FRUIT

What Is Growing in You?

Introduction

Several years ago, someone gave me a tomato plant.

Now, I have to admit...

I'm not exactly known for my gardening skills.

I thanked them, smiled, and secretly wondered how long it would survive.

Every morning I'd wander outside.

I'd look.

Nothing.

The next day...

Nothing.

A week later...

Still nothing.

Honestly, I started wondering if it was broken.

Then one morning...

Tiny yellow blossoms.

A week later...

Little green tomatoes.

Weeks later...

Bright red fruit.

Here's what struck me.

The whole time I thought nothing was happening...

everything was happening.

The roots were growing.

The stem was strengthening.

The leaves were gathering sunlight.

Growth was invisible...

until fruit appeared.

Faith works exactly the same way.

Sometimes we think,

"I'm not changing."

"I'm not growing."

"I'm still struggling."

Meanwhile...

God is quietly doing work beneath the surface.

The Fruit Is Not Manufactured

Paul doesn't say...

Produce fruit.

He says...

The fruit of the Spirit.

Notice whose fruit it is.

Not yours.

Not mine.

God's.

Religion often says...

"Try harder."

The Gospel says...

"Stay connected."

That's exactly what Jesus says in John 15.

"I am the vine."

Branches don't strain.

Branches stay attached.

Fruit becomes inevitable.

Illustration

Imagine taping apples onto a dead tree.

It might fool someone for a few hours.

But eventually...

everyone notices.

The apples aren't connected to life.

Sometimes we do the same thing.

We tape kindness onto anger.

We tape smiles onto exhaustion.

We tape patience onto resentment.

Eventually...

the tape lets go.

Because fruit cannot be faked forever.

Real fruit grows from real life.

Fruit Is For Someone Else

Here's something fascinating.

Trees never eat their own fruit.

Apple trees don't consume apples.

Orange trees don't eat oranges.

Fruit exists for others.

Think about that.

When God grows patience in you...

someone else receives it.

When God grows kindness...

someone else experiences it.

When God grows gentleness...

someone else's burden becomes lighter.

Fruit is never just about you.

It's always a gift.

Illustration

Think about the people who changed your life.

Was it because they were impressive?

Or because they were gentle?

Patient?

Joyful?

Peaceful?

You probably don't remember their résumé.

You remember how they made you feel.

That's fruit.

Fruit Grows Together

Paul doesn't list nine different fruits.

He says...

Fruit.

Singular.

Like one beautiful cluster.

Love strengthens joy.

Joy feeds peace.

Peace produces patience.

Patience creates kindness.

Kindness encourages goodness.

Faithfulness nurtures gentleness.

Gentleness develops self-control.

They're all connected.

God isn't building nine different Christians.

He's growing one healthy life.

Seasons Matter

Every orchard has seasons.

Spring blossoms.

Summer growth.

Autumn harvest.

Winter rest.

Maybe today...

you're in winter.

Don't panic.

Winter isn't failure.

Roots grow during winter.

Some of God's greatest work happens where no one can see.

Illustration

Think back over your own life.

Some of your greatest spiritual growth probably didn't happen during your happiest years.

It happened after loss.

After disappointment.

After unanswered prayers.

After tears.

Some of your sweetest fruit grew from your hardest seasons.

So What Is Growing?

Imagine someone spending one week with you.

Driving with you.

Working beside you.

Standing beside you in the grocery store.

Watching you handle stress.

Listening to your conversations.

Would they recognize...

Love?

Joy?

Peace?

Patience?

Kindness?

Goodness?

Faithfulness?

Gentleness?

Self-control?

Not perfection.

Direction.

Growth.

Evidence that the Spirit is alive.

Closing Story

Years ago, an elderly man planted an orchard.

Someone asked him,

"Why are you planting trees? You'll never live long enough to enjoy most of this fruit."

He smiled.

"I wasn't planted for myself either."

That's the Kingdom of God.

We become fruit trees.

Not for ourselves.

But so generations after us might taste God's goodness.

Maybe the greatest compliment anyone could ever give isn't...

"What a successful person."

"What an accomplished Christian."

Maybe it's simply...

"When I'm around you...

I feel closer to Jesus."

That's fruit.

Amen.

Prayer After the Sermon

Lord,

We confess that too often we focus on appearances instead of growth.

Teach us to stay connected to Christ.

Water the dry places.

Prune what no longer belongs.

Strengthen weak branches.

Grow within us the beautiful fruit that reflects Your heart.

May our homes taste more like love.

May our conversations sound more like peace.

May our community experience more kindness because we belong to You.

Grow us, Lord.

Amen.