The gifts of the Spirit matter. God empowers His people for ministry, mission, healing, prophecy, service, leadership, and evangelism. But Scripture is clear: spiritual power without spiritual character is dangerous. A person can be gifted and still be immature. A church can be impressive and still be unhealthy. A leader can have influence and still lack integrity.

That is why Paul tells us in Galatians 5 that the evidence of a Spirit-filled life is not only power, but fruit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” — Galatians 5:22–23 NIV

The fruit of the Spirit is the character of Jesus being cultivated in us by the Holy Spirit.

This summer, we will walk through each fruit one week at a time and ask: What kind of people is the Holy Spirit forming us to become?

Because the goal is not merely to be more talented, more productive, more knowledgeable, or more spiritually impressive. The goal is to become more like Jesus.