Bearing Fruit In 2020

Introduction

Illustration: The Day General Andrew Jackson came to church

In his excellent biography of Andrew Jackson, Marquis James tells of a Sunday morning in 1818 when the General traveled from his home, the Hermitage, into downtown Nashville to attend a Methodist conference. The famous circuit-riding preacher, Peter Cartwright, was to speak that day.

The pastor of the church had invited Cartwright with misgivings, for the evangelist was unpredictable. He had been known to knock a sinner down and literally drag him to the throne of grace. But interest had been high, and it seemed that everyone in Nashville had come to church that Sunday to see the eccentric Cartwright. His text was: “What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?”

Cartwright had just read his text and had paused to let the words sink in when General Jackson entered the church and slowly walked down the aisle. Every seat was taken, and he stood for a moment, leaning against a pillar.

Peter Cartwright felt a tug at the tail of is coat. “General Jackson has come in!” the Nashville pastor whispered excitedly. “General Jackson has come in.”

The whisper was audible to most of the church. Peter Cartwright’s jaw tightened, and he gave the minister a look of scorn.

“Who is General Jackson?” shouted Cartwright. “If he doesn’t repent and get his soul converted,” he continued, saying in effect, “God will damn his soul to hell as quick as an unconverted pagan.”

After the sermon, Rev. Cartwright was advised to leave town immediately, for Jackson was known for his fiery temper and his deadly duels. Instead, the evangelist accepted an invitation to preach at a church right next the Hermitage.

Jackson invited him to dinner.

Andrew Jackson (March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845) was an American soldier and statesman who served as the seventh president of the United States from 1829 to 1837. Before being elected to the presidency, Jackson gained fame as a general in the United States Army and served in both houses of the U.S. Congress.

As president, Jackson sought to advance the rights of the "common man" against a "corrupt aristocracy" and to preserve the Union.

President Jackson life was changed when heard to preaching of the gospel which is a message that calls each and every one of us to repentance!

Beloved, peoples’s lives ought be changed for the better because of exposure to God’s WORD and God’s people.

Families ought be changed

Marriages ought be changed

Relationships ought be changed

Communities ought be changed

Transition To Body- Repent Or Perish?

Bearing Fruit In 2020 If...

Context Of Today’s Passage

Luke 13:1–5 ESV

1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Repent- change one’s mind; feel remorse, be converted

Luke 13:

Tell The Story- Present The Parable

Tell The Story- Present The Parable

metanoeo- change mind

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 41.52 μετανοέω; μετάνοια, ας

to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness—‘to repent, to change one’s way, repentance.’

Tell The Story- Present The Parable

What was the value of figs in ancient Israel & Jerusalem during Jesus’ time on earth?

Figs are mentioned nearly sixty times in Scripture, is one of the most important Bible plants and was cultivated throughout Palestine, particularly in the mountainous regions. The wild fig was also commonly found as a shrub, but was generally barren. Its flowers contained insects that probably fertilized the cultivated fig.

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 308 ἀμπελών

vineyard, cultivated grape field

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 307 ἀμπελουργός

vinedresser, one who cares for the vineyard

What does Repentance look like at Baptist Church Of All Nations in 2020

We Should Be A Repentant People Because God

What was the value of figs in ancient Israel & Jerusalem during Jesus’ time on earth?

What was the value of figs in ancient Israel & Jerusalem during Jesus’ time on earth.

Figs are mentioned nearly sixty times in Scripture, is one of the most important Bible plants and was cultivated throughout Palestine, particularly in the mountainous regions. The wild fig was also commonly found as a shrub, but was generally barren. Its flowers contained insects that probably fertilized the cultivated fig.

God Intentionally Planted You Here

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 308 ἀμπελών

vineyard, cultivated grape field

change one’s mind

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 307 ἀμπελουργός

vinedresser, one who cares for the vineyard

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 3162 κόπριον

dung, fertilizer, manure (Lk 13:8+)

3163 κόπρος (kopros), ου (ou), ἡ (hē): n.fem.; ≡ Str 2874—dung, manure (Lk 13:8 v.r. NA26)

Body- We Should Be A Repentant People Because God

feel remorse, be converted

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 8.76 κόπριον, ου

fecal matter used as agricultural fertilizer—‘manure, dung.’ σκάψω περὶ αὐτὴν καὶ βάλω κόπρια ‘I will dig around it and put on manure’ Lk 13:8. In some languages a distinction is made in terminology between fresh dung and manure which has been piled up in order to mature properly as fertilizer. It would no doubt be this latter meaning which would be involved in Lk 13:8.

