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Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit: Growing in Christlikeness
How should Christians live?
On the one hand, some very legalistic Christians stress the importance of keeping all the rules―that you must do this and never do that if you want to prove you are really a Christian. On the other hand, there are those who reject the whole idea of rules or traditions in the church and see the point of the Christian faith as setting us free from the institutionalized religious burden.
But Paul addresses these two competing views by showing us a far better way―a truly Christian way to live our lives. It is the way of the Spirit of God given to us through Christ: "Walk by the Spirit . . . led by the Spirit . . . live by the Spirit . . . keep in step with the Spirit." That is the heart and soul of Christian living. It is the center and secret of what it means to be a person who belongs to Christ.
Pastor and scholar Christopher Wright invites us to live a life in step with the Spirit by cultivating the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
These nine chapters, each addressing a different fruit, each conclude with questions for contemplation or discussion.
Feed on the Word of God, grow in Christlikeness, and live a fruitful life.
On the one hand, some very legalistic Christians stress the importance of keeping all the rules―that you must do this and never do that if you want to prove you are really a Christian. On the other hand, there are those who reject the whole idea of rules or traditions in the church and see the point of the Christian faith as setting us free from the institutionalized religious burden.
But Paul addresses these two competing views by showing us a far better way―a truly Christian way to live our lives. It is the way of the Spirit of God given to us through Christ: "Walk by the Spirit . . . led by the Spirit . . . live by the Spirit . . . keep in step with the Spirit." That is the heart and soul of Christian living. It is the center and secret of what it means to be a person who belongs to Christ.
Pastor and scholar Christopher Wright invites us to live a life in step with the Spirit by cultivating the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
These nine chapters, each addressing a different fruit, each conclude with questions for contemplation or discussion.
Feed on the Word of God, grow in Christlikeness, and live a fruitful life.
191 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 21, 2017
234 people are currently reading
666 people want to read
About the author
Christopher J.H. Wright
102 books207 followersChristopher J.H. Wright, (born 1947) is a Anglican clergyman and an Old Testament scholar. He is currently the director of Langham Partnership International. He was the principal of All Nations Christian College. He is an honorary member of the All Souls Church, Langham Place in London, UK.
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October 15, 2017
Summary: A study elaborating what it means to grow in Christlikeness looking at each of the nine fruit of the Spirit.
“Heavenly Father, I pray that I may live this day in your presence and please you more and more.
Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.
Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
This is a portion of a prayer prayed by the late John R. W. Stott each morning. Perhaps, as author, and Stott’s successor in leading the Langham Partnership, Christopher J. H. Wright notes, it is no surprise that many who met Stott felt he was the most Christlike person they’d ever met.
This is a book about growing to be more like Christ through cultivating in one’s life the nine fruit of the Spirit the apostle Paul lists in Galatians 5:22-23. Wright nicknames these the “9-A-Day” through which our character is formed to be like Christ. He begins this study by setting Paul’s list in its Galatian context. Paul argues for the gospel of being reckoned right with God by our faith alone apart from works. Then he addresses what may be a criticism–that in rejecting legalism, haven’t you opened the door to license? Rather, what comes through the Christ who indwells us by the Holy Spirit is freedom from slavery either to law or to licentious sin. This Spirit, as we root our lives to Him each day in prayer, study, and faithful obedience bears the fruit of Christ’s character in us over the course of our lives.
Wright goes on in the next nine chapters to consider each quality in Paul’s list. His approach is not to tell a lot of stories but to focus on the biblical material about each of these qualities, both how we see this quality in the character of God, and what this looks like in the life of a Christ-follower. Much like the teaching of John Stott, Christ gives is clear and memorable outlines to help us reflect on each of these qualities, and concludes with practical application to everyday life. For example, in the chapter on “kindness” his subheadings are “Kindness and the Character of God,” “Kindness as a Quality of Those Who Worship God,” “Kindness and the Example of Jesus,” and “Kindness as a Habit of Life.” He concludes this chapter with two questions that may help us in our practice of kindness:
* What would I do for people if I were the Christ?
* What would I do for people if they were the Christ?
Wright concludes each chapter with a few reflection and application questions. An additional feature at the end of each chapter is a link to a video of Wright talking about the particular fruit of the Spirit. For a sample, here is a link in which Wright introduces the series.
