Be Rooted

Intro

Paul is writing this letter to the people of Colossia because he is burdened for them…he longs to see them growing....and we’re in it as well because my burden for you all is the same. To see you rooted, and built up and established in Jesus Christ.6

Bonsai Tree

How many of you know what a bonsai tree is?

A bonsai tree is pretty much a miniature tree, and I’ve got some pictures to show you of a bonsai tree

Now, a bonsai tree is a real tree, it has roots, it grows like a tree, it needs water, it has leaves, etc…there is nothing fake about this tree at all.

It is the real deal

The only difference is a bonsai tree is on average between 2-6 inches tall.

The crazy thing is, there are bonsai lemon trees, bonsai apple trees, etc…and they produce tiny fruit…it’s crazy.

Anyways, a bonsai tree does not just happen, okay, it’s not like it mutated into a dwarf tree or anything like that:

But a bonsai tree - it’s seed gets planted, just like a regular tree, it gets watered, and it starts to grow. And right as it sticks it’s head through the soil, the gardener will pull the tree and it’s infant root system up

The gardener will then take the tree, find the main root, known as the tap root, and will tie it off....and replant it in a pot

The tree then will continue to grow, but will be stunted after a few inches because it’s main root, the most important root, the tap root, had been tied off.....

Now, it still had roots, it still had a grounding if you will, but they were shallow, they couldn’t get very deep, so the growth of the tree is stunted

We must be rooted

You’re probably thinking....hey thanks Pastor Derek, I’m so glad and excited you brought me all the way up here to learn about a bonsai tree!

Turn to

Tonight, let’s hone in on verse 6.....it says, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him”

What does it mean to receive Christ?

Yeah, it means to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior…to admit your sin, to confess and turn from it, and to make Christ your Lord and Savior

So let’s talk about the bonsai tree again

I know most of you, but I’m going to ask anyway, because we’re a small group and we should talk about these things, but how many of you have received Christ?

That’s what I figured, most all of us

If you’ve received Christ, you are like that tree seed that has been planted okay…and you are hopefully growing......in your love for Jesus, in the ways you demonstrate that love:

Time with Him in His Word

Time in prayer

Church

These are evidences of a life given to Christ, these are the roots growing down into the ground

And if these things are happening, you are beginning to become more and more rooted in Him as Colossians talked about

But if you are growing, the tree isn’t just growing up, but the roots need to be going deep

But here’s the challenge for you tonight.......many of us, many Christians in general, are very content with shallow roots, they are very content with tying of the tap root if you will

You may be a Christian here tonight..but your roots are very very shallow, and so you aren’t able to grow as Christ intended for you to grow

What are some things you can do with a fully grown tree?

Treehouse

Rope Swing

Climbing

You know what you can’t do those things with? A bonsai tree.

How rooted are you in Jesus?

Here’s how you can know.....

Are you walking with him as verse 6 says?

Do I make time to read His Word?

Do I pray to Him?

Just like if you had a boyfriend or a girlfriend and never talked to them, that probably wouldn’t last too long right?

Or if your parents love you, but they never talk to you, feed you, clothe you, help you, etc......not a great picture of love right?

IF there is love, it’s not deeply rooted

So maybe you’re here tonight, and you’ve not really been growing deep roots.

If that’s you, the goal of tonight is not to make you feel bad about it…but to encourage you to start going deep.

Untie that tap root, that main root, and plug it deep into God and His Word

Start praying for 5 minutes a day....start reading a portion of Scripture a day, nothing too big…but start going deep