North Main Street Church of God
The Fruit of Goodness
1201 North Main Street Ext. Butler, PA 16001 01/07/2023
Locations & Times
North Main Street Church of God
1201 N Main St Ext, Butler, PA 16001, USA
Sunday 10:30 AM
Sunday Morning
Join us on Sunday Mornings online where you can Check-in/Connect, Give, and Watch along with us.
https://northmaincog.org/online/Know Christ intimately,
Grow in Christ continually, and
Go for Christ daily
Check-in Here
Thanks for joining us! If it's your first time here we'd love to connect with you! Fill out the form below. <br> For our regular attenders, please check in with your name and email, if you need to update information
https://northmaincog.org/online-connection-form/Joining us online?
Thank you for joining us today! Please check in here:
https://northmaincog.org/online-connection-form/
Newcomers to North Main
If you are a newcomer, we’re so glad you’ve joined us! If you’re here in person, make sure to stop by the Welcome Center where we have a gift bag for you with some information about us and some delicious homemade chocolate chip COOKIES. <br> For those online please visit the website below and make sure to click the COMMUNICATION CARD button and fill that out so we can send you a free gift!
https://northmaincog.org/onlineChurch Mobile App
Did you know North Main has a church mobile app? Access videos anytime from your device and never miss a sermon. Securely and easily give your tithes, offerings, and donations. Instantly register for upcoming events, and stay in the know of what's happening. Contact Us at any time with a simple message. Find others in the North Main directory. To download go to:
https://northmaincog.org/app/Bible Reading Plan
Join us in 2024 as we read through the Bible in a year and highlight evidence of “GOODNESS” throughout our daily Scripture readings. Reading Guides and PURPLE highlighters are available at the Welcome Center. You can also access the resources digitally on:
https://northmaincog.org/bible/
Events
For more information about events at North Main such as our upcoming softball games, women’s hikes, classes, and groups, please make sure to stop by the Welcome Center or visit our website at
https://northmaincog.org/eventsChild Dedication
Our church commits to partnering with you as you strive to raise your children in the ways of the Lord & teach them to know, love, & serve Jesus. The next child dedication service is coming up on February 4th with a required class the week before. Registration is required so make sure to go to the Welcome Center or the website:
https://northmaincog.org/DEDICATIONCommunity Group Survey
Groups are essential to our life and purpose as a community of Christ-followers. You should have received a piece of paper with instructions on it that will take you to a form for the Community Group campaign we’re launching on January 28th. Please fill out the survey and contact the office if you have any questions!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0yjWOkc3jgURdpZlT-DivmZG_dhFpWDl6UcGuLARLwQaWWg/viewformAre you interested in being on our Hospitality team as a greeter? We have great news for you! There is a GREETER luncheon and training next week after service we’d love to invite you to. Please stop by the Welcome Center for more information or to RSVP.
Give
We thank you for your faithful gifts. You can give online and, of course, on Sundays by using the secure drop boxes located outside the doors of the Sanctuary. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS.
https://northmaincog.org/give/
(Galatians 5:22-23)
Yearly Theme: “Goodness is…”
Series Title: “Goodness: Two Sides of the Same Coin”
January 7th, 2024
Have you ever heard of these accusations? What do you think when someone calls someone else a “do-gooder?” Or, claiming someone is a “goody two shoes?” Are these titles or names meant to bring honor or to disparage? How about these terms: When someone is expressing details of their current circumstances and then someone says, “Good for you!” this isn’t always meant as a good thing. It can often mean cynically and sarcastically, “I really don’t care!” What about saying, “Well, that’s good!” when something goes terribly wrong as a sarcastic way of describing how you don’t feel? In his book, A Gardner Looks at the Fruit of the Spirit, Phillip Keller writes, “In the jargon of the world goodness is something insipid, weak, laughable, and to be despised.”[1]
As we come into a new year (2024), we do so at North Main with a focus on the fruit of the Spirit, “Goodness.” However, I’ve already read articles and listened to podcasts that are not so hopeful for the year ahead. Pessimism and negativity have already taken hold in many peoples’ minds, so much so, that the word “goodness” isn’t even in their vocabulary. But what does the Bible say about goodness? Let’s take a look:
[1] W. Phillip Keller, A Gardner Looks at the Fruit of the Spirit, (Word Books Publisher: Waco, Texas; 1979) 140.
“Goodness might appear to be the most obvious fruit of God’s Gracious Spirit. It is, however, also one of the most maligned and misunderstood.
In the original Anglo-Saxon, the very word ‘good’ carried the same connotation as ‘God.’ In fact, God was considered good. And good, in turn, was regarded as belonging essentially to God. It was just as valid to say ‘God is good’ as it was to say ‘ God is love.’”
Naturally from this it follows that ‘Love is good’ in the same way that good is a facet of love being expressed. Goodness of this sort comes from God. He puts tremendous emphasis upon it. He extols it. When He was here amongst us it was reported in disarming simplicity that ‘He went about doing good [Acts 10:38].’”[1]
Here’s the point…
Key Point: “The fruit of goodness is rooted in being in, and doing, GOD’s will.”
Goodness is both the act of knowing, being, and doing. Let’s break this down further…
[1] ibid., 139.
James 4:17 (HCSB), It is a sin for the person who knows to do what is good and doesn’t do it.
John 15:1-8 (NLT), 1 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
James 2:14-17 (NLT), 14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
Keller asks,
“How often do we stand back in awe, overwhelmed, humbled, broken before [GOD] because of His goodness? How often do we deliberately, determinedly, decisively beseech God to impart His goodness to us? How many of us really long above everything else to be made good with the goodness of God?
People pray for love or joy, peace, patience or kindness, but seldom does one hear a heartrending cry coming from the depths of a sin-shattered, sin-stained, sin-sick, soul – ‘O God, I just want to be made good.’”[1]
This new year, let us celebrate the fact that God desires to impart a heart and life of goodness to us as we surrender our lives to Him through Jesus Christ. GOD wants us to know Him intimately and perfectly, and He wants us to reflect the goodness of His character and love to the world. GOD’s will is that no one should perish but receive eternal life, and as we’re obedient to that will through the power and infilling of the Holy Spirit, others will see the goodness of GOD and His love for them and submit to Him in salvation.
We may be able to do good things without Christ, but we can never truly be good apart from Him.
[1] Ibid., 141.
Knowing that some of the Fruit of the Spirit is God’s own goodness shared with you, does that change the way you interact with Him? With others?
The attributes of the Fruit of the Spirit are morals, not emotions, And this fruit is a reflection of the character of the heart. Therefore, if we are new creations in Christ, what fruit should we be producing in our lives?
What is your idea of goodness? Does generosity play into your personal understanding of goodness?
Can you be good without interacting with others?
How can you show goodness back to God?
Is it possible to BE good without DOING good?
Is it possible to DO good without BEING good?
Past Sermons
To view past sermons, please visit our website below.
https://northmaincog.org/media-resources/sermons/
Contact Us
If you would like to update your information or have a prayer request, please fill out the link below.
https://northmaincog.org/media-resources/contact-us/North Main Street Church of God
1201 North Main Street Ext.Butler, PA 16001 (724) 285-4214 info@northmaincog.org
http://www.northmaincog.org/Give
We thank you for your faithful gifts. You can give online at NORTHMAINCOG.ORG/GIVE, text "give" to (724) 313-2211, and, of course, on Sundays by using the secure drop boxes located outside the doors of the Sanctuary. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS.
https://www.northmaincog.org/giveMonday - Thursday
9:00am - 4:00pm