Sermon Tone Analysis

Bearing Fruit Sermon

Reading John 15:1-8

 

Introduction

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Family orange tree

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Planted there for a purpose – to give us fruit

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When it stopped bearing fruit – it no longer served it function

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John 15 give us a very similar situation

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Each must bear fruit or face the vinedresser’s shears

 

*1)      **Congregational  Fruit*

a)      Missionaries

b)      Bible Education, campaigns, programs…

c)      Internet Ministry

i)        145 a day - over 5000 this month - over 65000 since we started

ii)      550 Bible lessons have been given

 

d)     The Bear Valley Bible Institute

i)        Training men, preaching and evangelizing all over the world…

 

*2)      **Personal Fruit (We will be judged by what we do – 2Cor 5:10)*

a)      *Evangelism* as fruit – God’s people are expected to be evangelistic people

i)        Christ commanded it

(a)    *Matthew 28:18-20* – Go make disciples of all nations – baptize them and teach them

ii)      All the people did it

(a)    *Acts 8:4* – all went about preaching the word

iii)    We need to prepare ourselves to do it

(a)    *1Pet 3:15* – always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you

 

b)      *Doing good* as fruit

i)        Helping one another (car, yard work, painting a house

ii)      Exhibiting the fruit of the spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentileness and self-control

(a)    *Galatians 6:10* – “while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those of the household of faith”

 

c)      *Encouragement* as fruit

i)        Attendance at church is an encouragement to others

(a)    *Hebrews 10:24-25* – “let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good works, not forsaking the assembling together as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

ii)      Paul eager to visit the Romans Christians to “obtain some fruit among you”(Romans 1:13)

 

 

d)     People have different roles and functions in the body

i)        1 Corinthians 12 – feet, hands, eyes

ii)      If part of the body doesn’t function the whole body suffers

iii)    *1Cor 12:18* – “But now God has placed the members, */each one of them/*, in the body, */just as He desired/*.”

(1)   George Bush asks you to help

(2)   Mike Shanahan – wants your help

(3)   The Creator of the Universe – wants your help

(i)     Pew Warmers – Complainers - Criticizers

iv)    *1Pet 2:9* – “you are a chosen race a royal priesthood, a people for God’s own possession – *WHY?* – so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light.”

e)      How do we think about God in our lives?

i)        We segment our lives

(a)    Time for God, Time for Work, Time for Family, Time for Myself

(b)   We become like the seed sown among the thorns (Matthew 13:22) – the worries of the world made the word become unfruitful (we become unfruitful)

 

ii)      We need a shift in thinking

(1)   All we do is for God

(i)     *Galatians 2:20* - I have been crucified with Christ; and */it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me/*; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God

(ii)   *Romans 6:1-11* – those of us who have been baptized have been crucified with Christ as well – */Is it Him that lives or me?/*

(iii) *Colossians 1:10* - 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;

(2)   It is not so much a change of schedule as much as it is a change of focus.

(3)   The Story of Amos – another week to serve

(a)    If the Lord had called you home last week – how would the kingdom here have been diminished in the last 7 days?

(i)     In the last 24 hours?

In the last few hours?

*(b)   **Matthew 5 – Salt and Light*

(i)     *Salt* – adds flavor, preserves, protects

a.       Do we add flavor?

i.        (tasteless salt is to be thrown out – fruitless branches are to be cut off)

b.

Or do we rub the salt in their wounds

(ii)   *Light* – guides the way

 

“we must work the works of Him who sent me as long as it is day, night is coming when no one can work.”

– John 9:4