What if the most important work God wants to do isn’t through your talent but within your character? We open Galatians 5 and follow Paul’s bold contrast between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit, moving from activity and achievement to identity and transformation. No spiritual shortcuts, no legalism—just the strange, freeing path of surrender that lets the Spirit grow what our willpower can’t.

We start with the nine qualities that form one unified fruit: love that gives itself away, joy that isn’t held hostage by circumstances, peace that steadies a troubled heart, and patience that’s forged in real community with real people. From kindness and goodness to faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, we explore how each quality reflects the life of Jesus taking root in us. Along the way, we talk honestly about the friction of church life and how God uses proximity to imperfect people to sand off our rough edges.