Nothing But Leaves
A. SIMPLE STORY – TAKEN FOR GRANTED – PROFOUND LESSON.
B. NOT AN IMMORAL TREE – DONE NOTHING WRONG – JESUS CURSES IT.
C. TREE WAS UNUSUAL – JESUS USED IT TO TEACH – THEY HEARD.
A. IN THE TREE – FRUIT.
B. IN THE JEWS – FRUIT.
1. The Jews were a special people ( Deut. 7:6 ).
2. A planted vineyard ( Isa. 5:1-2 ).
C. IN CHRISTIANS TODAY – FRUIT ( John 15:8 ).
1. What is “fruit?” What does Jesus demand? ( Rom. 12:4-8 ).
2. What does Jesus expect of us?
a. To see new creatures ( 2 Cor. 5:17; Col. 3:9-10 ).
b. To see imitators of him ( 1 Pet. 2:21; Phil. 2:5 ).
c. To see a holy character ( 1 Pet. 1:15; 2 Cor. 6:17-18 ).
d. To see self-denial ( Luke 9:23 ).
e. Some enthusiasm for his cause ( Titus 2:14 ).
D. THE LORD HUNGERS FOR FRUIT IN US.
A. IN THE FIG-TREE, NOTHING BUT LEAVES.
B. IN THE JEWS, NOTHING BUT LEAVES ( Matt. 23:1-7, 23-28, 29-36 ).
C. IN CHRISTIANS? SOMETIMES NOTHING BUT LEAVES.
1. We teach against faith only ( James 1:22 ). Do we live faith only lives?
2. Do we follow the Bible in all things ( 1 Pet. 4:11 ).
3. We teach the importance of worship ( Heb. 10:24-25 ).
4. Worship in spirit and truth ( John 4:24 ).
WHERE IS YOUR MIND RIGHT NOW? DURING THE LORD’S SUPPER?
( 1 Cor. 11:29 ).
5. We profess to love God ( 1 John 4:20 ).
6. We profess to love our brother ( Gal. 5:13-15; 1 John 3:18 ).
7. We claim the Lord is our refuge ( Phil. 4:6-7 ).
8. We acknowledge sin and its consequence ( Rom. 3:23; 6:23 ).
A. HE CURSED THE FIG TREE.
B. HE DESTROYED PHYSICAL ISRAEL ( Matt. 23:37-38 ).
C. WHAT WILL HE DO WITH US? ( John 15:1-6; Gal. 6:9 ).
A. DOES JESUS FIND FRUIT IN ME?
B. YOU CAN’T BEAR FRUIT OUT OF CHRIST ( John 15:4-5; Gal. 3:26-27 ).
