Help me define the fruits of the Spirit?

Question

I am trying to define the terms: Gentleness and Goodness in the Christian perspective, as they are mentioned as the Fruits of the Spirit.

I have read the Bible, multiple times, I know what I am talking about, I am not asking you to preach to me. I have to teach these concepts to young children and I just want to get some ideas of ways to explain it to them.

Answer 1

Nice questions

Gentleness - speaking softly and with kindness, even when your insides are wrapped in a knot, or when the truth is a difficult one to speak.

Goodness - that which does no harm, and brings benifit (including delight) to those involved.

*edit* It's obvious to me from reading the answers above me that generousity is not a fruit of the spirit. Too bad. I would love to see others personal definitions of these. Kind of like the passage in Luke where Christ asks who the people say he is, then he asks "But who do you say I am" - For me, practicing my spirituality means getting personal with it - asking 'But what do I think this says'. I was taught to read and to study with the following steps (Read, mark, learn and inwardly digest).

Answer 2

The fruits of the Spirit is the outward manifestation of the Holy Spirit on the inside of the believer. Gentleness doesn't mean to be weak or passive. It means to develop a gentle way of doing things in order not to cause confusion or strife. Like a gentle answer when someone angry or mean says something to you. Goodness is when we carry in our hearts the intent and motive to do good. God looks at the heart so when we make a mistake because we intended good but it turns out to hurt someone it is still goodness in the sight of God as long as we go to the person and ask their forgiveness. Goodness is in giving, loving, and spending time with and helping people whenever / where ever you can.

Answer 3

The Blessed Mother personifies all those things, so she is the best example of the work or fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Mary is the masterwork of the joint mission of the Son and the Spirit. She was a worthy dwelling place where the Son and Spirit could dwell among men. She is the "Seat of Wisdom." In her, the Spirit's wonders began to be manifest.

She was "full of grace" so she could carry Jesus "in whom the fullness of the deity dwells bodily" (Col 2:9). Conceived without sin, she was capable of welcoming this inexpressible gift of the Almighty. In Mary, the Spirit fulfilled the Father's plan, making her virginity uniquely fruitful in the birth of the Son.

Peace and blessings!

Answer 4

Galatians 5:19-21 are the works of the flesh :22-25 are the fruits of the spirit

Answer 5

First of all, it's not "fruits" of the Spirit, it's "fruit" of the Spirit. Read Galatians. It's all in there. Do you have a good concordance? There is also an excellent Bible Words book out there by Zondervan. All good for deeper research.

Answer 6

Spiritual light unquestionably helps us to display goodness. In addition, we are able to manifest this quality because we are led by God’s holy spirit, or active force. Goodness is part of “the fruitage of the spirit.” (Galatians 5:22, 23) If we yield to the guidance of Jehovah’s holy spirit, it will produce in us its wonderful fruit of goodness.

9 Our keen desire to please Jehovah by displaying the spirit’s fruit of goodness should move us to act in harmony with Jesus’ words: “Keep on asking, and it will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you. For everyone asking receives, and everyone seeking finds, and to everyone knocking it will be opened. Indeed, which father is there among you who, if his son asks for a fish, will perhaps hand him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he also asks for an egg, will hand him a scorpion? Therefore, if you, although being [imperfect and thus comparatively] wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him!” (Luke 11:9-13) Let us follow Jesus’ counsel by praying for Jehovah’s spirit so that we can keep on displaying its fruit of goodness.The apostle Paul included mildness in his list of “the fruitage of the spirit,” found at Galatians 5:22, 23. The Greek word that is translated “mildness” in verse 23 in the New World Translation is often rendered “meekness” or “gentleness” in other versions of the Bible. The fact is that it is difficult to find an exact equivalent for this Greek word in most other languages because the original term describes, not outward gentleness or meekness, but inward mildness and graciousness; not the manner of one’s behavior, but the condition of one’s mind and heart.

Answer 7

fruits of the spirit of christianity..... the blowing up of abortion clinics.... the murder of John Lennon... the murder of people falsely accused through burnings and hangings.... the KKK the Inquisitions and crusades... and the hypocrisy... that's not my idea of christianity.... truth doesn't need to constantly be twisted and supported by brainwashing tactics called bible studies.... the fruits of the spirit of christianity is evil... and the devil will mislead many... and every christian is a testament to the fools who believe and follow blindly the devil and his work

Answer 8

Love

Answer 9

Read the Book of Galatians in the Bible and God bless you.

Answer 10

since you haven't opened the Bible yet...
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.