Fruit of the Spirit Monthly Scripture Focus: Goodness
As part of our monthly character lessons, we are going through the fruits of the spirit one by one. This month’s character lesson focus is goodness.
Follow along with us as you invite and encourage your teens to allow God’s spirit to develop their character. The content of this monthly study is geared for middle and high school students, but feel free to adapt if you wish for younger students. Included are a variety of suggestions to use throughout the month to maintain a focus on goodness as described in the Bible.
At the end of this article, you’ll find the complete list of monthly character lessons based on fruits of the spirit, and will be able to click directly through to any additional lessons you wish to access.
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Fruit of the Spirit Passage
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
Goodness in the Bible
Question: How many times does the word good or goodness appear in the Bible?
Answer: 1472 times in the ESV**
**statistics from logos.com. Each translation will have a slightly different count.
Big Picture: How the Bible Talks about Goodness
1 // God is the source of all good
Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1:17 (NLT)
2 // Goodness is inherent in God’s character
Taste and see that the Lord is good! Oh the joys of those who take refuge in him. Psalm 34:8 (NLT)
3 // We were made to reflect God’s goodness, but we need his power working in us to do good
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
What Does the Bible Say about Goodness?
Look at the following scriptures and ask these two questions.
Question #1: What do I learn about God and how He views goodness from this scripture?
Question #2: Is there any instruction for me in this scripture about how I should exhibit goodness?
Scriptures about Goodness
From the first chapter of the Bible, God calls his creation good. Light, land, vegetation, animals—good.
In the Psalms, we read that God’s goodness is abundant (Ps. 31:19) and satisfying (Ps. 103:5), giving (Ps. 104:28) and forgiving (Ps. 86:5).
The New Testament overflows with the message of “good news” to all people.
Read the scriptures below that reference goodness or doing good and consider the questions asked above.
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! 1 Chronicles 16:34 (ESV)
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” Psalm 16:2 (ESV)
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. Psalm 25:8 (ESV)
How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you. Psalm 31:19 (NIV)
Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14 (ESV)
A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. Matthew 12:35 (NIV)
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you…” Luke 6:27 (ESV)
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Romans 12:9 (NIV)
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 1 Peter 2:15 (NIV)
Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God. 3 John 1:11 (NLT)
Examples of Goodness in Scripture
Look up one or more of the following passages to read a story displaying goodness in some way. Goodness seems to be exemplified by an uprightness of heart and life—doing the right thing when it would be easier to not do anything or to go along with the world’s expectations. Ask yourself these two questions.
- How do I see goodness in action here?
- What does God want to teach me about goodness from this passage?
Passage #1
2 Kings 22:1-23:25 (Josiah)
This passage describes Josiah as “doing right in the eyes of the Lord.” His father and grandfather were both wicked kings who definitely did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Clearly, Josiah’s goodness was not learned by example from his evil predecessors. Josiah called for national repentance, and took action to rid the country of idols.
In Chapter 23, the claim is made, “neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his strength.”
Passage #2
1 Samuel 19-20 (Jonathan)
Jonathan was the son of King Saul and as such, in line for the throne himself. Yet when told to kill David, he not only refused, but went out of his way to warn and protect David.
As you read the story, pay attention to Chapter 20, verses 32 and 33. Saul attempts to kill Jonathan, but Jonathan still keeps his word and acts to defend and shield David.
Passage #3
Luke 22:47-52 (Jesus and guard)
To set the scene, just prior to this Jesus was praying alone on the Mount of Olives, overcome with sorrow and anguish in the knowledge of what awaited him.
The group that came to arrest Jesus is apparently armed with swords and clubs, and evidently some of Jesus’ followers are as well. In the chaos of the situation, one of Jesus’ followers cut off the ear of one of those in the crowd intent on arresting Jesus.
Now take note of what happens next. Jesus heals the man’s ear! What goodness displayed by the one who said in Mark 10:18, “no one is good except God alone.”
Examples in Scripture of a Heart Lacking in Goodness
Now, look up one or more of the following passages and think about these questions.
- Describe the lack of goodness in this story.
- What can we learn from the lack of goodness we read about in these passages?
Judges 9 (Abimelech)
This is a tough story to read. Not only is Abimelech not what we would call good, he is what most of us would consider truly evil. Abimelech killed his brothers, 70 of them, to assure his position of power. He then continued to live a life of violence and self-centeredness until we read in verse 56, “then God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done.”
Abimelech’s short three-year reign was characterized by violence and upheaval, ending in his own violent death. Deuteronomy 30:15 says, “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.” Which would you rather choose?
Genesis 3 (Adam & Eve)
You’re probably familiar with this story. Adam and Eve take the fruit that looks good to eat. They believe they know best what is good for them. Upon making the decision to decide for themselves what is good rather than trust God’s good commands, they discover guilt, shame, and distance from God.