This is a book I wish I had as a young Christian. I understood that I had become a Christian through the work of Christ. But I found little help in what it meant to be a Christian, to live a life marked increasingly by the character of the Christ I was following. This is such a helpful study that offers hope that God, through his Spirit will indeed work out his character in our lives as we root our lives in Christ, heeding his word, gathering with his people, yielding ourselves in prayer, and faithfully acting on what he says.
I also appreciated the combination of scripturally-based instruction, and thoughtful application throughout. This comment about patience is just one example:
“That kind of patience is sadly needed more than ever in Christian churches–and even (maybe especially) among Christian leaders. In the world of instant blogging and commenting (and comments on comments), patience seems to be a very neglected virtue. Some people simply can’t wait to put their word in, get their point across, speak their mind — however harmful and hurtful it may be. We have become very impatient — in attitudes, communication, and expectations” (p. 79).
This strikes me as a great book that one might use for personal reflection, for discussion with a younger believer, or in a group. In that context, using Wright’s videos to set up discussion of each chapter could work very well.
It also strikes me that this work, unassuming as it may seem, is vital in our day. I observe on one hand Christians bemoaning the flight of millenials from the church and at the same time grasping at power and influence in American culture. Wright’s quote of a Hindu professor points to why the Christlikeness of lives characterized by the fruit of the Spirit is so important:
“If you Christians lived like Jesus, India would be at your feet tomorrow.”
Dare we believe it could be so of our own country?
“Heavenly Father, I pray that I may live this day in your presence and please you more and more.
Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.
Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
This is a portion of a prayer prayed by the late John R. W. Stott each morning. Perhaps, as author, and Stott’s successor in leading the Langham Partnership, Christopher J. H. Wright notes, it is no surprise that many who met Stott felt he was the most Christlike person they’d ever met.
This is a book about growing to be more like Christ through cultivating in one’s life the nine fruit of the Spirit the apostle Paul lists in Galatians 5:22-23. Wright nicknames these the “9-A-Day” through which our character is formed to be like Christ. He begins this study by setting Paul’s list in its Galatian context. Paul argues for the gospel of being reckoned right with God by our faith alone apart from works. Then he addresses what may be a criticism–that in rejecting legalism, haven’t you opened the door to license? Rather, what comes through the Christ who indwells us by the Holy Spirit is freedom from slavery either to law or to licentious sin. This Spirit, as we root our lives to Him each day in prayer, study, and faithful obedience bears the fruit of Christ’s character in us over the course of our lives.
Wright goes on in the next nine chapters to consider each quality in Paul’s list. His approach is not to tell a lot of stories but to focus on the biblical material about each of these qualities, both how we see this quality in the character of God, and what this looks like in the life of a Christ-follower. Much like the teaching of John Stott, Christ gives is clear and memorable outlines to help us reflect on each of these qualities, and concludes with practical application to everyday life. For example, in the chapter on “kindness” his subheadings are “Kindness and the Character of God,” “Kindness as a Quality of Those Who Worship God,” “Kindness and the Example of Jesus,” and “Kindness as a Habit of Life.” He concludes this chapter with two questions that may help us in our practice of kindness:
* What would I do for people if I were the Christ?
* What would I do for people if they were the Christ?
Wright concludes each chapter with a few reflection and application questions. An additional feature at the end of each chapter is a link to a video of Wright talking about the particular fruit of the Spirit. For a sample, here is a link in which Wright introduces the series.
This is a book I wish I had as a young Christian. I understood that I had become a Christian through the work of Christ. But I found little help in what it meant to be a Christian, to live a life marked increasingly by the character of the Christ I was following. This is such a helpful study that offers hope that God, through his Spirit will indeed work out his character in our lives as we root our lives in Christ, heeding his word, gathering with his people, yielding ourselves in prayer, and faithfully acting on what he says.
I also appreciated the combination of scripturally-based instruction, and thoughtful application throughout. This comment about patience is just one example:
“That kind of patience is sadly needed more than ever in Christian churches–and even (maybe especially) among Christian leaders. In the world of instant blogging and commenting (and comments on comments), patience seems to be a very neglected virtue. Some people simply can’t wait to put their word in, get their point across, speak their mind — however harmful and hurtful it may be. We have become very impatient — in attitudes, communication, and expectations” (p. 79).
