English (United States) 
Part 3 of 4
"Growth" from the Summer 2014 VISION Newsletter
The growth in spiritual fruit:
Jesus described the growth of discipleship in terms of being fruitful. In John chapter 15, we can read: I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing… By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
As he so often did in his ministry, the Apostle Paul clarifies the words of Jesus and gives us a detailed understanding of spiritual fruitfulness.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, selfcontrol. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
A healthy congregation should support the growth of this fruit. And the growth can be measured! It can be as evident as the explosion of nature’s springtime growth!