Greater Fruit

WELCOME

“My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.” — John 15:8

It's hard to avoid the performance trap when everyone is consumed with wins, but Jesus wants to produce a different kind of fruit (outcome or result) that will last forever.

WARM-UP

UNDER YOUR SKIN

Look around at the group and think about the first things that come to mind based solely on what you know about their athletic abilities. Then, look again and think about their character or personality.

Q: Would you rather be judged on your outward performance or inward character?

Q: Why do you think it’s easier to see outward traits and performance-based results rather than inward traits?

WORKOUT

UNDER THE JERSEY

Back in 1973, Tom Osborne took over as Nebraska’s head football coach and took full advantage of NCAA rules by having 180 players on the roster (compared to 105 players allowed today)—many of them walk-on, non-scholarship players.

Some would stick through preseason camp long enough to be in the team picture but would eventually quit as practice got tougher and more demanding. From the photo and the jerseys they wore, they’d be on the team, but in actuality, their time was short-lived.

Osborne understood that competition reveals character. He was more concerned about what was represented under the jersey. Osborne knew that their character would make or break their performance on the field, their impact in the locker room, their results in the classroom, and their future away from athletics.

Q: What are some aspects of your character that sports can sometimes reveal (good or bad)?

Q: In what areas of your life away from sports can your character make an impact?

UNDER THE SURFACE

When Jesus was traveling from town to town and teaching the Truth about God, religious leaders were good at looking good on the surface. They wore the right clothes, said the right words, and performed the right rituals.

But Jesus was far more interested in what was under the surface and inside a person’s heart. He cared about inward character over outward performance. In John 8, we see this principle carried out in a metaphor—what Jesus describes as the vine, the branches, and its fruit. Many years later, the apostle Paul would list nine characteristics that a follower of

Christ should have on the inside:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.” – Galatians 5:22–23

For a competitor, here’s what that looks like:

Showing love (and respect) when you’re winning.

Having joy and peace when you’re losing.

Displaying patience and kindness when a teammate is messing up.

Embracing goodness when others are breaking the rules.

Choosing faithfulness when friends are giving up.

Demonstrating gentleness when opponents are talking trash.

Focusing on self-control when things don’t go your way.

Q: Which fruit of the Spirit do you struggle with the most?

Q: How do you think having the fruit of the Spirit inside you might change your perspective in competition and life?

WRAP-UP

GREATER FRUIT

Staying connected to Jesus will allow Him to cultivate lasting, godly characteristics inside of you. Here are three kinds of greater fruit that He wants to produce through your life:

1. Fresh fruit. Godly characteristics can be produced no matter what the circumstance—good or bad.

“Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” — James 1:2–3

2. Healthy fruit. Godly characteristics are for your benefit and the benefit of others.

“So that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God.” — Colossians 1:10

3. Lasting fruit. Godly characteristics can be produced consistently and have a long-term impact on those around you.

“He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” — Psalm 1:3

OVERTIME

Below are some scenarios you might face as an athlete. Draw two columns, write down a good fruit (from Galatians 3:22–23) and a bad fruit for each:

Athlete Scenarios :

Winning Big

Losing Badly

Opponents Cheating

Getting benched

List Good Fruit examples using the scripture and list Bad Fruit examples:

Example: Athlete Scenario:Winning Big: (Good Fruit: Love, respect, etc...); (Bad Fruit: Pride, disrespect, etc...)