Focus On The Fruit

• You’ve got a garden that grows ANY food you want, but only that food. What food would you have it grow?

• Which would break your focus more (copy and paste these into the chat to make it easier for people to discuss): nails on a chalkboard, a crying baby, a whining dog, loud music from your neighbor’s house, or a rattling ceiling fan?

• Would you rather have a free lifetime supply of your favorite fruit or eat nothing but your least favorite fruit for a week for $1,000?

Ask eGroup members to share their favorite points from the sermon, what spoke to them, a phrase or moment from the sermon they related to the most, or questions they have. If members have a hard time recalling the sermon, talk through your notes and share your favorite points.

• Tell the group about an unexpected fruit you’ve enjoyed recently. (e.g., more time for old hobbies, growing a friendship, getting better at cooking, etc.) Are there any new habits you’ve picked up?

• Read Philippians 1:22-24. Paul was in an uncertain circumstance, but he was focused on the fruit it was producing. What are some uncertainties you have right now? How have you been more focused on what’s going on around you instead of the fruit God’s growing inside you?

Fruits without roots don’t last. There are many fruits of the spirit; priorities are the root of the spirit. Let’s take some time to talk about roots we can grow to produce the fruit we want.

• Read Galatians 5:22-23. Which fruit are you seeing the most right now? Why — what have you been doing to grow that fruit? (Are there any fruits right in front of you that you aren’t recognizing?)

• Which fruit are you seeing the least? Share some examples.

• How do you need to shift your priorities to grow the fruit you’re seeing the least? (How might your focus be affecting the growth of that fruit?)

• Are there other ways God is helping you get rooted? What other priorities are shifting during these times?

Read Romans 8:24-25.  We can say “I don’t know” and still focus on having hope. 

• What are you hoping for; what fruit do you want to have when this prison sentence ends (physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc.) — post your answers in the chat using 3-4 emojis that represent the fruit you want. (Have your group share about their answers, or if you want to have some fun, let everyone take turns guessing each other’s answers.)

• All three passages we read today were written by Paul. What’s your biggest takeaway from his examples of fruit and focus?

Think back to the fruit you’ve been seeing the least. This week, change your focus — set some new priorities that will grow the roots you need to produce that fruit. (e.g., I’m struggling to see gentleness because of stress, so I’m going to focus on doing half an hour of exercise at the end of my day to help me unwind.)

Ask eGroup members to share any prayer requests they have. Record any notes or prayer requests to pray for members during the week.

Father, thank You for the focus You have on helping us be fruitful. Thank You for how You’re using everything around us to accomplish what You want to do within us. We want to share Your focus; challenge us to develop priorities that produce fruit no matter what uncertainties we face, and give us a perspective that stays focused on the fruit. In Jesus’ name, amen.