Sermon on the Significance of Bearing Fruit
Today, as we continue our study through the Gospel of John, we come to chapter 15 to consider the significance of bearing fruit. In this chapter, Jesus uses the image of a vineyard to teach his disciples about remaining faithful to Him and to warn them about the consequence of being unfaithful.
To best understand the analogy, we need a basic understanding of a vine plant. First, the vine is the portion of the plant that one can be thought of as the trunk, which is the part that comes up from the roots in the ground. Second, branches grow out from the vine. Finally, leaves and fruit grow from out the branches.
In the analogy from chapter 15, Jesus is the vine and His disciples are the branches. The purpose of this sermon is to explain our need to be bearers of good fruit and good actions.
Note: Sermon available for online listening until January 19th, 2020. To view more sermons, visit our Sermon Archive.
Bulletin Message from the Pastor
Good Fruit
For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.
Luke 6:43-45
We once planted a couple of orange trees in our yard. In a couple of years the tress began to produce fruit. At first, the fruit was tiny and not very sweet. Over time, the fruit on one of the trees became tastier. The fruit on the other tree remained bitter and not very satisfying. An arborist explained to us that the two trees may have been different varieties and, therefore, produced different types of oranges, one sweet and one sour. Another explanation was that the trees were being pollinated from two different sources, one from a nearby lemon tree and the other from a nearby orange tree.
Just because the trees locked the same did not mean they were the same. Both produced fruit, but one was edible and the other was not. Both trees gave off shade and both had beautiful foliage. But clearly, one was more useful to us than the other.
How the Analogy Relates to Us
A tree’s fruit is limited by the quality of the tree and what is within its trunk and the soil in which it is planted. The same is true of us. The quality of our lives is determined by the soil we are planted in. Good soil and proper nurturing brings forth fruit that is useful in the Kingdom of the Lord. Your fruit will reflect the attitude and spirit you have leading you and the fellowship you have with the Lord.
Paul wrote:
For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God
Colossians 1:9-10
Pastor Dwight <><