Living by the Spirit: Reflections todays Sermon

Living by the Spirit

Reflections on Fr Ron Bundy's Sermon at St James Anglican

This morning at St James, Biggera Waters, Fr Ron Bundy delivered a sermon that felt both timeless and urgently relevant. I've said before that Ron is in my top three preachers (I won't say who's number one!), and today he showed again why he's earned that spot. He took the lectionary readings for this Sunday—especially Paul's words in Galatians and Jesus' sending out of the seventy-two in Luke—and made them come alive for us, right here and now.

Fr Ron's message zeroed in on a theme that runs through the readings: the tension between living by the flesh and living by the Spirit. It's easy to hear those words and think they're just old religious jargon, but Ron made it clear that this is about the choices we make every day. Are we living by the values of the world—selfishness, pride, envy, anger—or are we living by the values of the Spirit?

Paul spells it out in Galatians 5:22-23, listing the fruits of the Spirit:
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control

Fr Ron reminded us that these aren't just nice ideas—they're non-negotiables for anyone who wants to follow Jesus. When these fruits are missing from our lives, it's a sign we're drifting, letting the "flesh" (our old habits, our egos, our wounds) take the wheel.

The Old Testament reading about Naaman (2 Kings 5:1-14) brought this home in a powerful way. Naaman, a mighty warrior, was desperate for healing but almost missed it because he wanted something dramatic and impressive. Instead, God's prophet Elisha told him to do something simple: wash in the Jordan River seven times. At first, Naaman was offended—he wanted a show, not a simple act of obedience. But when he finally humbled himself and did what was asked, he was healed.

This story reminds us that sometimes, the path to healing and transformation isn't flashy or complicated. It's about simple, faithful steps—choosing love over anger, patience over frustration, generosity over selfishness. The Spirit's way is often quiet, but it's powerful.

This message echoed a conversation I had with my friend Jason last week. We were dreaming about what a renewed church might look like—a church that's alive with modern music, a message that hits home for young people, and a community that actually lives out these non-negotiables. As we talked, a clear point of agreement emerged: "Christianity truly is a better way of living, built upon non-negotiable principles that lead to genuine freedom, deep joy, and lasting purpose." It's less about rigid rules and more about a transformative life.

Imagine a church where the fruits of the Spirit aren't just words on a page, but the atmosphere you breathe when you walk in. Where people are quick to forgive, slow to judge, eager to serve, and always ready to welcome. Where the music lifts your soul and the message speaks to your real struggles and hopes. That's the kind of church that can reach a new generation—and it starts with each of us.

In Luke 10, Jesus sends out seventy-two disciples, telling them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few."

The world is still hungry for hope, for meaning, for a way of life that's deeper than the latest trend or headline. The gospel isn't just good news for Sunday mornings—it's a way of life that leads to a harvest of joy, peace, and purpose. Jesus didn't send out his followers with a long list of rules or a heavy load of baggage. He sent them with a simple message: "The kingdom of God has come near." He told them to bring peace, to heal, to accept hospitality, and to move on when they weren't welcomed. It's a model for us: go out, love people, bring peace, and trust God with the results.

So what does it look like to live by the Spirit in 2025, in Biggera Waters or wherever you are? It means making love, joy, and peace our default settings. It means being patient when it's hard, kind when it's inconvenient, generous when it costs us, faithful when we're tempted to give up, gentle when we want to snap, and self-controlled when everything in us wants to let loose.

It's not always easy. Sometimes it feels impossible. But as Fr Ron said, these are the non-negotiables. They're the markers of a life transformed by Jesus—a life that points others to a better way. If we want to see a renewed church—one that speaks to the hearts of young people and old, one that's alive with the Spirit—it starts with us. It starts with living out these fruits, in our homes, our workplaces, our friendships, and yes, even in our music and our messages. The harvest is still plentiful. Let's be the laborers who bring it in, not just with our words, but with lives that overflow with the Spirit.

What fruits of the Spirit do you see in your life right now? Where do you feel the tug of the flesh? How can we, as a church, be a place where the Spirit's fruits are grown and shared?

Let's keep the conversation going—here, in our homes, and in our hearts.