Think of ways you tend to want to decide for yourself what is good rather than trust what God tells you in his word.
Luke 23:32-43 (thief on the cross)
The story of the two criminals crucified on either side of Jesus is a stark example of our continual opportunity to choose good or choose evil.
One thief mocks and ridicules Jesus to the very end, refusing to repent even as he faces imminent death. This makes me pray that God would protect my heart from becoming hard and stubborn.
Every day grants us the choice to say yes to goodness—the uprightness and righteousness that God desires for our good and his glory.
Reflection Questions
Now that you’ve read several Bible verses about goodness, seen examples of goodness in action and examples of people not exhibiting goodness, reflect on the following two questions.
- Would others describe me as a person known for goodness?
- How can I express this fruit of the spirit—goodness—in a practical way in my life this month?
Audio/Video Content Related to Goodness
Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness (YouTube – 412teens.org)
Fruit of the Spirit // Goodness (YouTube – North Coast Church)
Reflecting God’s Goodness (YouTube – Back to the Bible)
Music Related to Goodness
Add some of these to your regular music playlist this month. Listen while you study, clean your room, or take a walk.
Psalm 34 (YouTube – The Psalms Project)
The Goodness of Jesus (YouTube – CityAlight)
God Is So Good (YouTube – Pat Barrett)
Psalm 23 (YouTube – Phil Wickham)
Prayer Related to Goodness
Your relationship with God is deepened by not only listening to His word, but communicating back to Him through prayer.
Following are prayers you can personalize and pray from your heart. Your words don’t have to be fancy. Simply thank God for His goodness and ask him to give empower you through the Holy Spirit to reflect his goodness to others.
Heavenly Father, show me your goodness today. Help me taste and see your goodness in ways that reveal to me your holy and righteous nature. Give me a desire to reflect and radiate your goodness to everyone I encounter today and empower me in your spirit to show your goodness through my words and actions.
(based on Psalm 34:8)
Lord God, thank you for your goodness. Thank you that I can trust in your inherent goodness even when I can’t see the good in my circumstance. Remind me of the steadfastness of your nature. Your goodness, love, and faithfulness endures to all generations, and that includes mine. I praise you today for your provision of all good things and the reassurance that goodness is who you are.
(based on Psalm 107:1)
Jesus, I want my light to shine before others. I earnestly seek to do good works. Create in me a clean heart, God, that my motivation would be to bring glory to you and you only through any good that I do. I know that on my own I am unable to do good in your eyes, but your spirit enables me to accomplish more than I could imagine. Show me the good things you have for me to do, and give me a heart of humility to turn all praise and honor and glory to you.
(based on Matthew 5:16)
Key Bible Verses about Goodness
Choose one verse to memorize this month, either from the selections listed, or find another scripture that speaks to the attribute of goodness. Make sure it is a verse you have not already memorized!
1 Chronicles 16:34
Psalm 16:2
Psalm 25:8
Psalm 31:19
Psalm 34:8
Psalm 34:14
Psalm 103:5
Psalm 104:28
Matthew 12:35
Luke 6:27
Romans 12:9
Ephesians 2:10
James 1:17
1 Peter 2:15
3 John 1:11
Additional Reading on the Topic of Goodness
Beauty, Truth, and Goodness Devotional for Teen Girls by Des Leiloglou
Milk & Honey: A Devotional Journey Through Scripture to Savor God’s Goodness by Cambria Joy
The Goodness of God by Randy Alcorn
Galatians 5:22-23
Read through the passage several times this month to help you commit it to memory. Just reading the verse repeatedly as you go through studying a different fruit of the spirit each month will help you to “hide God’s word in your heart.”
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
Monthly Fruit of the Spirit Word Study
Moving through the fruit of the spirit in order they are listed in the passage, this is the progression throughout the school year. However, you could certainly choose to rearrange the topics if you chose to do so.
For example, you could explore the character trait of being loving in February to tie in with Valentine’s Day or study joy in December to correspond to Christmas activities. Each word stands alone and the resources do not build on one another, so you have freedom to “drag and drop” into whichever time period you wish.
Monthly Fruit of the Spirit Study for Students
This isn’t a typical Bible study in the sense of having daily or weekly lessons. Instead, it’s intended to be used as a supplemental study that’s low-key and flexible.
The monthly focus on one specific fruit of the spirit gives plenty of opportunity for discussion, scripture study, and reflection.
Even if your kids are doing a regular Bible study (which I hope they are), you can add in a few scriptures, a video, have them listen to a piece of music or read a poem each month and consider whether they are exhibiting that fruit of the spirit.
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Fruit of the Spirit Study: Goodness (for Middle and High School Students)
