October 27, 2024 • Alex Smith • Galatians 5:22–23, 2 Timothy 1:7
Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control
Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness
October 20, 2024 • Alex Smith • Matthew 11:28–30, Matthew 5:5, 1 Peter 3:15–16
Pastor Alex Smith continues the Fruit of the Spirit series with a message on the transformative power of gentleness. He begins by addressing anger and gentleness in real-life conflicts, explaining how we can let go of rage by embracing Jesus’ example of love and forgiveness. Pastor Alex highlights how embracing gentleness can revolutionize your relationships and bring you closer to Jesus.
Key points covered:
· Gentleness is strength with humility, not weakness
· Jesus modeled gentleness despite having ultimate power
· Learn to find rest by cultivating a gentle spirit
You'll explore:
· How gentleness differs from the world's aggressive approach
· Why gentle responses often yield better results in conflicts
· The challenge of staying gentle when you believe you're right
Pastor Alex uses relatable examples to illustrate his points:
· Comparing spiritual growth to improving at pickleball
· How gentleness disarms arguments more effectively than force
· Historical examples like the Civil Rights Movement and abolitionism, demonstrating gentleness's lasting impact
Practical takeaways:
· Identify areas in your life where you need to practice more gentleness
· Understand how spending time with God shapes a gentle spirit
· Learn to trust Jesus' way, even when immediate results aren't visible
This sermon challenges you to embrace gentleness in a harsh world. You'll be inspired to let the Holy Spirit cultivate this fruit in your life, leading to more Christ-like interactions and trusting that God's way will bring deeper peace and transformation.
Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness
October 13, 2024 • Nick Nixon • Galatians 5:16–23
Connection Coordinator Nick Nixon continues the Fruit of the Spirit message series, focusing on faithfulness and what it looks like in our everyday lives.
Through thought-provoking stories, an unexpected encounter, and a courageous rescue in the dark, you’ll discover how faithfulness goes beyond words and becomes faith in action.
This message unpacks:
- What it means to grow in faithfulness
- How the Holy Spirit guides you in your spiritual walk
- Why practicing obedience, not perfection, is key
- The power of community in nurturing your faith
- God's unwavering faithfulness and its impact on your life
You’ll also explore practical ways to stay rooted in God’s Word, trust Him in all things, and experience radical dependence on the Holy Spirit. Whether you're seeking to deepen your relationship with God or understand how to walk in the Spirit, this sermon offers valuable insights and encouragement.
Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness
October 6, 2024 • Alex Smith • 1 Peter 2:14, Ephesians 2:8–10, Romans 8:27–29
In this sermon, Pastor Alex explores the Fruit of the Spirit, focusing on *goodness*. While goodness can be hard to define, it's much more than simply avoiding sin or being nice. Pastor Alex dives into how our understanding of "good" often shifts depending on societal and personal perspectives, but biblical goodness has a clear, purposeful meaning.
True goodness in a Christian context is both morally upright and active. It’s about doing good works and showing the world what God’s kingdom looks like in action. Drawing from 1 Peter 2:14, Ephesians 2:8-10, and Romans 8:27-29, Pastor Alex reminds us that biblical goodness is meant to heal, restore, and transform. Whether it's through justice, mercy, or caring for others, goodness reflects God's will and calls us to participate in His work of restoration.
Key points covered:
- The challenge of defining biblical goodness
- Common misconceptions about being "good"
- Establishing the Bible as our foundation for understanding goodness
- Active goodness vs. simply avoiding sin
- How goodness fits into God’s plan for restoring the world
- Practical ways to live out godly goodness in our everyday lives
This message encourages believers to move beyond surface-level morality and embrace a transformative goodness that reflects Christ's love. Whether you've been walking with God for years or are just beginning to explore faith, this sermon provides valuable insights on living a life of true goodness, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Tune in to learn how we can become the "good" our world desperately needs.
Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness
September 29, 2024 • Alex Smith • Luke 10:25–37
Discover the transformative power of kindness in "The Risk of Kindness: Loving When It's Inconvenient" with Pastor Alex Smith from The Orchard Church. This compelling sermon challenges us to embody God's compassion, even when it's difficult or goes unappreciated.
Drawing from the parable of the Good Samaritan and Jesus' example, Pastor Alex explores how true kindness goes beyond superficial actions. He encourages us to step out of our comfort zones, take risks, and demonstrate "useful love" that meets real needs.
Key themes include:
- Kindness as intentional, sacrificial love
- The challenge of consistency in showing compassion
- Honoring God through acts of kindness, regardless of others' responses
- Breaking barriers and loving in unexpected ways
Whether you're seeking to mend relationships or positively impact your community, this message will inspire you to spread kindness with purpose and perseverance. Learn how small acts of love can create lasting change and reflect God's heart for humanity.
