Hey Church Family,
What a powerful and inspiring time we had in the house of the Lord this past Sunday! Kurt Jackson brought a timely word as he continued our incredible series, “Walking with God in Legacy.” This week, we took in the fourth part, “Fruitful Trees in a Fruitful Season,” and it was a message that truly spoke to the heart of what it means to live a life that honours God.
Last week, we were challenged on the importance of Lifting Up A Standard for our lives. This week, we explored the beautiful outcome of living by that standard: a life that bears abundant, lasting fruit for His Kingdom. It’s one thing to have a standard, but it’s another to see the tangible, life-giving results of that standard in our relationships and our world.
The Roots of a Relational Legacy
Kurt kicked off by reminding us of a foundational truth: legacy is all about our Beliefs, Values, and Practices. It’s a powerful, divine sequence. Our BELIEF in the incredible redemptive work of Jesus Christ is the soil from which everything else grows.
This core belief shapes our VALUES – things like selflessness, holiness, and discernment. And those values inevitably lead to our PRACTICES, such as consistent prayer, accountability, and intentional discipleship.
This isn’t just a theory; it’s the blueprint for building a “Relational Legacy”. It’s how we cultivate healthy, Christ-centred relationships in our families, with our spouses, our children, and within our spiritual family here at church.
Of course, this path of legacy isn’t the easy, wide-open road. Jesus Himself told us this in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction… Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”.
Walking this path requires grace, faith, and a submission to God’s authority in our lives, a principle powerfully stated in James 4:7: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”.
From Barren Leaves to Abundant Fruit
So, what does it actually look like to be one of these fruitful trees in a fruitful season?
Pastor Kurt used the powerful story from Mark 11:12-14, where Jesus approaches a fig tree that has leaves but no fruit. It’s a sobering picture. The tree looked promising from a distance, but up close, it offered no sustenance. It’s a call for us to examine our own lives. Are we just putting on a show of leaves, or is there real, life-giving fruit for others to find?
This fruit often grows in the context of community. The Bible calls this fellowship, or koinōnia in Greek, which means both partnership and fellowship. The purpose of us gathering together isn’t just to occupy the same room; it’s to actively build each other up.
As it says in Hebrews 10:24-25, we are to “consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together… but exhorting one another.”. This is fruit! Encouraging one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11), forgiving one another (Ephesians 4:32), and bearing with one another (Colossians 3:13) – this is the sweet fruit of a healthy tree.
The Secret to a Fruitful Life
Here’s the most freeing part of the entire message: trying harder to bear fruit is futile. We can’t produce this fruit on our own. It’s not about gritting our teeth and trying to be more patient… or more loving. The secret isn’t in our effort, but in our connection.
Jesus makes this crystal clear in John 15:5, 8, where He says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing… By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”.
Our one job is to abide. To remain connected to Jesus, the True Vine. An effective and fruitful ministry flows directly out of an intimate and authentic relationship with Christ. When we nurture our relationship with Him – through His word, through prayer, through worship – He produces the fruit through us.
A fruitful life is simply the natural overflow of a life deeply connected to Him. This is how we build a lasting spiritual legacy that points the world back to Jesus.
For Cell Groups – Possible Points to Discuss
This week’s message was packed with truth! Here are a few questions to help you dig deeper in your cell groups:
- Kurt explained that our beliefs shape our values, which lead to our practices. Discuss a specific belief you hold about Jesus and how it practically shapes a value (e.g., forgiveness) and a practice (e.g., praying for others) in your life.
- Read John 15:1-8 together . What does “abiding in the vine” look like for you on a daily basis? What are some things that you find can hinder your connection to Christ?
- The sermon closed with several challenging self-reflection questions. Pick one from the message, like, “Am I an Encourager and Supporter?” or “Am I Praying for and with Others?” and discuss as a group how you can be more intentional in that area this week.
- Bearing fruit impacts our community. How can we, as a cell group, bear fruit together? This could be through encouragement within the group or by getting involved in something practical, like serving in one of our church’s community outreach programs.
A Prayer for the Week Ahead
Father,
Thank You for Your incredible Word that both challenges and encourages us.
We come before You today and ask for the grace to abide in You, Jesus, the True Vine. Help us to stop striving in our own strength and to simply rest in our connection to You.
Prune away anything in us that does not bear fruit, and cultivate in us a harvest of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. May our lives be fruitful trees in a fruitful season, leaving a legacy of Your love and glory for all to see.
In Jesus’ mighty name,
Amen.
