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What if the world has been selling us a counterfeit version of joy? In this enlightening exploration of the fruit of the Spirit, our speakers uncover the profound difference between happiness and joy—revealing why this distinction matters for every believer.

Joy isn't just a positive emotion; it's a spiritual superpower. While happiness depends on favorable circumstances, joy remains steadfast regardless of external conditions. As Megan reminds us, "Happiness is external, joy is internal. Happiness depends on our circumstances. Joy depends on Christ." This isn't semantic wordplay—it's a life-changing perspective that transforms how we navigate our most challenging seasons.

The teaching presents a three-dimensional framework for cultivating joy: looking back at God's faithfulness, looking around for purpose in pain, and looking forward with eternal hope. Gwen shares how remembering our salvation and God's past faithfulness creates a foundation for joy. Jackson's powerful testimony of finding Christ after losing his grandfather illustrates how serving others becomes our pathway through grief. Pastor Jason completes the picture by showing how our eternal perspective gives context to temporary struggles.

What makes this message particularly powerful is its practicality. Each speaker offers tangible ways to choose joy—from worship and scripture declaration to serving in community and maintaining eternal perspective. The authenticity of their personal stories demonstrates that joy isn't just theological theory but lived reality, even in life's darkest moments.

Ready to experience the difference between temporary happiness and lasting joy? This message illuminates the path forward. Join us in discovering why joy isn't just nice to have—it's essential for the journey ahead. Your circumstances may not change, but your perspective absolutely can.

Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today’s message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved

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What fuels your daily decisions? Just as vehicles can run on different types of energy, our lives operate on either faith or sight. Pastor Sean challenges us to examine what's truly driving our lives and whether we're passing God's faithfulness tests.

The message unveils a sobering truth: while everyone claims to be faithful, true faithfulness is exceedingly rare. God isn't just casually hoping we'll develop faith—He's actively searching the earth for people whose hearts are fully committed to Him, people He can strengthen and bless. This isn't about God withholding favor but about preparing us to steward greater responsibilities.

Through a creative object lesson using different varieties of apples, Pastor Sean illustrates how we can test the fruit in our own lives. Are we passing the test of little things, where our private integrity shapes our public blessing? Are we acing the talent test by using our God-given abilities to serve others rather than ourselves? And perhaps most challenging, are we enduring the test of tough times with persistence rather than quitting when pressure mounts?

The most profound revelation comes through understanding fruit development. Just as the sweetest Honeycrisp apples require the most "chill hours" (time spent in cold temperatures) to produce their superior flavor, our faith often needs seasons of pressure and discomfort to mature. Many of us pray for God to remove difficulties, not realizing these very challenges are developing the faithfulness He seeks.

Stop running when circumstances get hard. Plant your feet where God has placed you and decide to be faithful—even when it's uncomfortable. Your spiritual fruit doesn't develop despite difficult seasons but often because of them. Let God find you ready and willing when He scans the earth for faithful hearts to strengthen.

Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today’s message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved

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 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Galatians 5:22-23

Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today’s message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved

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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Galatians 5:22-23

You can’t Learn  fruit. 

Fruit is the Byproduct of who we are. 

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”   “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”  He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”  In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.  A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.In the same way a Levite also came there, went over and looked at the man, and then walked on by on the other side. “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Luke 10:25-33

I can Keep My Distance

I can be Curious but Uncaring 

I can Show Kindness

1.   I must see The Needs of people around me.

“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Luke 10:33

2.  I must sympathize With their Pain.

Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Luke 10:33

Stop asking: What’s wrong with them?

Ask: What  Happened to them? 

3.  I must seize the Moment to help. 

Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Luke 10:34

I must be willing to Be Interrupted. 

I have to be willing to Face my fears. 

4.  I must spend whatever it takes.

Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.  The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ “What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?” “The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded. Jesus said, “Go and do the same.” Luke 10:36-37

Being kind to the people in need is like lending to the Lord, and He will repay you for the kindness you have shown. Proverbs 19:17 NCV

 Discussion Questions:

What’s one idea from the message that really stood out to you? Why did this idea grab your attention?

Can you think of some examples where we use other’s pain as entertainment?  

What are some practical areas of your life where slowing down will help you be more kind?

How can we be more intentional about engaging our feelings to sympathize with other people’s struggles?

What are some common costs to showing kindness and how can we be more prepared to pay them this week?

Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today’s message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved

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June 15, 2025                                                                                            

Fruitful Summer           Week 3

 The Fruit of Gentleness

1. Gentleness Defuses Conflict 

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1

2.   Gentleness Disarms Critics 

The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. 2 Timothy 2:24

3.   Gentleness is Pursuasive 

Gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses. Proverbs 25:15 MSG

4.  Gentleness is attractive

As a man of God… pursue what God approves of: godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.  1 Timothy 6:11 GW

You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.  1 Peter 3:4 NLT 

5.  Gentleness earns respect

A woman of gentle grace will be respected.  Proverbs 11:16

Moses was a very meek and gentle man. In fact, he was more gentle than anyone on the face of the earth!  Numbers 12:3 AMP 

6.  Gentleness is a witness to unbelievers

Believers should never speak evil of anyone, nor be quarrelsome.  Instead they should be gentle and show courtesy to everyone.       Titus 3:2

7.  Gentleness shows Love  Like Jesus. 

Husbands, love your wives and be gentle with them.            Colossians 3:19

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to the point of resentment with demands that are trivial or unreasonable or humiliating or abusive; nor by showing favoritism or indifference to any of them], but bring them up [tenderly, with lovingkindness] in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.  Ephesians 6:4 AMP

Times when I can practice gentleness this week:

When someone serves me

When someone disagrees with me

When someone disappoints me

Discussion Questions:

What’s one idea from the message that really stood out to you? Why did this idea grab your attention?

How does your gentleness grow when you consider what you’re called to carry inside of you as a believer in Christ?

How have you seen gentleness in yourself, or in someone you know, change when your identity and security was found in Christ?

Where do you need to be very intentional in practicing gentleness this week?  With whom?

How does the forgiveness and grace shown to us through the cross, help us show the same grace toward others?

Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today’s message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved

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The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Galatians 5:22

The Fruit of Peace

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. Psalms 34:19

What we are holding onto determines the outcome.

Who we are holding onto reflects our behavior.

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.   John 15:5

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.  John 14:27

And he will be called:Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6b

And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

Peace is not an emotion, it is a Person.

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.  John 16:33

May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I Thessalonians 5:3

What’s one idea from the message that really stood out to you? Why did this idea grab your attention?

Describe something that currently is challenging your peace.

Do you sometimes associate peace with a place? Where is your most peaceful/happy place?

Do you most often rely on the absence of difficult circumstances or the presence of God for your peace?

How does today’s message help you connect your thoughts to the peace you have or don’t have in your life?

Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today’s message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved

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Pastor Angela kicks off our Fruitful Summer series with a powerful message on patience as a supernatural gift, not a natural tendency that must be developed through the Holy Spirit's work in our lives.

• Based on Galatians 5:22, patience is highlighted as one of the nine fruits of the Spirit
• Unlike our natural tendency toward impatience, patience is supernatural and must be cultivated
• Patience heals the bruised, as demonstrated in Joseph's 22-year journey from dream to fulfillment
• We cannot microwave spiritual maturity—it takes time and process
• Jesus modeled patience with his disciples, especially Peter, seeing potential when others saw problems
• God is the ultimate patient gardener who doesn't pluck out seeds when He can't immediately see growth
• Patience isn't passive—it's faith in slow motion
• The testimony of Relate Church's building purchase shows how patience with God's timeline leads to greater blessings
• Culture tells us to hurry, but Scripture repeatedly tells us to wait, be still, and abide

Join a small group this week to continue growing together, and don't miss First Wednesday service for a special time of communion and worship.

Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today’s message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved

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This Sunday we celebrated all of the Middle school, High School, and College Graduates, while also giving them and their parents some Godly advice on how to approach the future.

Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today’s message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved

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This week, we turn the spotlight on one of the most infamous figures in Scripture—Judas Iscariot. His story reminds us that sin rarely starts big. It begins in the shadows: with impropriety, jealousy, and indignation that go unchecked. In this episode, Pastor Angela unpacks the slow drift of Judas’s heart, showing how sin grows silently when ignored—and how even those closest to Jesus aren't immune to betrayal.

From a hidden hand in the money bag to a public kiss of betrayal, this message explores how inward compromise becomes outward collapse. Using key scriptures from Matthew 26–27, John 12–13, and Acts 1, we’re warned: "Sin never wants to stay small."

🔎 You’ll walk away challenged to check your heart, guard your integrity, and bring even the smallest compromises into the light before they take root.

Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today’s message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved

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Baby Monsters: Big Trouble Starts Small We’re diving into the small attitudes, hidden sins, and quiet compromises that—if left alone—grow up into something destructive. This series is all about exposing those baby monsters before they grow teeth.

Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today’s message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved