About the Series
August 2024
Created for Community. Transformed by Community.
We communicate the good news of the Gospel in 10 words: God Creates, Sin Breaks, Jesus Saves, Jesus Transforms, and God Restores. This is the most important message in the world, and understanding it changes everything!
The Gospel explains why and how we were made. We are meant for community, designed to live interconnected with God and our spiritual family. Jesus saves us into a family and then uses that family to transform us to be more like Him. At Bible Center, we encourage everyone to have a group to experience this life-changing Gospel community.
Messages in this Series
Shawn Thornton - June 22, 2025
Self-Control
The Power to Bear Fruit: Self-Control that Lasts
Scripture References: John 15:1-8
From Series: "Real Fruit: Outcomes of Transformation"
The gospel becomes visible in our lives through what Paul describes as “fruit” of the Spirit in Galatians 5. This fruit is evidence that the Holy Spirit is at work within us, shaping us to become more like Jesus. As we follow Him, we begin to reflect His character, both personally and in how we interact with the world around us. In our part of the world, we often think of Christlikeness as simply the absence of sin—or personal holiness. Instead, fruits of the Spirit point to a transformation that impacts our relationships, mirroring how Jesus loved and served people in a broken world. They tie Christlikenss to relationships. As we grow, we become less satisfied with the imitation “fruit,”—inauthentic lives that may look good on the surface, but can ultimately cause harm to ourselves and others, falling short of being who Christ wants us to be. Instead, the process of transformation leads us to desire genuine fruit that reflects our Creator’s design for us and for the world around us.
