Son-Rise Christian Church, Marshfield, MO

You don’t need me to tell you that we live in a world is that is quite content with broken vows, and will accept the flimsiest excuse for unkept promises. Our culture says that if something becomes inconvenient or it no longer suits you, then just quit. Leave. Move on to the next thing. But we have been saved by a faithful Savior to serve a faithful God who’s put His faithful Spirit in our hearts to make us a faithful people.

Our version of good is what makes us happy- what gets us closer to our goal. What’s good is what’s good for me. However, when Paul writes “the fruit of the Spirit is…goodness,” he has in mind something much richer, much deeper, and much fuller than we do when we say, “This is good cake, Today was a good day, I’m doing good. They’re good people.”

What does it mean to be kind? Is it just being nice? Is it that perfunctory politeness that we use to grease our daily interactions and get what we want out of life? No. Paul says the Holy Spirit is trying to grow in us something more than just good manners, or a polite society. Kindness goes much deeper.

When we clothe ourselves in patience, we not only display patience toward others, but it brings something out of us as well. It inspires us to become more than we already are. We become more like Jesus.

Love is the first attribute of the Spirit’s fruit that Paul mentions. It is no surprise that Love should come first. Love becomes the fount from which joy overflows. Love is the anchor which gives peace in the storm. Love is the sun that shines forth the rays of kindness. Love makes tender the heart that is gentle.

The same God that knows every number of every hair on your head, the same God that knows you, that calls you by name, that has your name written on the palm of His hand, and written it down in the Book of Life, that same God loves and cares just as much for your lost friends.

This sermon examines additional threads that knit the soul of Jonathan to the soul of David. Soul friendship is something severely lacking in most modern relationships. What can we learn from these close friends?

After his victory in defeating Goliath David descends into one of the deepest, darkest valleys of his life. Goliath may not have been the biggest giant David had to face. That towering enemy was the jealousy of King Saul. Jealousy is a natural human emotion, but the wrong ingredients can turn jealousy into a deadly poison.

Looking at a stat sheet, David faced insurmountable odds when he took on Goliath. But there were a number of small factors that contributed to his victory. However, when you add faith in an all-powerful God into the mix no odds are insurmountable, and even the small factors matter greatly.

Israel’s longtime nemisis, the Philistines have invaded, and this time they’ve brought a secret weapon – a giant named Goliath. The only thing is he’s not the real giant in the story.