This strikes me as a great book that one might use for personal reflection, for discussion with a younger believer, or in a group. In that context, using Wright’s videos to set up discussion of each chapter could work very well.
It also strikes me that this work, unassuming as it may seem, is vital in our day. I observe on one hand Christians bemoaning the flight of millenials from the church and at the same time grasping at power and influence in American culture. Wright’s quote of a Hindu professor points to why the Christlikeness of lives characterized by the fruit of the Spirit is so important:
“If you Christians lived like Jesus, India would be at your feet tomorrow.”
Dare we believe it could be so of our own country?
January 9, 2022
Overall a great read!
Wright discusses the nine characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit that Paul lists in Galatians 5 by both exploring the biblical background of the virtue and practical implications for us today. Highly accessible and easy to read. For the most part, Wright does an excellent job of exploring the fruit of the spirit in a way that is simple and understandable, but without being cheap or trite.
A good book that is rich in both scriptural thought and relevant application for the 21st century Christian.
Wright discusses the nine characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit that Paul lists in Galatians 5 by both exploring the biblical background of the virtue and practical implications for us today. Highly accessible and easy to read. For the most part, Wright does an excellent job of exploring the fruit of the spirit in a way that is simple and understandable, but without being cheap or trite.
A good book that is rich in both scriptural thought and relevant application for the 21st century Christian.
March 9, 2017
Chris Wright is one of my favorite authors. He is a missiologist, biblical ethicist, international ministries director for Langham Partnership, co-worker and friend to the late John Stott, and an Old Testament scholar (I sometimes refer to him as O.T. Wright). In Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit, Wright examines each of the nine fruits of the Spirit referenced by Paul in Galatians 5:22-23 and encourages us to pursue the Spirit's transformation in each of these areas.
This book began as a nine-day Bible study series, and companion series of videos produced for Langham Partnership for Lent, 2013: 9-A-Day: Becoming Like Jesus. Wright, along with Jonathan Lamb and Langham leadership, was inspired to create this series from John Stott's example. Every morning Stott prayed this prayer:
Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more
Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I take up my cross and follow you.
Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (quoted in Wright's introduction, 13).
The chapters of this book examine each of the nine fruits, in turn. Wright explores each theme of each fruit is (1) evidence of God's character, (2) exemplified in Christ, and (3) and how the presence of each demonstrates the work of the Spirit in our lives. The chapters end with questions for reflection or discussion. There is also a web link to Wright's talk on the fruit. [ The link provided at the end of the chapter was broken but the original videos that inspired this book can be found at http://9aday.org.uk/the-9-fruits (referenced in the book's preface) or linked from the book page on the publisher website]. Wright's introduction and conclusion place the fruit within the frame of Paul's message to Galatia.
The fruit of the Spirit ought to characterize the lives of followers of Jesus. Reading through this study in Lent, if you pardon the pun, has been fruitful for me. There isn't always actionable applications in the text, but Wright encourages us to look at the example of Jesus and to pay attention to where we have seen these fruit in the lives of others. Wright spends most of each chapters describing what each of these fruit/virtues is. The assumption is that while there are things we ought to do, ultimately the growth of the fruit is the Spirit's work.
This can be read individually or as a group. I give this four stars.
Note: I received this book from IVP in exchange for my honest review.
This book began as a nine-day Bible study series, and companion series of videos produced for Langham Partnership for Lent, 2013: 9-A-Day: Becoming Like Jesus. Wright, along with Jonathan Lamb and Langham leadership, was inspired to create this series from John Stott's example. Every morning Stott prayed this prayer:
Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more
Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I take up my cross and follow you.
Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (quoted in Wright's introduction, 13).
The chapters of this book examine each of the nine fruits, in turn. Wright explores each theme of each fruit is (1) evidence of God's character, (2) exemplified in Christ, and (3) and how the presence of each demonstrates the work of the Spirit in our lives. The chapters end with questions for reflection or discussion. There is also a web link to Wright's talk on the fruit. [ The link provided at the end of the chapter was broken but the original videos that inspired this book can be found at http://9aday.org.uk/the-9-fruits (referenced in the book's preface) or linked from the book page on the publisher website]. Wright's introduction and conclusion place the fruit within the frame of Paul's message to Galatia.
The fruit of the Spirit ought to characterize the lives of followers of Jesus. Reading through this study in Lent, if you pardon the pun, has been fruitful for me. There isn't always actionable applications in the text, but Wright encourages us to look at the example of Jesus and to pay attention to where we have seen these fruit in the lives of others. Wright spends most of each chapters describing what each of these fruit/virtues is. The assumption is that while there are things we ought to do, ultimately the growth of the fruit is the Spirit's work.
This can be read individually or as a group. I give this four stars.
Note: I received this book from IVP in exchange for my honest review.
July 24, 2017
This is a book aimed at beginners in the faith, but helpful for the more advanced as well. While drawing from Galatians 5:22, Wright does not indulge in a simplistic "word study" approach. Instead he puts each of the fruits mentioned in that passage in its biblical-theological context. So the book then becomes a brief biblical theology of the work of the Spirit in developing Christian character. Recommended.
January 29, 2022
This is a year that I’ve decided to prioritize personal growth, to gain discernment, to deepen my roots, to continually fight for balance, and always be learning and growing.
Life is good and I’m blessed in so many ways. I always want to recognize that and be grateful. But let’s be real, life can also be trying, riddled with hardships, heartaches, and things that feel beyond our control. One thing I can control, however, is the way I behave, react and respond.
Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit is an easily readable, accessible, clear explanation of the traits I want to emulate in my life. It’s an inspiring, Christian, non-fiction book that’s easy to breakdown into daily chapters that are insightful, motivating and applicable. May the words I take in, be reflected in the life I live, and may I live out my beliefs with grace, courage and compassion.
Life is good and I’m blessed in so many ways. I always want to recognize that and be grateful. But let’s be real, life can also be trying, riddled with hardships, heartaches, and things that feel beyond our control. One thing I can control, however, is the way I behave, react and respond.
Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit is an easily readable, accessible, clear explanation of the traits I want to emulate in my life. It’s an inspiring, Christian, non-fiction book that’s easy to breakdown into daily chapters that are insightful, motivating and applicable. May the words I take in, be reflected in the life I live, and may I live out my beliefs with grace, courage and compassion.
July 20, 2025
Good in-depth look of the fruits of the Spirit! I love that with the first 8 fruits (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness), these are attributes of God and things we can develop by His Spirit to become more like him. But the last one, self-control, is really interesting in the fact that He doesn’t need to exercise self-control because He is God. Loved the questions at the end of the chapters and all the scriptural references!
July 30, 2025
Nothing bad just nothing special. Basically a manuscript of some sermons. Not super insightful unfortunately.
March 5, 2019
I picked up, "Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit" as I continually want to grow as a Christian and Christ-follower. This was a great book, with each chapter focusing on one of nine fruits of the Holy Spirit:
Galatians 5:22:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Mr. Wright did a great job explaining each of these fruits, using many scripture references. I also appreciated his questions at the end of each chapter along with links to short videos to his commentary. Would be a great book to use in a small group study, which I may pursue as a leader this year at our church!
Galatians 5:22:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Mr. Wright did a great job explaining each of these fruits, using many scripture references. I also appreciated his questions at the end of each chapter along with links to short videos to his commentary. Would be a great book to use in a small group study, which I may pursue as a leader this year at our church!
January 21, 2019
The best book on the Fruit of the Spirit that I have found, and one of the best books for spiritual formation and devotional reading from recent years. Each chapter is an in-depth exploration of each of the Fruit with lots of Bible passages to explore. Chris Wright is an expert in Biblical Theology broadly speaking and that shines through.
February 18, 2020
Livrinho gostoso de ler.
February 22, 2017
Christopher Wright is a scholar with a pastoral heart who is a joy to read. With faithfulness to the text he gives you something for your soul. Having loved his Old Testament commentaries in the past, I just recently learned what a great expositor he is. He knows how to pull out what is transforming from the text. In this case, we learn so much about life in the Spirit.
This volume can be approached from two points. First, it can be captivating devotional reading. In fact, that’s how I approached it as I read it from cover to cover. Second, it’s a fine volume to put on the Ephesians section of your shelves for its study on the fruit of the spirit. I intend to keep it there for the second use as well.
