The Children's Chapel Award-winning site, featuring Bible stories from a variety of authors, excellent Christian resources for children, and over 140 links to other Christian and family-friendly sites for kids. ~ A Ministry of The Missing Link, Inc. ~ Fruit of the Spirit [picture of peach]Goodness[picture of peach] Who Is Good? by Sophia Prinsloo Text Version Afrikaans translation [picture of apple] Theofilus was tired after the long day on the dusty roads of Jerusalem. He had helped his mother, Joanna, to take bread, fish and dried fruit to Jesus and his disciples to eat. He still couldn't completely believe that his mother had changed so much after that first encounter with Jesus months ago. [picture of cherries] Before she came to Jesus, she had often ranted and raved, running like a mad woman through the house, hurting herself. When that happened, Theofilus would lock himself in his room and hide under the bed, covering his ears. There he would wait and pray to God for help, until his dad or some of the servants managed to lock his mom in a room. They did it to prevent her from doing something foolish, like hurting him or somebody else. His dad, Chuza, was a very important man and a manager for King Herod. He loved Joanna dearly, but he did not know what to do to help his wife. Yet everything changed on that day when she met Jesus. Jesus delivered her by driving out seven demons from her. Praise the Lord! From that day onward, she was calm and always loving, with joy radiating from her eyes. Theofilus was not afraid of her anymore. He was so glad and grateful for Jesus. [picture of pear] Jesus healed the blind After that, he and Joanna often went to listen to Jesus during the day and, in the evenings, they told his dad everything that had happened. Sometimes they packed the donkeys with food supplies and followed Jesus to other towns. Then they shared their food with Him and his disciples. They loved to be around Jesus. They saw the miracles He did, healing all the sick and lame who came to Him. The blind saw again, the deaf heard again, lepers were cleansed and even the dead were raised again and people's broken hearts were healed. It must have been God working in and through Him, because no man could do those things if the living God was not with him. God is a good God and Jesus is good. [picture of fruit divider] Jesus also taught about Himself. He said He was the Good Shepherd, who gives his life for his sheep. Theofilus did not yet know exactly how Jesus would do that for him, but he knew that a good shepherd would always care for his sheep and protect them against danger, even if it would cost him his own life. A good shepherd would also go and look for a lost sheep until he found it, and then he would invite all his friends and joyfully celebrate because of that one lost sheep that was found. Theofilus knew that his mother was a lost sheep who was found again. [picture of peach] Although Jesus did good things, not everybody liked Him. Many of the Pharisees and scribes were angry with Jesus, because He healed people on the Sabbath. According to them, it was a sin to work on the Sabbath, but Jesus said it was right to do something good for others on a Sabbath day. He said, if we want others to do good to us, we must do good to them first. That was why Theofilus and his mother did good to Jesus, because He had done good to them first. Jesus bent down and quietly began to write on the ground One day, Theofilus heard a loud rumpus. A woman was caught in the act of making a huge mistake. The Pharisees and scribes wanted to stone her by force. On top of that, they wanted Jesus to tell them that it was good and right to do that. Scared of the angry mob of men, Theofilus grabbed his mom's hand, pricking up his ears to hear what Jesus would say. Jesus bent down on one knee and quietly began to write on the ground. The Pharisees and scribes stretched their necks, hoping to see what He was writing. When He was finished, all Jesus said was, "Let the one who is without sin hurl the first stone at her." [picture of grapes] One by one they left feeling guilty One by one, they left, feeling guilty in their conscience about their own sin. Nobody was left