The Fruits of The Spirit
19 Apr 2009
I’m about to start a series in our Sunday services on the Fruits of the Spirit (all my sunday talks appear here). One book I’ll be making frequent reference to is, by my mate Alan Mann. Alan was a co-author of several books with Steve Chalke, including the infamous, Lost Message of Jesus.
Alan’s latest book, is I think his best and is starting to develop some appropriate momentum, titled, ‘A Permanent Becoming‘.
So not only is this one of the only books on the Fruits of the Spirit, it’s focus on the mundane of life, compared the the thrills of consumer society, and and hype of much of the Christian life and church, is refreshing. But it’s not a jeremiad, rather a revolutionary call to a way of life so intrinsic to the Christian Faith, yet so easily missed in our attention deficit world.
Here’s the quote I wrote that was printed on the back of the book:
”In our secular world becoming a christian is almost synonymous with becoming a ‘worse’ person, and somehow less than ‘human’. Through a beautiful and compelling exposition of the ‘Fruits of the Spirit’ alongside a rediscovery of the true ‘humanity’ of Jesus, Alan Mann explores how life in Christ is in fact the only way to be truly, deeply and fully human in the face of our pop-corn/microwave quick fix culture’
I couldn’t recommend it more to you all, it’s one of the best books for christian formation that I have ever read.
Tagged: Alan Mann, Books, Fruits of the Spirit, Resources
15 comments
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Comment by Hugh McClintock
10.22 am on 19 Apr 2009
Jason thank you for breaking the “sound barrier” on the Fruit of the Spirit. It seems we are so consumed with the outward acts more than how God is working on the inside via the fruit. Shouldn’t we be more concerned about helping others discover how He is working in their lives rather than outward appearances? Once people can see how God is at work in their lives they will get so excited and will not help but speak what they have seen and heard from Acts 4. So, go for it and please share with us what He is showing you.
Comment by Jason Clark
6.26 am on 21 Apr 2009
Cultivation of virtues, seems to counter cultural, and on very few agendas, yet it might be the primary work of the Holy Spirit. Great to hear from you Hugh.
Comment by Existential Punk
8.02 pm on 19 Apr 2009
Jase,
i love this part of the quote you shared, ”In our secular world becoming a christian is almost synonymous with becoming a ‘worse’ person, and somehow less than ‘human’.”
People are so very concerned with looking at the specks in the eyes of others rather than dealing with the planks in their own eyes. They get so overly concerned about being the ones who are right, those who are correct in their interpretations of scripture, that ‘their’ beliefs become the priority rather than relationships and dealing with their own stuff. This is why Christianity gets a bad rap. It is many Christians who act so un-Christ-like and ungenerous and un loving. At least this is my personal experience and from interacting with people who want NOTHING to do with Christianity. They, myself included, are very tired of all the hypocrisy.
i was in a charismatic fundamentalist church at one point in my life. We studied the Galatians passage on the fruit of the spirit but i never saw any changes in many people. Why is that do you think?
Thanks for a great thought-provoking post!
Warmest Regards,
EP
Comment by Jason Clark
6.28 am on 21 Apr 2009
I think you see that with a lot of Christians, but I think you also see it with most people. It’s the human condition.
The fruits of the spirit are a radical re-orientation by jesus t that condition aren’t they?
Cheers, Jase
Comment by JG
9.24 am on 20 Apr 2009
EP, your post appears to illustrate the very issue you complain about. My experience is that most expressions of faith (and non faith) have their strengths and weaknesses, good points and bad points. It is all too easy to focus on the strengths and good points of your position and the weaknesses and bad points of the position other people hold.
Comment by Jason Clark
6.30 am on 21 Apr 2009
Certainly is JG, I wrote some thoughts on that process here:
http://jasonclark.ws/2007/08/14/our-best-their-worst/
Might be of interest, warmly, Jason
Comment by Paul
10.26 am on 20 Apr 2009
It’s a lil bit cheesy but the best quote for me on the fruits of the spirit is…
“If someone prays for patience, do you think God gives them patience? Or does He give them the opportunity to be patient? If they pray for courage, does God give them courage or does He give them the opportunity to be courageous? If someone prayed for their family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings? Or does He give them opportunities to love each other?”
Morgan Freeman in Evan Almighty
Comment by Jason Clark
6.32 am on 21 Apr 2009
very apt
However in your case, “If someone prays for patience, do you think God gives them patience? Or does He bring Paul Mayers into their lives?”
Comment by Phil Groom
12.48 pm on 20 Apr 2009
Good to see you pushing this, Jason: couldn’t agree more with that final sentence! Have just tweeted it.
Comment by Jason Clark
6.32 am on 21 Apr 2009
Tnx Phil, the more I re-read the book the more amazing I think it is
Comment by john chandler
2.19 pm on 20 Apr 2009
Thanks for the mention of this book Jason. I wasn’t familiar with it, but added it to my Wish List.
Comment by Andy Kinsey
10.13 pm on 20 Apr 2009
Jason:
I look forward to reading it. Thanks for recommending it.
Andy Kinsey
Comment by Jason Clark
6.33 am on 21 Apr 2009
Let us know what you think Andy. BTW are you able to make the Trinity conference in June?
Comment by Jon Hallewell
9.31 pm on 23 Apr 2009
Thanks for this Jason,
I am trying to put a series together for June on the fruits of the spirit, so the book recommendation comes in handy. How are you structuring your series?
Comment by Jason
6.03 am on 24 Apr 2009
I’m doing an introduction to the series and the fruits then working through them, two at a time on sundays.
Jase
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