His quotation of a lovely prayer of John Stott in his Introduction gets your mind in the right spiritual frame. He explained beautifully the opposite errors of moral license and legalism and how a proper study of the fruit of the spirit will keep you between those two extremes. He further explains that this list is not just a list of virtues corresponding and contrasting with the works of the flesh. As he says, if that is all this list was, it would be no more than a list of rules. He says, “a tree does not bear fruit by keeping the laws of nature, but simply because it is a living tree, being and doing what a tree is and does when it is alive”.
Chapters 1-9 cover in turn each of the items that make up the fruit of the spirit. In every chapter, he well defines what Paul meant by the word and illustrates it from all parts of the Bible. Every chapter was outstanding, but for some reason I especially loved chapter 9 on faithfulness. Faithfulness, he says, means being trustworthy and dependable. That’s a great thought to read back into faithfulness in the Christian life.
This book is perfect for any Christian, from the pastor to the newest Christian. I highly recommend it.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
This volume can be approached from two points. First, it can be captivating devotional reading. In fact, that’s how I approached it as I read it from cover to cover. Second, it’s a fine volume to put on the Ephesians section of your shelves for its study on the fruit of the spirit. I intend to keep it there for the second use as well.
His quotation of a lovely prayer of John Stott in his Introduction gets your mind in the right spiritual frame. He explained beautifully the opposite errors of moral license and legalism and how a proper study of the fruit of the spirit will keep you between those two extremes. He further explains that this list is not just a list of virtues corresponding and contrasting with the works of the flesh. As he says, if that is all this list was, it would be no more than a list of rules. He says, “a tree does not bear fruit by keeping the laws of nature, but simply because it is a living tree, being and doing what a tree is and does when it is alive”.
Chapters 1-9 cover in turn each of the items that make up the fruit of the spirit. In every chapter, he well defines what Paul meant by the word and illustrates it from all parts of the Bible. Every chapter was outstanding, but for some reason I especially loved chapter 9 on faithfulness. Faithfulness, he says, means being trustworthy and dependable. That’s a great thought to read back into faithfulness in the Christian life.
This book is perfect for any Christian, from the pastor to the newest Christian. I highly recommend it.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
December 11, 2022
4.7/5
We read this book for D Group this semester and I really loved it! Lots of scripture intertwined throughout each chapter. Encouraging and helpful! I learned a lot about the fruit of the spirit & greatly enjoyed discussing at D Group!
We read this book for D Group this semester and I really loved it! Lots of scripture intertwined throughout each chapter. Encouraging and helpful! I learned a lot about the fruit of the spirit & greatly enjoyed discussing at D Group!
September 9, 2025
This is a clear and concise explanation of the Fruit of the Spirit. Wright roots his exposition in the finished work of Jesus and gives clear directives to apply the lessons to our lives. I would recommend this book to someone as an aid to growing in Christlikeness.
July 17, 2022
This is the best book on the fruit of the spirit and the importance of character that I have ever read. It combines the importance of living a life that reflects Christ with the understanding that the Spirit accomplishes this in us. I absolutely will read this again.
April 10, 2017
A wonderful read for this Lenten season. Wright, in his brilliant way, encourages readers to cultivate the fruit of the spirit in their own life. This gives us a way of orienting ourselves away from the distractions and toward the character that Christ is forming in us. Very practical and enjoyable.
April 28, 2023
This book does an amazing job of showing the work of the Holy Spirit - how the character is demonstrated by God through scripture and by Jesus in his lifetime setting our example. He then shows how the fruit of the Spirit practically shows in our lives as believers. This was CONVICTING in the most beautiful way. The Lord used this book to reveal to me the places I don’t allow Him to work or choose my will above His.
January 12, 2025
loved this book!
January 29, 2019
I read this book in Bahasa Version. This book explained about cultivating the fruit of the spirit in ourself.
Gal 5:22 tells us: " The fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control"
And in this book, I found a beautiful explanation why "fruit" is a singular not "plural". It means, we can't choose what we like, but we must cultivate all of them in our life. In detail, we must cultivate Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control in our life.
Gal 5:22 tells us: " The fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control"
And in this book, I found a beautiful explanation why "fruit" is a singular not "plural". It means, we can't choose what we like, but we must cultivate all of them in our life. In detail, we must cultivate Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control in our life.