except Jesus and the sinner woman. Jesus had a clean conscience, but He did not judge the woman. Instead, he told her not to sin anymore and sent her away free. Jesus said that even though somebody may sin many times a day against us, we must still forgive him or her every time. Theofilus decided there and then to forgive one of his friends, who had broken the wheel off his wooden wagon. Theofilus and Joanna also heard how Jesus taught His disciples to pray. They were to pray to God as their Heavenly Father Who does good to his children and won't give them bad things when they ask for good things. Theofilus was very glad about that, because he knew that God had also answered his prayer to deliver his mom. Jesus said not to ever stop praying, even if it takes a long time for the prayer to be answered. [picture of cherries] Jesus drove out the moneychangers from the temple Jesus showed us his goodness by teaching us that certain things were not to happen in God's temple. Theofilus had never seen Jesus as angry as the day when He took a whip and drove out all the money changers and sellers of doves and sheep and oxen, who were doing business in the temple. Jesus said that God's temple was to be a place of worship and not a place where people were robbed. After another day with Jesus, Theofilus became worried and wondered if he would ever be able to become as good as Jesus. Then he remembered what Jesus had said. He said that if we stay in Him, listen to his words and do them, we will also be able to do the good things He does. We will be like a branch of the True Vine, loaded with lots of good fruit. [picture of pear] That night, Theofilus said to his dad, "Dad, you know, I truly love Jesus very much and I want to do good things just like Him. I have hidden Jesus' words deep in my heart and I am going to be obedient to Him in all things. Surely He will help me do his will by the power He gives me through the Holy Spirit!" [picture of fruit divider] REMEMBER: To be truly good, we have to know Jesus by reading his Word and then doing what it says. We must ask the Holy Spirit to help us do it. THINK 1. Can you think about a few good things that Jesus did? 2. Was everybody glad about the good things Jesus did? Why not? 3. How can we know what true goodness is? 4. Theofilus did not yet exactly know how Jesus would lay down his life for him. Can you tell him how Jesus did that? 5. What do you think Jesus wrote on the ground? [picture of apple] A VERSE TO LEARN "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23). ALTERNATE VERSES TO LEARN "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10). "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" (Romans 2:4 NKJV). [picture of grapes] PRACTICAL APPLICATION Can you think of a few good things you can do for your parents, your siblings, your grandparents and friends? What can you do for a homeless person or someone who is hungry, a sick person or someone who can't see or hear or walk? Is there someone you know who is sad or grieving? What good things can you do for them? [After discussion:] God is good and He wants his children to be good as well, not just as an outward show but from the heart. If you love Him, you will love to do good as well. God helped Jesus to be good (John 10:32) and He will help you learn to be good if you ask Him and are willing to obey Him. How do you learn to be good? You learn it from reading the Bible and prayerfully applying it to your life while you trust Him to do good works through you. LET'S PRAY [picture of Dog and boy praying] **************************************************** Heavenly Father, forgive us where we have done wrong to others. Help us to know what real goodness is and to do good to others. Give us the power of Your Holy Spirit to do what Jesus would have done, even when others do not like it. In Jesus' Name. Amen. **************************************************** CAN YOU FIND THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE? Matthew 7:7, 18:21-22; Luke 6:6-11,31, 8:3, 15:3-7; John 2:13-17, 8:1-11, 10:11; 15:1-5 Galatians 5:19-26 [picture of peach] STORIES IN THIS SERIES: The Fruit of the Spirit Love Joy Peace Longsuffering/Patience