REDEEMING THE CHAOS

The Fruit of the Spirit: What we’ve been getting wrong

Laurie Christine

July 11, 2024

The Bible has a lot to say about growing things. From cultivating the soil, to planting seeds, to watering the plants, to producing fruit.

One of the most well-known passages on fruit is found in Galatians 5.

I imagine you may have memorized this verse when you were little, and you’ve maybe even learned songs about the fruit of the spirit. I know for me, I always have to sing the song in my head to make sure I remember all of them.

In case you need a reminder, the fruit of the spirit is NOT a coconut. If you want to be a coconut, you might as well hear it, you can’t be a fruit of the Spirit. The fruit is: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control. Listen to the song here.

So, why are these particular character qualities important, and how do we teach them to our children? And what have we been doing wrong?

We have a guest on the show today who is also a mom of boys, and she is here to talk to us about the Fruit of the Spirit.

Christie Thomas is a mom and author with over a decade of experience as a children’s ministries director. She deeply believes that every Christian parent can confidently nurture deep faith in her kids through tiny habits that add up over time. Her devotionals and children’s books help parents cultivate faith-filled moments with their kids. She lives with her husband and three boys in Alberta, Canada.

SUMMARY

In this episode of Redeeming the Chaos, the Laurie Christine discusses the concept of the fruit of the Spirit. Guest Christy Thomas, a mom of three boys and an author with extensive experience in Children’s Ministries, shares her insights on nurturing deep faith in children through small habits. Laurie and Christy discuss common misconceptions about the fruit of the Spirit, the role of the Holy Spirit in fostering these qualities, and practical ways parents can instill these values in their kids. Christy also introduces her books Fruit Full, a family devotional on the fruit of the Spirit, and Little Habits Big Faith, which focuses on forming small, impactful habits to nurture faith in children.

OUTLINE

Christy’s Family and Homeschooling Journey

Understanding the Fruit of the Spirit

Misunderstandings About the Fruit of the Spirit

Therapeutic Moral Deism Explained

Teaching the Fruit of the Spirit with Grace

Christy’s Book: Fruit Full

Christy’s Book: Little Habits, Big Faith

Practical Tips for Family Discipleship

MAIN POINTS

The Three Ms: Metaphors, Memorizing, and Morals

Metaphors: How children struggle with understanding metaphors and similes
- Example: Comparing peace to a peach and joy to a banana
Memorizing: The importance and limitations of scripture memorization
Morals: Turning the fruit of the spirit into a moral checklist and the pitfalls of legalism

Therapeutic Moral Deism

Explanation of Therapeutic Moral Deism
Discussion on how this belief system diverges from true Christian teachings
The impact of Therapeutic Moral Deism on children’s understanding of faith

Teaching the Fruit of the Spirit with Grace

How to approach teaching the fruit of the spirit from a grace-infused perspective
Practical examples and advice for parents
Importance of focusing on the Holy Spirit’s role in character development