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BEARING FRUIT (by Al Kersha)
-s-
Introduction: The common denominator among all life that God has
created on earth is GROWTH.. When studying plant or animal life,
whether they be very primitive single cell organisms or highly com-
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plex life forms, we notice that if it is alive it grows! Every blade
of grass, every shrub and tree, if given the right circumstances, will
begin its progressive development from seed to full maturity. The
same is true in the animal kingdom. From birth each creature follows
the natural process of maturing from a relatively small, weak and
rather helpless offspring to a £ully mature kind.
Yes, growth is the conunon denominator. And it should tell us some
thing very profound about the God who made it all.
I.
GOD
IS GROWTH ORIENTED--IN FACT HE EXPECTS GROWTH!
A.
B.
Physical creation gives insight to spiritual world (Romans 1:20)
Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matt. 13:31-32)
II.
c.
WHY
A.
"Of the increase of his government•••there shall be no end"
Isaiah 9:6,7
DOES GOD WANT GROWTH?
Luke 13:6-9 provides a very important parable and lesson.
The parable wasn't spoken·for the benefit of the farming
conununity, for they know why they maintain fruit-tree
orchards. The parable is for the Church of God -- for
Christians. It's about people bearing fruit or being
productive. It answers the question, why growth? -- To
bear fruit!
B. John 15:1-8, 16
Bearing fruit is a responsibility and expectation of every
minister and member in the church.
C. Growth for growth's sake is not the ultimate goal. Just
as a giant apple or orange tree of and by itself is not the
aim (the fig tree in Luke 13 might have been big), but
rather it is the FRUIT which makes the tree a productive
one. Growth should be viewed not as the desired end in
itself, but certainly as a vital part of the process towards
productivity.
III. BECOMING A PRODUCTIVE CHRISTIAN
*Since P f Oductivit a is� of the biggest and most important
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xpectations of Go from the growth process, it becomes extremely
important for the Christian to understand how productivity comes
about.
A. Growth precedes productivity
A fruit tree, for example, must reach a certain level of
development or maturity before it can be expected to bear
fruit. This is true of most plants.
To some degree the same holds true for human beings. Thank
fully, as Christians, we do not have to wait a year or two or
three to reach some fruit-bearing, but we do need at least
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