Gentleness/Kindness Goodness Faith Meekness/Humility Temperance/Self-Control [picture of fruit divider] [picture of crayons] Bible Colour and Learn: 16 Miracles of Jesus Coloring: Goodness Coloring: I Am the True Vine Color My Sheep Hear My Voicee Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness Coloring Page Go and sin no more coloring page Jesus heals the sick coloring page Jesus heals the blind man The Story of Jesus Coloring and Activity Book Jesus Removing the Money Changers [picture of pear] Fruit of the Spirit Coloring Pages Fruit of the Spirit Reproducible Coloring Book, Ages 4-7 God Wants Us to Bear Good Fruit Growing as God's Child Coloring Book Fruit of the Spirit Tree Fruit Fruit of the Spirit Beginner's Bible Super-Duper Mighty Jumbo Coloring Book Bible Story Coloring Pages V2 Really Big Book of Bible Story Coloring Pages My Bible Coloring Book Children's Bible Coloring Books stories Best-Loved Miracles of Jesus Jesus the Miracle Worker Little Lost Sheep Miracles Of Jesus Missing: The Parable of the Lost Sheep My First Story of Jesus - eBook Parables, Miracles, and the Prince of Peace: The Gospel, Part 1 - eBook Parable of the Vine and the Branches The Good Shepherd Some Grape Qualities The Great Teacher in Jerusalem The Vine and the Branches [picture of cherries] Fruit of the Spirit Arch Book Fruit of the Spirit Stories For Young Children — Humility and Faithfulness God Counts Series: 9 Fruits Alive Life Is an Adventure with Ernie The Fruit of the Spirit 365 Read-Aloud Bedtime Bible Stories 365 Activities For Kids: A Bible Story And Activity For Each Day Of The Year 100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs w/2 CD Beginner's Bible Bible in Pictures For Toddlers Bible stories Egermeier's Bible Storybook for Beginners Early Reader's Bible The Children's Illustrated Bible The Preschooler's Bible Toddler's Bible Pilgrim's Progress Comic Children's Books Spanish Children's Books The Picture Bible (also in Spanish ) activities Bible Drill to reinforce topic from story Fill in the Blanks (KJV) Jesus the Miracle Worker Sticker Book: Bible Story Sticker Book for Children New Testament Bible Stories Stickers The True Vine The Woman Taken in Adultery discussion questions [picture of peach] Coded Bible Puzzle Crossword Puzzle Different Kinds of Fruit: Bible Wisdom and Fun for Today! Galatians 5: 22-23 Fruit of the Spirit Online Game Fruit of the Spirit Online Jigsaw Puzzle Online Animated Jigsaw Puzzle Online Animated Slide Puzzle Online Coded Bible Puzzle Online Fruit Basket to Arrange Online Hangman Online Word Search Online Word Search 2 Stickers: Fruit Of The Spirit Unscramble Word Search Best Book of Bible Activities Encyclopedia Of Bible Games For Children's Ministry The Humongous Book of Games for Children's Ministry The Super Sized Book of Bible Puzzles Memory Verse Games for Kids Big Book Of Bible Puzzles Bible Puzzles: Word Search Big Book Of Bible Story Activity Pages V1 Jumbo Bible Activity Book 4 Christian and educational toys Children's Activity Books Children's Puzzles Crossword Books Games Sticker Books songs Music Machine: The Fruit Of The Spirit CD—Goodness The Party - Goodness [picture of grapes] Fruit of the Spirit (sheet music/MIDI) I Want To Be Like Jesus (sheet music/MIDI) The Fruit of The Spirit Song/MIDI/CHORDS Fruit of the Spirit by Maranatha Kids Fruit of the Spirit Cadence Fruit of the Spirit [Music Download — Brentwood] Hide 'Em In Your Heart 1/Hide 'Em In Your Heart 2 CD (Steve Green) The Fruit Of The Spirit - Galatians 5:22 & 25 [Music Download — Steve Green] Music Machine: The Fruit Of The Spirit CD 100 Ways To Know God Loves Me & 100 Songs 100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs Action Bible Songs Bible Songs on CD Bible Songs on DVD 100 Singalong Bible Songs For Kids 25 Favorite Sunday School Songs Children's Music CDs and DVDs Adventures with Jesus: Toby Series DVD Animated Bible Classics: The Miracles of Jesus, DVD Character Builders 2: Goodness & Faith: Faith: Lost in the Woods [Streaming Video Purchase] Character Builders 2: Goodness & Faith: Goodness: What Do You Want to Bee [Streaming Video Purchase] Greatest Heroes & Legends: Last Supper, Miracle of Jesus, Story of Moses