April 20, 2018
At one of the congregations I served as a youth pastor, our youth ministry made care packages for our college students. In return, the college ministry made a giant “Fruits of the Spirit” tree for us out of paper. Although we hung the tree in our youth room, the teens mocked it for years. As a result, I avoided teaching them about the fruits of the spirit, concerned they'd find such a series boring or worse still, a joke.
Recently, however, a children’s book about the fruits of the spirit captured my imagination and made me want to explore them with my high school students. In this book, a little boy wrestles with what God is like. His Grandma answers by pointing out the fruits of the spirit. The little boy then identifies each time he sees a fruit of the spirit in the world around him. (1)
As part of my research for this series, I read Christopher J.H. Wright’s Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit: Growing in Christlikeness. Having read Wright’s fabulous The Mission of God in grad school, I was excited to explore what he had to say about the fruits of the spirit.
As you’d expect from anything written by Wright, the book’s scholarship and the writing are both excellent. Beyond that, though, Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit explores one fruit of the spirit in each chapter and also includes a helpful introductory chapter that places the fruits of the spirit passage in the larger context of the book of Galatians.
What surprised me about Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit (even though it probably shouldn’t have) is how much each chapter focuses on what that fruit of the spirit says about God’s character. Until now, it seems that whenever I’ve heard someone teach on the fruits of the spirit, they’ve done so in a way that’s solely about us, forgetting that Christians bear these fruits BECAUSE the Holy Spirit lives in us and enables us to reflect God’s character.
One of my favorite chapters in Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit is the one on love. Wright frames love as “the answer to both legalism and license.” According to him, “To the law-enforcers Paul says that what really matters is faith expressing itself through love. Love enables us to fulfill God’s law properly without legalism. And to the rule-rejecters Paul says that we should make sure that we serve one another humbly in love. Love enables us to use our freedom properly without selfishness.”
Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit is a book that anyone interested in learning more about the fruits of the spirit will enjoy. In particular, it’s a helpful resource for pastors and youth workers planning a series on the fruits of the spirit. Because of the good discussion questions found at the end of each chapter, it’d also make for good discussion fodder in a small group setting.
***********************************************
1. The delightful children's book about the fruits of the spirit is Maybe God is Like That, Too.
***********************************************
Disclosure: I received a free copy of Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit from InterVarsity Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Recently, however, a children’s book about the fruits of the spirit captured my imagination and made me want to explore them with my high school students. In this book, a little boy wrestles with what God is like. His Grandma answers by pointing out the fruits of the spirit. The little boy then identifies each time he sees a fruit of the spirit in the world around him. (1)
As part of my research for this series, I read Christopher J.H. Wright’s Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit: Growing in Christlikeness. Having read Wright’s fabulous The Mission of God in grad school, I was excited to explore what he had to say about the fruits of the spirit.
As you’d expect from anything written by Wright, the book’s scholarship and the writing are both excellent. Beyond that, though, Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit explores one fruit of the spirit in each chapter and also includes a helpful introductory chapter that places the fruits of the spirit passage in the larger context of the book of Galatians.
What surprised me about Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit (even though it probably shouldn’t have) is how much each chapter focuses on what that fruit of the spirit says about God’s character. Until now, it seems that whenever I’ve heard someone teach on the fruits of the spirit, they’ve done so in a way that’s solely about us, forgetting that Christians bear these fruits BECAUSE the Holy Spirit lives in us and enables us to reflect God’s character.
One of my favorite chapters in Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit is the one on love. Wright frames love as “the answer to both legalism and license.” According to him, “To the law-enforcers Paul says that what really matters is faith expressing itself through love. Love enables us to fulfill God’s law properly without legalism. And to the rule-rejecters Paul says that we should make sure that we serve one another humbly in love. Love enables us to use our freedom properly without selfishness.”
Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit is a book that anyone interested in learning more about the fruits of the spirit will enjoy. In particular, it’s a helpful resource for pastors and youth workers planning a series on the fruits of the spirit. Because of the good discussion questions found at the end of each chapter, it’d also make for good discussion fodder in a small group setting.