Watch now to be challenged and equipped to love others radically, even when it's inconvenient. Discover the risk—and reward—of Christ-like kindness in a world that desperately needs it.
Fruit of the Spirit: Patience
September 22, 2024 • Alex Smith • Ephesians 4:2, Romans 12:12, Proverbs 14:29, Habakkuk 2:3, Galatians 6:9
What does it mean to truly be patient? In this week's message, Pastor Alex Smith explores patience as a fruit of the Spirit, revealing how God calls us to endure life's challenges and difficult people with love and hope. Discover the power of patience in your spiritual journey. This sermon challenges you to cultivate this virtue in a world obsessed with instant gratification.
Key points:
- Biblical definition of patience
- Patience in dealing with difficult people and situations
- The difference between worldly patience and spiritual patience
- How patience relates to loving God and loving others
- Practical ways to grow in patience
Drawing from Scripture including Proverbs 14:29, Ephesians 4:2, Habakkuk 2:3, and Galatians 6:9, this message challenges us to:
- Respond with love rather than anger
- Show grace to those who test our patience
- Trust in God's timing and sovereign plan
From waiting for eternity to handling life's daily frustrations, Biblical patience is about loving God and others in a world that often pushes us to react quickly. Discover how patience transforms us and those around us, allowing us to reflect God's love even in chaotic times. Dive into Scripture and learn why playing the long game is worth it.
Fruit of the Spirit: Peace
September 15, 2024 • Alex Smith • John 14:25–31
Pastor Alex Smith continues our Fruit of the Spirit series, focusing on peace. In John 14:25-31, If you’ve ever felt like life is pulling you in a million directions, or if the world around you feels chaotic, you’re not alone. But here’s the good news: Jesus offers you a peace that’s different from anything the world can give. Jesus offers a calm that goes beyond understanding.
In this message, we’ll talk about how you can find that peace in your own life. Whether you’re dealing with real challenges or just overwhelmed by everything happening around you, Jesus offers you calm in the middle of it all. The Holy Spirit brings peace, even when things feel out of control. You don’t have to carry all that anxiety on your own. And it’s not just for you—it’s something you can share with others who need it.
If life feels overwhelming, or you’re stuck in the cycle of “what ifs,” this message is for you. If you’re feeling anxious or unsure about the future, this message is for you. Discover how to find peace, live in it, and share it with a world that desperately needs it.
Fruit of the Spirit: Joy
September 8, 2024 • Alex Smith • Galatians 5:19–25, 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Philippians 4:4–7, Psalm 30:5, Nehemiah 8:9–10
This week, we’re continuing our Fruit of the Spirit series by talking about joy. Pastor Alex Smith draws from Galatians 5:22-25, Philippians 4:4-7, Psalm 30:5, and other key passages to dive into the meaning of joy and how to maintain it in every circumstance.
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “rejoice always,” but how do you actually live that out when life is hard? From everyday frustrations to major challenges—whether it’s job loss, relationship struggles, or just the stress of life—joy can feel really hard to hold onto.
But true joy isn’t tied to fleeting moments or dopamine rushes; it’s rooted in our identity as children of God and sustained by His presence. In a world addicted to temporary happiness, explore how joy transcends our circumstances and serves as a powerful tool against emotional defeat. With God’s help, you can experience this deep, abiding joy that strengthens us even in the midst of life’s toughest challenges.
Learn how you can find joy in knowing who you are in Christ and why it’s not just for you. The world around you needs that quiet, steady joy that comes from knowing God is with you, even in the middle of the mess.
If you’ve struggled to find joy lately, you’re not alone. Let’s walk through what it means to rejoice always, trusting that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Let’s seek His presence, draw near, and ask for His joy to fill our hearts.
Don't miss this powerful message!
Fruit of the Spirit: LOVE
September 1, 2024 • Michele Lewis • Galatians 5:22–23, 1 Corinthians 13, John 15:13, 1 John 4:7–12, Romans 12:9–10
What does love in action really look like? In this sermon, you'll explore the true meaning of love as described in Scripture and how it serves as the foundation for your life. From the unconditional, sacrificial love of Christ to the love that sustains deep friendships, this message challenges you to reflect on how love shapes your relationships and faith. Discover how love can be a powerful witness to a world in need of hope and healing. Watch and be inspired to let love guide your every word, action, and thought.
Galatians 5:22-23
1 Corinthians 13
John 15:13
1 John 3:11
1 John 4:7-12
Matthew 22:36-39
Galatians 5:6
Proverbs 3:3-4
Micah 6:8
Romans 12:9-10
1 Corinthians 13:13