God Intentionally Planted You Here

(In His Kingdom)

Get off the bench in 2020

Lead souls to Jesus Christ in 2020

Be more faithful in attending Bible Study

Get involved a ministry that God has gifted you to serve

If that ministry does not exist yet, if God has placed that ministry on your heart, and there is a need for us to serve in that area here at the Baptist Church of All Nations, then come see me and let’s talk about creating your ministry.

God Expectantly Seeks Changed Hearts

(From Your Life)

God Patiently Waits For You To Grow

(To Make The Next Move To Repent)

Note: the man does not blame the vinedresser

But the servant intercedes on behalf of the fruitless fig

God Graciously Lets You Occupy Ground

(even digging around you & putting on manure/feces to fertilize you)

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 307 ἀμπελουργός

vinedresser, one who cares for the vineyard

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 3162 κόπριον

dung, fertilizer, manure (Lk 13:8+)

3163 κόπρος (kopros), ου (ou), ἡ (hē): n.fem.; ≡ Str 2874—dung, manure (Lk 13:8 v.r. NA26)

God (As Just Judge) Won’t Wait Indefinitely

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 8.76 κόπριον, ου

fecal matter used as agricultural fertilizer—‘manure, dung.’ σκάψω περὶ αὐτὴν καὶ βάλω κόπρια ‘I will dig around it and put on manure’ Lk 13:8. In some languages a distinction is made in terminology between fresh dung and manure which has been piled up in order to mature properly as fertilizer. It would no doubt be this latter meaning which would be involved in Lk 13:8.

i.e. maybe in 2020 the soil around you needs to be dug up and some piled up manure placed there i.e. let some stuff die and stink up the place in order to

in order to get your attention and get you growing and moving forward in faith and with a changed heart

get your attention

get you growing

get you moving forward in faith

get you a changed heart

Note: imagery of a plant that just takes up resources and is not fruitful, what would you do with such a fig?

God (As Just Judge) Won’t Wait Indefinitely

God Will Ultimately Hold You Accountable.

Numbers 23:19

Jesus will be coming back to judge the living and the dead

Proverbs 16:18 ESV

18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:18

Transition To Close

Illustration: Deacon Sneed glad he got to know Jesus now instead of when he sees Jesus face to face later. I have made my peace with Jesus!

But the servant intercedes on behalf of the fruitless fig

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament 13:1–9—Repent or Perish

The vineyard worker answers to the owner, perhaps as his servant, yet intercedes on behalf of the fig tree. Digging around a tree and putting manure around it to fertilize it were common procedures, but fig trees usually did not need manure; the worker does all he can to try to save the tree. Jewish teachers debated whether Israel’s repentance could change the set time of the end, but they agreed that God could suspend his judgment if he saw repentance.

Transition To Close

Close- And Jesus interceded on behalf of you and I...

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Luke 4:18–19 ESV

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Luke 4:18-19

And Jesus Is Hungry For Fruit From His Church!

Matthew 21:18–22 ESV

18 In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once. 20 When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” 21 And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. 22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Abide In Jesus And You Will Bear Much Fruit!

Matthew 21:

Matthew

John 15:1–13 ESV

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

You Did Not Choose Me, But I Chose You & Appointed You!

That you should go & bear fruit & that your fruit should abide!

John 15:14–17 ESV

14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Romans 2:3–5 ESV

3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

Romans 2:3-

Bear Fruit In Keeping With Repentance

Hear Another Parable

Close

Matthew 3:7–11 ESV

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Close

Matthew 3:7-

John 1:6–13 ESV

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:6-

John 1:14–18 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

John 1:29–34 ESV

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

Hear Another Parable

Matthew 21:33–44 ESV

33 “Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. 34 When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. 35 And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. 37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ 39 And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. 44 And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

Matthew 21:

1 Peter 2:4–12 ESV

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

1 Peter 2:4-12

January Memory Verse- Let us not grow weary of doing good...

Galatians 6:9-

Galatians 6:9–10 ESV

9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

John 1:29

Altar Call- God Is Calling Workers/Servants For His Vineyard

John 1:

Matthew 21:28–32 ESV

28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. 30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

Matthew 21:28