***********************************************
1. The delightful children's book about the fruits of the spirit is Maybe God is Like That, Too.
***********************************************
Disclosure: I received a free copy of Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit from InterVarsity Press in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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August 25, 2025Book is a call to devotion to God and His command that we believe in Him and love one another …
Ch 1 brings together Galatians 5, Gospel of John & 1st John message of love in a deeply impactful way, centering on Jesus command in 1 Jn 3:23-24 “And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in Him, and He in them.” Ch 2 Joy & Ch 3 Peace dovetail with love and are great read together.
Wright sees our efforts in understanding/belief and obedience to God’s command that we love, as the point where our faith deepens and becomes fruitful… even in the case of overwhelming character attributes in opposition to fruit, an underlying prayer, belief and obedience can produce fruit in time.
Key for Wright is that attributes are the Fruit of the Holy Spirit and not your work… key is prayer and Wright leads with the example of John Stott who prayed daily the Holy Spirit would produce the Fruit of the Spirit in his life. Submission to God vs submission to the law. “Those who have belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh…” (Gal 5:24). “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal 5:25).
Ch 1 brings together Galatians 5, Gospel of John & 1st John message of love in a deeply impactful way, centering on Jesus command in 1 Jn 3:23-24 “And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in Him, and He in them.” Ch 2 Joy & Ch 3 Peace dovetail with love and are great read together.
Wright sees our efforts in understanding/belief and obedience to God’s command that we love, as the point where our faith deepens and becomes fruitful… even in the case of overwhelming character attributes in opposition to fruit, an underlying prayer, belief and obedience can produce fruit in time.
Key for Wright is that attributes are the Fruit of the Holy Spirit and not your work… key is prayer and Wright leads with the example of John Stott who prayed daily the Holy Spirit would produce the Fruit of the Spirit in his life. Submission to God vs submission to the law. “Those who have belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh…” (Gal 5:24). “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal 5:25).
December 2, 2019
After setting the stage by establishing the target audience and overall themes of Galatians, Wright then looks at each of the Fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23 with a chapter per fruit. He traces how the word is used elsewhere in the Scripture and how God is portrayed displaying that attribute throughout the Bible, providing a more in depth idea of what it means to bear these fruit and what the evidence of each one should be in our lives.
This was a fairly quick read. I was able to read 1 chapter a day with my devotions and finished it in just a little over a week. It would also work well for a quarter-long Bible study as there are discussion questions provided at the end of each chapter and a link to a video that goes with it too. Wright was able to break things down into easy terms, his Biblical scholarship was evident, but easy to digest and apply. A good read to encourage people in their Christian walk and dig a little deeper into a passage that gets quoted a lot but not often dwelt on very long.
This was a fairly quick read. I was able to read 1 chapter a day with my devotions and finished it in just a little over a week. It would also work well for a quarter-long Bible study as there are discussion questions provided at the end of each chapter and a link to a video that goes with it too. Wright was able to break things down into easy terms, his Biblical scholarship was evident, but easy to digest and apply. A good read to encourage people in their Christian walk and dig a little deeper into a passage that gets quoted a lot but not often dwelt on very long.
December 28, 2017
I used this book to teach the fruit of the Spirit in youth group, and it adapts well. The author covers each fruit pretty thoroughly, and each chapter follows a similar structure, examining the trait as it relates to God, Jesus, and then us (humans), with the exception of self control, which is exclusive to humans. The author keeps his examples almost exclusively to scripture, for the purpose of allowing the leader to use their own cultural examples, which I thought was a really good idea. There are extra resources online, but I stayed with the book only. Overall, a good book on the fruit of the Spirit. It gave me some good food for thought, and I liked the analogy of the fruit of the Spirit being like the segments of an orange rather than grapes or individual fruit. You need all of them.
June 17, 2025
In the young adults class I teach in Bible School, we discussed Galatians 5:22-23 through the last few months. A simple text, but one that works like a crossroads, sending us to many places in Scripture to fully understand the meaning ("let's look at what 'patience' looks like elsewhere in the Bible"). This book by Christopher Wright was my favorite "go to" book on each week's subject. It offered simple, concise elaborations of every aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit. A small book with a precious message, effectively delivered, without trying to revolutionize the text.
