This coming Sunday, June 16, I begin a new summer sermon series titled A Fruitful Life that will explore the nine fruits of the Spirit that the apostle Paul lists in Galatians 5:22-24, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” However, before we get to these wonderful qualities that God wants to grow in our lives, we need to be aware of the alternative, a life guided not by the Spirit but by the Flesh (Sarx in the Greek). When Paul speaks of the Flesh (sarx) he does not mean to limit it to bodily desires, but to the whole of human nature, apart from God. So in Galatians 5:13 the NRSV translates this word sarx by “self-indulgence”; other translations use “sinful nature”. I like Richard Rohr’s choice of “ego” or “small self”. But the point is that our default human perspective leads to all sorts of personal and social problems and vices. We see this happening in our world today with destructive results. So this Sunday I will explore The Self-Indulgence Trap. Then in coming weeks, we will taste, enjoy and be nourished by the delicious fruits of the Spirit of God.
blessings, Ernie
To listen to my message, click on “The Self-Indulgence Trap”
