NOTES: Fresh off the Vine, Part 1
Sermon: Fresh off the Vine 1- Show Then Tell
Date: Sunday, May 19, 2024
Text: Matt. 7:15-20
Matthew 7:15–20 (ESV)
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
Let’s Connect:
Actions speak louder than words. (Character-Actions matter):
Text Explained:
Jesus chooses to call a person’s character-actions— FRUIT.
16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?…19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
The character-actions of our life tell our Jesus story.
2 Corinthians 3:2–3 (ESV) 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
The metaphor is that there is a vine or tree with branches and on those branches is some kind of fruit.
Bad fruit comes from bad trees — Good fruit comes from good trees
By grace are we saved and made new (2 Cor. 5:17)
We have been re-made by the Spirit to produce delicious, life-giving fruit
Together, the Church is made to be the fruit basket for a hungry world.
This is WHO we are, but HOW are we known?
What do we do with the common fact that sometimes our fruit is not “good?”
Luke 8:14 (ESV) 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.
Maturing in Christ:
ILL: Mean churches Vs. Spirit-filled churches
Paul says it this way in response to “I don’t do the good I want”
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.Romans 8:1–2 (ESV)
So, we live by the Spirit not the flesh.
Let’s Relate:
Making our Jesus-story known:
Stay humble:
Apologize:
Give time to the Spirit:
Our Challenge:
Show Then Tell — As together we are the fruit basket to the world.