The approach I took in my class, and one I suggest to every reader, is to look at how our post-Christian culture corrupts the good biblical expression of each facet of the fruit. Everybody talks about love, peace, joy... but people often don't understand what these words mean anymore.
The approach I took in my class, and one I suggest to every reader, is to look at how our post-Christian culture corrupts the good biblical expression of each facet of the fruit. Everybody talks about love, peace, joy... but people often don't understand what these words mean anymore.
August 26, 2017
Ugh. I am undone. Just when I thought I was making progress in the Christian life, I am exposed for who I am. But it was gentle, and simple, and inspiring... and brought life.
Chris Wright is fast becoming a favourite with me. His depth of biblical insight and ability to teach is wonderful. I loved this book so much that I am about to start over and read it with my wife... and am about to buy multiple copies and give it to people I love. For in it he describes the wonderful life with Christ and in Christ that every human ultimately is looking for.
A preaching series will follow shortly behind.
Chris Wright is fast becoming a favourite with me. His depth of biblical insight and ability to teach is wonderful. I loved this book so much that I am about to start over and read it with my wife... and am about to buy multiple copies and give it to people I love. For in it he describes the wonderful life with Christ and in Christ that every human ultimately is looking for.
A preaching series will follow shortly behind.
July 2, 2019
I enjoyed this book, and felt that it added depth to the concept of the fruit of the Spirit. Wright develops the description of each fruit with illustrations from Old and New Testament stories, and connect the fruit of the Spirit with qualities of God. I have a few quibbles with some of his interpretations: I don't think that Jesus' encounter with the Syro-Phoenician woman was all that gentle, for example. I think that smooths out the rough edges of the gospel stories a little much. The questions at the end of each chapter were exceptionally well thought-out.
October 11, 2020
This book really encouraged and challenged me to step back and see how I allow the fruit of the spirit to be demonstrated in my life. If I want to become more and more like Christ, I need to push myself and become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit and start watering the seeds that he had planted inside of me. I have the ability to grow in every single one of the fruits of the spirit. It’s up to me to show discipline and welcome challenges into my life as opportunities to grow, learn, and let Christ shine through me.
September 12, 2021
If Chris Wright made juice, his has no additives, no preservatives, 100% freshly squeezed juice from the fruit. Detox, immune-booster, energizer, for the soul. Just the introduction forced me to rethink. I realised that I am committed to Christ but I am not committed to Christlikeness. After finishing the book, I wanted more. Now I too want to grow in Christlikeness.
Read the full review (4183 words) or Listen to the podcast (31 min) at https://readingandreaders.com/podcast...
Read the full review (4183 words) or Listen to the podcast (31 min) at https://readingandreaders.com/podcast...
December 10, 2022
This book does something that no other book on The FRUIT (NOTE: singular!) of The Spirit has done before; and that is to point out what the FRUIT of the Spirit is NOT.
So often we attribute virtues as being evidence of fruit. But to have a few and not manifest all is NOT evidence of Christ in us.
This book is a great way to weed out the worldly view of such virtues and get you back on track to the instruction of HOW to be CHRISTLIKE. A must read for the stagnant-felt Christian life. A must read for new AND old disciples.
So often we attribute virtues as being evidence of fruit. But to have a few and not manifest all is NOT evidence of Christ in us.
This book is a great way to weed out the worldly view of such virtues and get you back on track to the instruction of HOW to be CHRISTLIKE. A must read for the stagnant-felt Christian life. A must read for new AND old disciples.
October 5, 2024
This book is a very good reminder of what it means to live as a follower of Jesus. Wright examines the fruit of the Spirit farm Galatians chapter 5 and defines their relevance to everyday life. The members of the church I attend are discussing this book in our "reach groups," and It is a good choice for such groups, for private devotional reading, or for adult/teenage Bible classes. It convinced me of areas in which I need to mature and exposed areas in which Christians as a whole compromise with a culture that does not value all these qualities.
December 23, 2021
Living life under the power and guidance of the Spirit (& "in step with the Spirit") is so sweet and liberating. We are becoming more and more like Christ!! We are called to live by grace in ways that exclude ungodliness, and therefore, to live self-controlled lives as we wait for our hope, our bridegroom, Jesus Christ.
"There is no biblical mission without biblical living." This is the real truth.
"There is no biblical mission without biblical living." This is the real truth.
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