March 2, 2025
Hello, Beloved.
In yesterday's message from our Becoming Series, "Growing in Godliness in Every Season", we explored an essential and foundational truth: the origin of character is belovedness. Before God calls us to change, He calls us His own. When we accept this truth, we learn that God's pruning within our lives is not punishment, but the outworking of God's heart to remove whatever hinders love. Transformation flows from knowing we are loved, accepted, and secure in the Father. When identity is rooted in belovedness rather than performance, obedience shifts from pressure to response.
To help frame this, we examined four dimensions of faith. Faith is not merely intellectual agreement with doctrines (Hebrews 11:6; John 20:31), it also includes relational trust (Proverbs 3:5-6; 2 Timothy 1:12), loving loyalty (Galatians 5:6, James 2:17), and a way of seeing reality shaped by God's nature (2 Corinthians 5:7; Romans 12:2; Ephesians 1:18). Healthy character develops when faith moves beyond belief alone and becomes lived trust.
Author Chris Coursey says in his book Transforming Fellowship, "Transformation requires us to bring our weaknesses into the light of our relational world and let them be transformed, or we will neither change deeply nor sustain our change over time." Once we know God and others love us, a healthy character begins to grow. In effect, spiritual formation happens in two ways: instantly and over time. In Christ, we are made holy and set apart right away because of what He has done. At the same time, the Holy Spirit continues to shape our thoughts, reactions, relationships, and desires as we grow. The Father declares who we are and what we are becoming, and then spends our lifetimes forming us into what He's already named.
This is why believers can be truly and still have room to grow and mature in love. God gives us our identity right away, but He shapes our maturity over a lifetime. Growth happens through surrender, endurance, community, repentance, and daily obedience. Character is built not just in inspiring moments, but through steady faithfulness in everyday life.
Finally, character produces an outcome: fruitfulness. True spiritual fruit is not manufactured behavior but the natural overflow of a formed life. Qualities like the fruit of the Spirit, trustworthiness, joyful attitudes, humble authority, a clean conscience, and lives that make a meaningful difference emerge. Fruitfulness is evidence that formation is taking root beneath the surface and a person is abiding deeply in Christ.
The main message of this character chapter within the Becoming Series is simple but important: do not try to be fruitful before you accept that you are loved. When we live as God's deeply loved children, we work with Him as He shapes us rather than fight against it. Over time, people will see the life of Jesus in us.
The Lord Jesus and His peace be upon you and your family!
GATEWAY EVENTS: Click here.
Special Notice -- A new Gateway School of Equipping (GSE) class begins Sunday, March 8, at 8:45 am in Room 101 (Main Building). We are starting a 3-week course called "The Blood."
WHERE TO ENGAGE:
Gateway Groups (a community where you can experience God, be family, and share the love of Jesus with others.)
SUNDAY SERVICE:
BECOMING (Part 9): Growing in Godliness in Every Season — Entire Service or Teaching Only
CHURCH FINANCIAL REPORT:
Giving Report: (*weekly income needed $21,500)
February 1: $23,083.06
February 8: $31,464.82
February 15: $18,326.75
February 22: $16,907.17
March 1: $22,501.14
Greater Things YTD 2026: $19,769.71
Current Mortgage Balance: $373,670.43
Click here to learn more about Greater Things (our accelerated mortgage elimination commitment) and participate.
Stay hopeful and healthy. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Transforming Lives Together,
Lance and Darlene Bane
Lead Pastor
Phone: 203-934-0880
Email: office@yourgateway.com