see how you can be in danger. Looking inside ourselves, we can anticipate only harshness from heaven. Looking out to Christ, we can anticipate only gentleness.” 

—Dane Ortlund, Gently & Lowly (57)

Preached on Sunday, March 23, 2025 at Renew Church by Pastor Jeff Patterson

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Talkback after Sunday 3/16/25 teaching » ⁠Branches: FAITHFULNESS⁠

• Featuring questions about kindness, goodness, and faithfulness, discussed between Logan Gilstrap and Jeff Patterson.
• How can we still display goodness to those who have wronged us, broken our trust, or disrespected us? Perhaps we have forgiven them. But the natural human and sinful instinct of having a tough time trusting them again, to strain with displaying goodness, can still be there and linger. Does that mean we haven't truly forgiven them?

Seventh message in Branches series on the fruit of the Spirit and union with Christ. After love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, we arrive at faithfulness.

Galatians 5:22-24

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

God is worthy of our faithfulness. » Why is He worthy? » Because He is faithful.

Gospel of John 15:1-17

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 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. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 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. 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. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another."

God provides for us (vv. 4-7)

God relates to us (vv. 15-16)

How do we faithfully respond?

• Patronage in the Roman Empire (Friends vs. "Friends")
• We abide in God (vv. 1-7)
• We obey God (vv. 9-17)
• We glorify God (v. 8)
• Our faithfulness to God glorifies Him, as everyone can see the fruit of His labor.
• We love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength since He deserves it.
• We love our neighbor for the exact same reason. Not because they deserve it, but because God deserves it.

Preached on Sunday, March 16, 2025 at Renew Church by Logan Gilstrap

⁠⁠⁠Livestream⁠

Sixth message in Branches series on the fruit of the Spirit and union with Christ. After love, joy, peace, patience, kindness., we get to goodness.

Galatians 5:22-26

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Titus 3:1-11

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Genuine goodness comes from God, and exhibits purpose and thoughtfulness. Doing good is better than achieving "good outcomes," for we will not be judged on results but rather the process. (The end does not justify the means.)

Seek what is good, true, and beautiful, and cultivate these virtues.

How do we do this?

Know that:

WHOs before DOs:

Moral Imperatives come from Redemptive Indicative

Redemptive Indicatives first

Then, Moral Imperatives

What is, then what ought to be

Romans 12:10-13

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

What about your everyday situations?

When do you reflect the Lord’s goodness, truth, and beauty? 

Romans 12:14-21

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Psalm 34:8

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!

    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Preached on Sunday, March 9, 2025 at Renew Church by pastor Jeff Patterson

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Fifth message in Branches series on the fruit of the Spirit and union with Christ. After love, joy, peace, patience, we consider kindness.

Ephesians 4:25-32

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Quote: “Practice routinely purposeful acts of kindness and deeply intelligent acts of beauty.” —Dallas Willard (1935-2013), The Divine Conspiracy

Galatians 5:22-26

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Preached on Sunday, February 23, 2025 at Renew Church by pastor Jeff Patterson

⁠Livestream

Fourth message in Branches series on the fruit of the Spirit and union with Christ. After love, joy, peace, we consider patience.

Colossians 3:12-17:

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Endurance & Patience with Joy:

• Endurance (hupomone): does not mean just sitting, head down, and enduring, it means “not only the ability to bear things, but the ability, in bearing them, to turn them into glory. It is conquering patience. Hupomone is the spirit which no circumstance in life can ever defeat and which no event can ever vanquish. Hupomone is the ability to deal triumphantly with anything that life can do to us. 
• Patience (makrothumia): is basically patience with people. It is the quality of mind and heart which enables a man to bear with people that their unpleasantness and maliciousness and cruelty will never drive him to bitterness, that their folly will never drive him to irritation, that their unloveliness will never alter his love. It is the spirit which never loses patience with, belief in, and hope for people. 
  

Quote: “If joy is not rooted in the soil of suffering, it is shallow.” —C.F.D. Moule (1908-2007)

• Patience is Longsuffering
• Patience is Forbearing
• Patience is Loving
• Impatience is an epidemic
• Patience leads to Forgiving

Galatians 5:22-26; 6:1-2:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Preached on Sunday, February 16, 2025 at Renew Church by pastor Jeff Patterson

Livestream

In this the third messaged in our series Branches on the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26), we seek PEACE.

Philippians 4:1-9:

1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Preached on Sunday, February 9, 2025 by pastor Jeff Patterson

Livestream

Quote from Blaise Pascal (Mémorial) remembering his experiencing the joy of the Lord and His peace:

In the year of Grace, 1654,

On Monday, 23rd of November . . .

From about half past ten in the evening until about half past twelve

FIRE

God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, not of the philosophers and scholars.

Certitude. Certitude. Feeling. Joy. Peace.

God of Jesus Christ.

“Thy God shall be my God.”

Forgetfulness of the world and of everything, except God.

He is to be found only by the ways taught in the Gospel. . . .

Joy, joy, joy, tears of joy. . . .

“This is eternal life, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and the one whom Thou has sent, Jesus Christ.”

Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ.

I have separated myself from Him: I have fled from Him, denied Him, crucified Him.

Let me never be separated from Him.

We keep hold of Him only by the ways taught in the Gospel.

Renunciation, total and sweet.

Total submission to Jesus Christ and to my director.

Eternally in joy for a day’s exercise on earth. . .

Talkback on Sunday 1/26/25 teaching » Branches: JOY

Quote:

Tim Keller described joy as “a spiritual buoyancy that comes when we are rejoicing in God.” He goes on, “This Joy, this buoyancy, does not mean we are impervious to suffering, it means we are unsinkable. We are constantly getting wet, we are constantly being pushed down. However, we do not stay down. We don’t sink.”

Teaching #3 in BRANCHES series on union with Christ and the fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-24:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Psalm 16:

A Miktam of David.

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from you.”

As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
    in whom is all my delight.

The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
    their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
    or take their names on my lips.

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
    you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
    in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
    my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
    or let your holy one see corruption.

You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Preached on Sunday, January 26, 2025 by Pastor Jeff Patterson

Livestream

Second message in our Branches series on the fruit of the Spirit. After ABIDE, we look at the first fruit: LOVE.

Galatians 5:22-26:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

1st Corinthians 13:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Preached on Sunday, January 19, 2025 by Pastor Jeff Patterson.

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