No Roots, No Fruits (2025)

Scripture Invitation

I summon your senses and invite your intellect to the book of John 15, verse 8.

It is there that The Holy Spirit has highlighted our context for our brief sermonic time together.

Bible Passage

John 15:8 CSB

My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.

Introduction

Today we began our journey to revival and I believe God gave me a word that's gonna shake some foundations!

The title is simple but profound: "No Roots, No Fruits!"

Now, I'm not talking about the roots in your hair! [Light laughter]

I'm talking about something deeper.

Something spiritual.

Something that's gonna challenge every single one of us in this room today.

You see, we got a lot of Christians walking around today looking like plastic trees in a department store window.

They got the appearance of life, but there's no real substance!

Are you with me?

Let me break it down for you.

In Westbury, where I grew up, we had this old maple tree right outside our building.

That tree survived hurricanes, snowstorms, heat waves - everything the city threw at it.

You know why?

Because its roots went DEEP!

But today, we got too many surface-level saints!

We got too many shallow Christians!

We got people who want the fruits without the roots!

They want the blessings without the burden!

They want the crown without the cross!

Let me ask you all something - how many of you have ever tried to grow a plant? [Wait for hands]

Now, what happens if you just lay that plant on top of the soil? [Pause]

It dies!

It withers!

It can't survive!

That's exactly what's happening in the body of Christ today.

We got people trying to produce love without being rooted in God's love!

We got people trying to show joy without being connected to the source of joy!

We got people attempting to demonstrate peace while their roots are tangled up in the world's chaos!

But God showed me a picture of what we should be.

Application

Turn with me to Psalm 1:3

Psalm 1:3 CSB

He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

Church, listen to me now - God wants us to be like that tree!

But how can we be like a tree in 2025:

Our roots must be grounded in the love of Jesus

When you're rooted in His love, you can love the unlovable!

You can forgive the unforgivable!

You can reach the unreachable!

Our trunk must stand firm

Like a mighty oak, we need the strength of joy and peace!

When the storms come - and they will come - you won't be moved!

Our branches must reach out with patience!

Stop being so quick to cut people off!

Stop being so quick to give up on people!

Your branches of patience need to stretch out!

But it doesn't stop there!

Your leaves should be fluttering with kindness and goodness!

Every time the wind of the Spirit blows, people should see those attributes in motion!

Your blossoms, they should be releasing the sweet fragrance of faithfulness and gentleness!

When people come near you, they should smell Jesus on you!

And finally - your fruits! They ought to be Rich with self-control!

Not wild, not reckless, but disciplined in the Spirit!

But here's the challenge - none of this is possible without being connected to Jesus!

You can't microwave spiritual growth!

You can't Instagram filter your way to genuine fruit!

It takes time!

It takes dedication!

It takes being planted in God's house!

It takes being rooted in God's Word!

Closing

So I ask you today - where are your roots?

Are they shallow?

Are they deep?

Are they even there at all?

Because if you want to bear fruit that lasts - fruit that transforms lives, fruit that impacts generations - you've got to be rooted in Jesus!

No roots? No fruits!

It's that simple!

If you're here today, and you know your roots need to go deeper, if you're tired of trying to produce fruit without being connected to the vine, I want you to come to this altar right now.[

Come on, this is your moment.

Don't let pride keep you in your seat.

Don't let fear hold you back.

The Master Gardener is ready to plant you by rivers of living water.

Let's pray...