A Gardener Looks at the Fruits of the Spirit

by W. Phillip Keller, P. Keller

Drawing together Christ's teaching in the parable of the sower, and Paul's passages on the gifts of the spirit, the author adds his own insights into God's creation to provide a guide to spirit-filled living. Phillip Keller's many devotional books include "A Layman's Look at the Lord's Prayer

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Spirituality, Inspirational, Religion, Theology, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Weldon Phillip Keller (1920-1997) wrote more than thirty-five books on Christian subjects, including his most popular book A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 The son of missionary parents in Kenya, Keller grow up in Africa before becoming a world citizen as a photographer, agronomist, and author. His books have over two million copies in print.

Reviews

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discovered this Author, W. Phillip Keller,in my quest to learn how to spiritually grow as a child of God. I was just a babe in Christ at this time, just coming out of a 25 year cultist type of religion and finding there was a clear difference between "religion" and "relationship" with the Father. The Lord placed a few wonderful mentors in my life, but I would be remiss if I didn't share the role W. Phillip Keller played in my transition from darkness to "light" in his enlightening layman's explanation of the Fruits of the Spirit. He goes on to tell it in a way a Gardener would actually cultivate his fruit...just amazing the way he laid it out in this book. I read this book several times and each time it is just as enjoyable and uplifting!

This book was first published in 1979. I found this book at a Goodwill bookstore, which was donated by a church. Since then, I own and have read several other books from this author, which I have also continue to read over and over again. I will also add them to my shelf.

[Dayna Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Antiquated language for 2025, but a valuable resource.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for something along the lines of “A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm” and didn’t get it. There wasn’t much here that a non-gardener couldn’t contribute. The first half of the book didn’t cover the fruit of the Spirit but the parable of the sower. Perhaps the bar had been set so high for me by “Shepherd” that my expectations couldn’t possibly be met. Whatever they were, they weren’t.

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I found first four chapters of the book, which deal with the parable of the sower, to be very insightful. Definitely some food for thought there.

The second part of the book deals with the "fruits of the Spirit" as described in Galatians. Each chapter dealing with a specific fruit. This part was somewhat dissapointing. Part of this was because there was so much repition when describing these fruits. Too many descriptions were repeated in each new chapter, making the descriptions for Love, Joy, Humility, et al seem too similar.

Another problem I had was that when summarized you could get the idea that to be a good and fruitful christian, one should be a bland, always smily, soft, insipid, personality of acupcake type of person. Maybe I'm exaggerating,then again near the end of the book Keller describes being a fruitful and godly christian as being a gentleman. A gentleman in the way of always being punctual, well spoken and all the other stereotypes we think of with regard to the perfect gentleman. An interpretation I frankly found to be ridiculous. It helped to consider the times in which Keller wrote this, but still...

As a general description of what "fruits of the Spirit" could mean in the Christian life, this was an okay book. But merely okay, and I also felt that Keller completely avoided some of the harder and deeper questions. For example "Peace" as a fruit was interpreted as Christians always seeking peace, and trying to make peace. Basically by being quiet and nice and avoiding conflict. But sometimes conflict is necessary, and sometimes the only way to reach peace is by first going to war (in the case of injustice for example.) But Keller doesn't go that deep.

All that said, I still give the book 3.5 stars. The chapters dealing with parable of the sower really were good and I'm glad I read the book for that part alone, and even some of the later chapters (though a bit of a let down) did offer some food or should I say fruit for thought.

[Calum Mackenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first 4 chapters cover the parable of the sower…unexpected but interesting. The chapters on each of the fruits are excellent - both convicting and illuminating…

However the book’s title is a little misleading- the ‘gardener’ aspect is barely there with occasional references. Compared to his book ‘A shepherd looks at Psalm 23’ where his experience added insight.

The book is well written and thought provoking, it just has nothing to do with a gardener’s insight. I also think all ‘teaching’ Christian books should have a conclusion to draw all the ideas etc together This just stops after the chapter on ‘self control’.

I still 100% recommend this book- it would be an excellent resource for both preaching and teaching, as well as personal study.

[Brittany]

I appreciated the first part of this book more than I expected, and the second part less than I expected. The portion on the types of soil, as outlined in Jesus’s parable, prompted much reflection. I found his insights occasionally a stretch, but still helpful. The portion on the actual fruits of the spirit was less helpful. A few chapters sank in better than others. His definition of patience, for example, was a help. But I expect to pick this up again for a reread of part one. Still: would recommend to any Christian reader.

[Tanner Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The person who so received, accepts or invites Christ by His Spirit into his life, must of necessity also recognize Him as Lord of his life, and receive Him as Sovereign… the basis upon which we can obtain empirical evidence that a person truly believes in Christ and has received Him both as Savior and Lord is by the fruit of God’s own character reproduced in that life.”

Started this in the spring as I was preparing to lead intern time this summer at the Ranch and just kept coming back to it. An honor to get to walk through Galatians 5 with them, and this was an awesome resource!

[Frank Peters · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book with many portions that were well worth reading. The author starts by looking at the different types of soil referred to in Jesus’ parable of the Sower and expands on what he believes those soil types look like in people today. He then goes on to merge the fruits of the spirit passage from Galatians with the love chapter from 1 Corinthians, arguing (well) that each of the fruits of the spirit is also an outgrowth of God’s love.

[Ashley Wiktorek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed digging deeper into the fruits of the Spirit and how Keller paralleled them to the parable of types of soil. I do wish some of the chapters, especially towards the end, were a bit longer and more in depth. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about the Holy Spirit and how God is the Great Gardener in our lives and souls.

[Saphraneet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned much from the insightful and practical way the author expounded on the fruit of the Spirit.

[Read1000books · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not his best work (perhaps it was me) but he is still my favorite inspirational writer.

[Isa Gueno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect.

[Irene Roth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep truths expounded on in layman's terms

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 - really not what the title promised. Worth it though for the connection he drew out between Galatians 5 (fruit of the Spirit) and 1 Cor 13 (Love).

[Lorie Swearingen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A keeper. Reminds me, just a bit, of C.S. Lewis. Practical theology, written so that it is easy to understand.

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was excellent, excellent, excellent! It is easy to read and is so captivating and full of wisdom and insight, that you can't and don't really want to put it down.

The author goes into excellent detail describing the process of gardening and it's not boring but instead paints a clear and concise picture of the correlation between the laboring Gardener who tenderly loves, cares for and strenuous toils and labors in the soil in which he intends to sow, hoping to produce a great crop, paralleled with our God who labors and toils with and in us to make us useful, valuable and productive ground, capable of producing bountiful, lush and desirous fruit. It gave me a whole new outlook and perspective between God (the Gardener) and us ( the ground God's desires to bear fruit from)..

I recommend this book to anybody and everybody desiring to grow closer in their walk with God and who desire to produce more of His character(fruit)in their lives...

Good reading and be blessed :D

[Bradly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful look at the 9 fruits of the Spirit from Galatians, preceded by a tie-in to Jesus' parable of the sower. Keller brings his keen insight into Christian action and character in this book, giving the reader clear and practical perspectives for life. Keller's writing has an easy style and is in some places alliterative. I highly recommend this book!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rated: A-

[Cws]

248.4