Connect How can you use your rest times this week to draw closer to Jesus?

Warm-Up

1. Do you think we live in an impatient world? Why or why not?
2. Is there someone you know who seems particularly patient? Why do you think that’s the case?
3. When was Jesus patient with his disciples, other people, or even his circumstances? 

Read Galatians 5:22-25

4. What are the various dimensions of the fruit of the Spirit? Are they one fruit or many?
5. In what way does growing in the fruit of the Spirit, involve both a ‘taking off’ and a ‘putting on’?
6. Is there a particular dimension that you find challenging? How could you grow in it?
7. Do you ever find yourself impatient? Are there particular circumstances or scenarios in which you particularly find it difficult to be patient? (e.g., people, projects, personal longings, problems/pain)

Read John 2:1-12

8. What were weddings like in the first century? How significant was it to run out of wine?
9. Why did Mary go to Jesus? What did Jesus mean by “my hour has not yet come”? Why then did he still do the miracle of turning the water into wine? (Think about what this may have pointed to.)
10. What long vision do you think Jesus had in mind (which we share)? How did he trust God’s purposes?
11. When did Jesus’ hour actually come? How did Jesus fundamentally trust in God’s timing?
12. Can you think of times when Jesus’ closest friends or family wanted him to ‘expedite’ God’s plans?
    When do you feel most tempted to move ahead or apart from God’s purposes or timing?
13. Do you ever find it difficult to trust patiently in God’s purposes and timing? How can you show the fruit of the Spirit more in your life in patience?
14. How do you think God has been patient with you? How have other people shown you patience?
15. What is your daily pattern of prayer? Do you pray daily for the fruit of the Spirit to flourish in your life? (You might like to consider using the simple form of prayer by John Stott.)

Apply What is one area in which you could grow in patience by trusting God’s purposes and timing more?

On Your Front Line this Week

Who are the three people you are praying for to invite to Alpha?

For Families

• Download: some of the family resources to use at home: stbartskids.org

Listen, Watch, and Read

• Book: “Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit: Growing in Christ’s Likeness” by Christopher Wright: https://bit.ly/3sE81la 
• Article: “John Stott’s Morning Trinitarian Prayer” via the Gospel Coalition:
  https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevin-wax/john-stotts-morning-trinitarian-prayer/ 
• Book: “Three Mile an Hour God” by Kosuke Koyama: https://bit.ly/48aYwdM   
• Study: “The Virtue of Patience” via Christianity Today: https://bit.ly/3Pffe2R 
• Listen: “Gazing at God’s Goodness: Patience” by Andew West:
  https://thebridgechurch.org.au/bibletalks/patience/ 

Series Resources

• Book: “Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit: Growing in Christ’s Likeness” by Christopher Wright: https://bit.ly/3sE81la  
• Book: “Friendship with God” by Mike McKinley: https://bit.ly/3RdCkc A 
• Sermon Series: “Fruit of the Spirit and the Character of Jesus” by Timothy Keller: https://bit.ly/3r5alRY  
• Book (regarding patience): “Becoming Friends of Time” by John Swinton: https://bit.ly/45YskJ7 (or in the St Bart’s Library: https://bit.ly/3r5dyRo )