Roots and Fruits
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What do they need to know?
Roots: Source
Fruit: Result
What do they need to know?
That the source (roots) of their heart will produce the results (fruits) in their lives
Introduction: Mom cut my daffodil
Introduction: Mom cut my daffodil
It’s incredible to consider how one word or action can determine the course of our lives.
Story: “You talk funny..”
Story: “You talk funny..”
He grows up to be one of the most well spoken people I know
What’s the picture?
Roots: Source
Fruit: Result
Why do they need to know this?
Because if we don’t take time to identify the root of our issue, we will always deal with picking the fruit instead of experiencing true change
Big Idea: Roots determine Fruits
Roots determine Fruits
Roots determine Fruits
“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.
“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.
You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.
A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.
And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.
The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”
Matthew 12:33
2 things roots need:
2 things roots need:
1. Roots need good soil
Explain:
Explain:
Jesus is using Ag imagery to explain the thoughts, words & deeds of pharisees
Roots: The Source of what is feeding their lives
Fruits: The words, the actions the beliefs
The Pharisee’s spent their lives and energy PERFORMING their way into God’s favor:
Their ROOT wasn’t in Christ
Their FRUIT was religion that attempted to cover hidden sin
Paul describes these strong roots as a Stronghold
3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:
Illustration: Drawing the picture of my life’s tree...
Drawing the picture of my life’s tree...
What happens when we know the roots?
43 “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. 45 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.”
36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. 37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”
38 One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.”
:43-
3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
2. Roots need constant care
Explain
Explain
Explain
Explain
Jesus is reminding his listeners that just getting rid of sin isn’t enough…It must be replaced with something...
When people say:
I’ve already dealt with that
Why do you we want to bring up old things
My response is:
Because the devil prowls around like a lion
Because the process of change is RARELY just a one-and-done reality
Paul encourages:
15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.
15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.
Ephesians 4:
26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
...
Story: Weeding as a kid: every other week
Story: Weeding as a kid: every other week
1. “But you look like you and Tarah and fine.”
“But you look like you and Tarah and fine.”
That’s why we go
That’s why we go
Now What? What do they need to do?
Now What? What do they need to do?
Why do they need to know this?
Why do they need to know this?
Because if we don’t take time to identify the root of our issue, we will always deal with picking the fruit instead of experiencing true change
Roots: Source
Fruit: Result
It’s incredible to consider how one word or action can determine the course of our lives.
Story: “You talk funny..”
Story: “You talk funny..”
What if we could
He grows up to be one of the most well spoken people I know
Roots: Source
Fruit: Result
Now What? What do they need to do?
Ask Questions
If we don’t ask questions, we’ll never give ourselves or those around us the chance to know the ‘why’ behind the ‘what’. Asking questions is they way we steward our hearts
Write things down
Write things down
Writing things down forces us to spend the time processing our thoughts and emotions
Talk things over
Talk things over
Talking helps clarify who we can trust and encourages openness
Pray it through
Pray it through
Prayer invites God’s help to fill the gap
Praying will invite God’s truth to fill the spaces in our hearts
Asking questions is they way we steward our hearts
Writing things down forces us to spend the time processing our thoughts and emotions
Talking helps us to identify who we can trust and to let down our guard
Praying will invite God’s truth to fill the spaces in our hearts
Conclusion: Roots determine Fruits
Conclusion: Roots determine Fruits
Let’s take the time and attention we need to cultivate healthy roots in our lives, so that the fruit we see reflects, more and more, the character of Christ in us.