DVD Jesus at the Temple, the Good Samaritan, and Other Bible Stories: Volume 3 - DVD Jesus Heals the Man with the Withered Hand Jesus Storybook Bible Animated DVD, Vol. 3 Miracles of Jesus Superbook DVD Parable of the Lost Sheep (watch online) The Miracles of Jesus DVD What's in the Bible? #10: Jesus Is the Good News - Church Edition, DVD Fruit of the Spirit Animation online Auto B Good Fruits of the Spirit DVD Character Builders 4: Thankfulness & Gentleness: Thankfulness: Benny's Wake-Up Surprise [Streaming Video Rental] Character Builders 5: Sharing & Kindness: Sharing: Benny Loves Fiddleberries [Streaming Video Purchase] Character Builders: 8-DVD Set David, God's Champion Hide 'Em In Your Heart 1/Hide 'Em In Your Heart 2 CD (Steve Green) Hide 'Em in Your Heart, Volume 2, DVD (Steve Green) Music Machine: The Fruit Of The Spirit CD Music Machine DVD Sunday School Songs (Cedarmont Kids) The Bedbug Bible Gang &: Pentecost Party! DVD The Donut Man: Barnyard Fun & On The Air, DVD The Story of David, DVD What's in the Bible? #5: Israel Gets a King! DVD The Beginner's Bible Box Set, 4 DVDs #1: Read and Share: The Ultimate DVD Bible Storybook God's Story from Creation to Eternity (listen & watch online) The Bible MiniSeries DVD Set The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit Bible story DVDs Children's DVDs crafts Fruit of the Spirit Bible Crafts: Goodness [picture of apple] Fruit Printing Fruit Basket (pdf) (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader ) Fruit of the Spirit Crafts Bible Crafts Bible Crafts & More (Ages 3-6) Bible Crafts On A Shoestring Budget: Paper Sacks & Cardboard Tubes (Reproducible: Ages 5-10) Big Book of Bible Crafts (Ages 3-12) Encyclopedia Of Bible Crafts For Preschoolers Praise God with Paper Plates (Reproducible: PreK-Grade 2) Really Big Book Of Cool Crafts For Kids w/CD-Ages 4-12 *RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS* Bible Study on Good Works Home Life Ministries Character Journal: Goodness Money Changers Parable of Vine and Vinedresser The Fruit of the Holy Spirit — What is goodness? *Story Ideas* *Important Notes About This Lesson and Answers to THINK Questions* [picture of pear] Fruit of the Spirit Story Ideas All-in-One Bible Fun: Fruit of the Spirit (Preschool edition) All-in-One Bible Fun: Fruit of the Spirit (Elementary edition) Faith Case Fruit of the Spirit The Fruit of the Spirit Bible story and activities Fruit Basket Upset -Fruit of the Spirit Game Experience the Fruit of the Spirit Fruit of the Spirit Characters Fruits of the Spirit and How We Can Show Them to Others Fruit of the Spirit Fruit Bowl Fruit of the Spirit The Fruit of the Spirit Lesson Plan Fruit of the Spirit Anagrams Fruit of the Spirit Name Tags Fruit of the Spirit Puppet/Skits Scripts Apple Snacks Chocolate Covered Strawberries Fruit Kabobs Fruit of the Spirit Pizza Fruit of the Spirit Game Please Pass The Fruit (Game) Fruit of the Spirit Necklace (Memory Tool) Fruit of the Spirit Bookmarks Fruit of the Spirit Bulletin Fruit Mix Discovery Bulletin Board Trimmer The Fruit Of The Spirit, Laminated Wall Chart Chunkie Pen, Fruit of the Spirit How to Simply Inspire Character Living Inside Out Kit: Bamboogie (Honoring God), Maze Days (Exodus), and Holy Grill (Fruit of the Spirit) PLUS Poster Pack, Summer 2017 Puppet Programs No. 9: Penelope and Wilbur on the Fruit of the Spirit 801 Questions Kids Ask About God Absentee Postcards African American Resources Almost Every Answer for Practically Any Teacher Children's Ministry Bible Memory Games Bible Story Coloring Pages Vol. 2 The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit Bible Crafts and Activities for Any Story Big Book of Bible Games Bulletin Board helps Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul Children's Sermon Church Nanny Sos: Teaching Discipline Essentials for Preschool Ministry Volunteers Church Supplies Closing Prayer FREE materials to Bible schools, Bible colleges, seminaries, churches, missionaries & individuals worldwide 52 Games That Teach The Bible Free educational videos God's Servants Teach Me God's Wisdom for Little Boys: Character-Building Fun from Proverbs Help! 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