Sermon Notes 30 November 2025

Series: Fruit That Lasts – Living the Spirit-Filled Life
Week 5 –  Love, Kindness & Goodness: Strong Enough To Form 
Pastor Ryan Perry Sermon 30 November 2025
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Series Theme

• The Holy Spirit doesn’t just give power—He grows the life of Jesus in us.
• Power without character is dangerous; gifts without growth are hollow.
• Discipleship isn’t information—it’s formation:
• Christ-likeness, shaped by the Spirit as we stay rooted in Christ.

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SUMMARY
This week, we explore three relational fruits of the Spirit. 

• Love, Kindness, and Goodness are fruits that do far more than make us “nice.”
• They restore, protect, set boundaries, break cycles, speak truth, and form the life of Christ in us.
• The world offers versions of these virtues that are sentimental, shallow, or enabling.
• But the Spirit grows in us a strong, wise, courageous love that reflects Jesus Himself.

The fruits of love, kindness, and goodness are not personality traits— they are the life of Jesus growing inside you by the Spirit.

MAIN TEXTS:

• Galatians 5:22-23 — The fruit of the Spirit
• Hebrews 12:15 — Bitterness grows in silence
• Psalm 32:3 — Silence destroys peace
• Ephesians 4:15 — Speak truth in love
• Ephesians 4:32 — Kindness, tenderhearted forgiveness
• Proverbs 4:23 — Guard your heart
• Luke 5:15-16 — Jesus withdrew to pray
• Romans 12:19 — Leave vengeance to God
• Philippians 1:9 — Love must grow with discernment
• John 15:5 — Apart from Christ, we can do nothing 

MAIN POINTS:
THE FRUIT OF LOVE — LOVE SPEAKS TRUTH

• Love refuses silent resentment.
• Love confronts wisely, not impulsively.
• Love speaks truth to restore, not to win.
• Truth without love harms; love without truth enables.
• Love needs discernment (Matthew 7:6).

THE FRUIT OF KINDNESS — KINDNESS PROTECTS

• Kindness is strength wrapped in gentleness.
• Kindness disarms anger and softens hard hearts.
• Kindness protects unity, relationships, and peace.
• Kindness covers small offenses but does not enable harmful behavior.
• God’s kindness leads to repentance (Romans 2:4).

THE FRUIT OF GOODNESS — GOODNESS SETS BOUNDARIES

• Goodness is courageous love.
• Goodness says “no” to harmful patterns.
• Goodness refuses to rescue people from the consequences God is using to teach them.
• Goodness protects your heart, time, peace, and calling.
• Jesus Himself practiced healthy boundaries.
• Goodness ends destructive cycles (2 Thess. 3:10).

LOVE MUST GROW IN WISDOM

• Love must be guided by knowledge and discernment (Philippians 1:9).
• Not every situation is ready for truth.
• Not every person can bear certain conversations yet (John 16:12).
• Wise love knows when to speak and when to cover.
• Wise love restores gently (Galatians 6:1).

RESPONSE & REFLECTION
Ask the Spirit:

1. Where do I need to speak truth in love?
2. Where do I need to show protective kindness?
3. Where do I need to set godly boundaries?
4. Where have I enabled instead of loved?
5. Where have I been harsh instead of truthful?
6. Where have I been silent instead of wise?

PRAYER
Holy Spirit, form Christ in me. Grow in me a love that restores, a kindness that protects, and a goodness that stands firm. Teach me to speak truth with wisdom, set boundaries with courage, and love with the heart of Jesus.
 Amen.

TAKE-HOME FOR THE WEEK

• Love speaks truth — not to win, but to heal.
• Kindness protects — it does not enable.
• Goodness sets boundaries — it does not retaliate.
• Wisdom guides all three.
• Christ forms these in you as you abide, not strive.