Fruit Over Leaves: Faith That Moves Mountains

Jesus is portrayed as both fully God and fully man, hungry and deliberate, using a small, ordinary moment to deliver a weighty spiritual diagnosis. Coming upon a leafy fig tree that bore no edible buds, he pronounces judgment and it withers—an enacted parable exposing the difference between appearance and reality. The leafy façade of religion can resemble life: loud, visible, and socially respectable. But leaves make noise; fruit bears weight, reproduces, and demonstrates inward transformation. Israel’s temple and many modern practices can therefore look flourishing while remaining spiritually barren.

The narrative moves from indictment to invitation. The withered tree follows Jesus’ earlier cleansing of the temple—both scenes confront empty worship and call for authentic repentance. Fruitlessness is not merely a private flaw; it undermines the church’s witness. True faith yields visible fruit: love where there was bitterness, obedience where there was compromise, and faithfulness where there was apathy. Bearing fruit doesn’t earn salvation, but genuine salvation inevitably produces life that changes others and glorifies God.

Jesus then reframes the disciples’ amazement about the how by teaching about the why: faith that trusts God moves mountains. This is not a mystical formula for self-centered wishes, nor a license for spiritual pretense. The promise applies to faith aligned with God’s will—prayer that seeks God’s glory and the expansion of his kingdom. Mountains symbolize the real obstacles that block gospel advance: personal sin, broken relationships, oppressive systems, and spiritual indifference. When faith is active and obedient, it calls upon God to do what mere religious activity never could.

The text closes with pointed questions for personal and communal evaluation: what kind of tree is one becoming; what fruit is God expecting in this season; and what mountain is God calling one to trust him with. Growth and decay are gradual; both require attention. The passage refuses complacency and extends a hopeful summons: the same Jesus who judges empty ritual also died to make barren hearts bear fruit. The faithful response is to repent of performative faith, cultivate spiritually productive habits, and pray with the bold dependence that invites God’s transformative power.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Appearance vs. inward reality True spirituality is measured by inward transformation rather than outward signs. Leaves—public devotion, religious language, social religiosity—can hide a lack of genuine repentance and love. A life that bears fruit is costly, patient, and sacrificial, showing evidence of the Spirit’s work rather than merely performing rituals. [48:14]
• 2. Fruit proves authentic faith Fruit is the visible consequence of union with Christ, not the currency that purchases grace. Where true faith dwells, repentance, obedience, generosity, and love naturally follow; these are the seeds that reproduce the gospel in others. The presence of such fruit reframes assurance and mission, because it points to a Savior who works in and through transformed lives. [53:56]
• 3. Faith that moves mountains Biblical faith trusts God for what appears impossible and aligns prayers with his purposes. It is not a positive-thinking mindset but a reliance on God’s power to remove barriers to the gospel—personal sin, broken systems, and relational estrangement. Such faith is tested in obedience and shaped by persistent prayer that seeks God’s glory above personal gain. [56:07]
• 4. Ask which season and mountain Spiritual growth is seasonal and situational; God expects different fruit at different times. Discernment about the current season clarifies where to invest prayer, courage, and obedience—whether repentance, patience, generosity, or courage. Identifying the mountain God calls one to trust him with invites focused dependence and shapes meaningful, kingdom-oriented action. [64:54]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [12:48] - Announcements and Events
• [21:02] - Lifting Names in Prayer
• [37:39] - Children Dismissed
• [39:39] - Context: Life of Christ Series
• [44:44] - The Fig Tree Incident
• [48:14] - Leaves versus Fruit
• [56:07] - Faith That Moves Mountains
• [63:40] - Three Practical Questions
• [67:48] - Invitation and Closing Prayer
• [74:00] - Chili Cook-Off Instructions

Here is a Bible study guide based on the sermon:

Bible Reading

Matthew 21:18-22 (ESV)
18 Early in the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. 19 And seeing a lone fig tree by the road, he went up to it and found nothing on it except leaves, and said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again.” And immediately the fig tree withered.
20 When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How at once did the fig tree wither?” 21 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.”

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

John 15:8 (ESV)
8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Observation questions

1. The sermon highlighted Jesus' humanity when he experienced hunger. What does this moment reveal about Jesus' nature as both fully God and fully man? [44:44]
2. The passage describes the fig tree as having "nothing on it except leaves." What is the symbolic difference between leaves and fruit as presented in the sermon? [49:46]
3. The disciples were amazed at how quickly the fig tree withered. What was their focus, and how did Jesus shift their focus? [55:15]
4. The sermon mentioned that "fruit is the visible consequence of union with Christ, not the currency that purchases grace." [53:38] What does this statement mean in practical terms?

Interpretation questions

1. The fig tree is presented as symbolic of Israel. What might the "leaves" represent in the context of religious or spiritual life, and why would God be displeased with mere "leaves"? [47:55]
2. The sermon stated, "Fruit bears out in love where there used to be bitterness. Fruit is obedience where there used to be compromise. And fruit is faithfulness where there used to be apathy." [54:22] How does this contrast between "leaves" and "fruit" help us understand the difference between outward religious activity and genuine inward transformation?
3. Jesus connects the withered fig tree to faith that moves mountains. [56:07] How does the concept of "mountains" as obstacles to the gospel help us understand the purpose of this promise?
4. The sermon emphasized that "fruitless faith is condemned. It's nothing more than going through the motions." [01:02:58] What does it look like when faith is merely "going through the motions" versus faith that produces fruit?

Application questions

1. The sermon challenged us to consider what kind of "tree" we are becoming. [01:03:40] In what specific areas of your life do you see evidence of spiritual growth (fruit), and where might you be producing more "leaves" than fruit?
2. We are called to bear the "fruit of the Spirit." [53:00] Which of these fruits do you feel God is calling you to cultivate more intentionally in this season of your life, and what is one small, tangible step you can take this week to nurture that fruit?
3. The sermon asked, "What fruit is God expecting from me this season?" [01:04:54] Reflect on your current circumstances and relationships. What specific kind of "fruit" (e.g., patience, generosity, courage, forgiveness) do you believe God is calling you to demonstrate right now?
4. Jesus' promise about faith moving mountains is tied to prayer aligned with God's purposes. [01:01:27] What is a "mountain" (a significant obstacle or challenge) in your life or in the world that you are being called to trust God with, and how can you begin to pray for it with boldness and alignment with His will?
5. The sermon warned against "performative faith." [01:06:49] How can you ensure that your religious activities and expressions of faith are rooted in genuine inward transformation and not just an outward show?
6. The passage reminds us that "faith without works is dead." [01:03:20] What is one practical way you can actively demonstrate your faith this week through an act of obedience or service that glorifies God?