Fruit of the Spirit Binoculars

 

            Today's Snack: Naturally, given today's activity about "the fruit of the spirit," we have to have fruit! Arrange beautiful fruit on a platter: peach slices, pear slices, cherries, grapes, kiwi slices, strawberries, apple slices, orange slices, banana slices . . . spend 1 second looking at it, and then gobble it all up with joy. It's also fun to offer a bowl of flavored yogurt, and stick each piece of fruit with a toothpick and dip into the yogurt dip.

 

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Supplies:

Bible | dictionary

2 toilet paper tubes per student | construction paper |

Markers or colored pencils | tape | stickers

 

 

            People who are spiritually mature are supposed to show "the fruit of the Spirit." By this, we mean the results of being influenced by the Holy Spirit of God.

 

Read Galatians 5:22 aloud:

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

 

Discuss the meaning of those nine words. You might need a dictionary to fully understand some terms, including "temperance."

 

It's a great idea to memorize those nine words. To make it easy, memorize them in three groups of three: "love, joy, peace," and then "longsuffering, gentleness, goodness" and finally "faith, meekness, temperance."

 

If you live by those nine things, you will have a very happy life.

 

When we talk about "the fruit of the Spirit," we don't mean apples, oranges and bananas. It's not THAT kind of fruit! By "fruit," we mean results - evidence - what shows.

 

Just as you can see red apples on an apple tree and see that tree's fruit, a Christian should show these spiritual fruits so that others will know that the person is a Christian, living life under the control of the Holy Spirit.

 

If you look, you can see these good things all around you in your family and friends. So let's make a special point to start looking for the fruit of the Spirit!

 

Let's make some special binoculars to do just that.

 

Lay two toilet-paper tubes side by side. Measure their length. Now cut a rectangle of construction paper that's just as tall as they are, and only a little tiny bit wider.

 

Write the nine words of the fruit of the Spirit on the paper. Wrap the toilet-paper tubes so that they are inside the construction paper with the words outside. Tape it shut.

 

Now decorate the rest of your "binoculars" with stickers in between the nine words.

 

For the rest of the session, and later, at home, when you look at the world through these special "Fruit of the Spirit" binoculars, notice the things that show the work of the Holy Spirit! Talk about them with others. Look for evidence of the "Fruit of the Spirit," and train your eyes to see it . . . especially in your own life!

 

Where do you see:

 

Love

Joy

Peace

Longsuffering

Gentleness

Goodness

Faith

Meekness

Temperance