Living a Transformed Life: Bearing Fruit in Christ
Summary
In our journey with Christ, we are called to a life of transformation and purpose, a life that bears the unmistakable fruit of the Spirit. As we delve into the heart of Ephesians 2, we are reminded that we were once dead in our trespasses, living according to the course of this world. But God, rich in mercy and love, made us alive together with Christ. It is by grace that we have been saved, not by our works, so that no one can boast. We are His workmanship, created for good works which God prepared beforehand for us to walk in.
Our salvation is not the finish line; it is the starting point. We are not saved by good works, but for good works. These works are the evidence of God's goodness in our lives. As James 2 teaches us, faith without works is dead. Our actions prove our faith. We are called to be doers of the Word, not merely hearers. Our faith is made complete by our actions, just as Abraham's faith was complemented by his willingness to offer Isaac.
We must be vigilant in our walk with Christ, ensuring that our lives bear the fruit of the Spirit. This fruit is not just for our benefit but for the world to see and partake in. We are to remain in Christ, for apart from Him, we can do nothing. As we stay rooted in Him, we will produce much fruit, bringing glory to the Father.
Now, let us consider the key takeaways from this message:
1. God has called us to be planted in His house, where we can flourish and bear fruit even in old age. Just as a tree needs to be rooted in good soil, we need to be rooted in the community of believers, serving and growing in the place God has appointed for us. When we are planted, we are positioned to thrive and fulfill the good works God has prepared for us. [23:52]
2. Staying planted is crucial for our spiritual growth and fruitfulness. We must resist the urge to uproot ourselves when challenges arise. Like trees, our spiritual roots deepen over time, providing stability and nourishment. By remaining steadfast in our faith and in the community where God has placed us, we will be able to weather the storms of life and continue to bear fruit. [31:13]
3. Protecting and inspecting our fruit is an ongoing process. We must be vigilant against the enemy's attempts to steal our fruit and be proactive in removing anything that threatens its quality. Our fruit is not only for our enjoyment but also for others to partake in. Therefore, we must ensure that what we offer is genuine and nourishing to those around us. [39:09]
4. The fruit we bear should be inspected not just by ourselves but by God. We must invite Him to search our hearts and remove anything that is not of Him. This pruning process, though sometimes painful, is necessary for us to produce the best fruit possible. It is through this divine inspection that we can be assured our lives are reflecting Christ accurately to the world. [42:46]
5. Our lives are meant to be a testament to God's transformative power. As we live out our faith, the evidence of His work in us should be clear. Our good fruit—our actions, attitudes, and words—should point others to Christ. We are not saved to sit idly by but to actively participate in God's kingdom, making disciples and bearing lasting fruit in His name. [43:20]
May these insights guide us as we continue to grow in our faith, serving the Lord with hearts full of gratitude for the grace that has brought us to life in Christ.
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 2:1-10 (NKJV)
- "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."
2. James 2:14-26 (NLT)
- "What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, 'Goodbye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well'—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, 'Some people have faith; others have good deeds.' But I say, 'How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.' You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: 'Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.' He was even called the friend of God. So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone."
3. John 15:1-8 (NLT)
- "I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Ephesians 2:1-10, what were we before God made us alive with Christ? ([02:58])
2. In James 2:14-26, what does James say about faith without works? ([05:54])
3. What does Jesus say about the branches that do not produce fruit in John 15:1-8? ([12:23])
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between faith and works? ([05:18])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to be "God's workmanship" as described in Ephesians 2:10? How does this shape our understanding of our purpose? ([04:08])
2. How can the example of Abraham in James 2:21-22 help us understand the relationship between faith and actions? ([06:28])
3. What are the implications of Jesus' statement in John 15:5, "Apart from me, you can do nothing"? How does this affect our daily walk with Christ? ([13:02])
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of being "planted" in the community of believers. How does this concept relate to the idea of bearing fruit in John 15? ([15:11])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life. Are there areas where you feel "dead" or unproductive? How can you invite God's transformative power into these areas? ([01:24])
2. Think about a time when you faced a challenge in your faith. How did you respond? Did you stay "planted" or did you feel the urge to uproot yourself? What can you learn from that experience? ([24:21])
3. Identify one specific "good work" that you feel God has prepared for you. How can you take a step towards fulfilling that work this week? ([04:45])
4. Consider the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Which aspect of the fruit do you feel is most evident in your life? Which aspect do you need to cultivate more? ([09:15])
5. How can you protect the "fruit" in your life from being stolen or destroyed by the enemy? What practical steps can you take to guard your spiritual growth? ([31:46])
6. Reflect on the idea of "divine inspection" mentioned in the sermon. How can you invite God to search your heart and prune anything that is not of Him? ([42:46])
7. Think of someone in your life who might benefit from the fruit you are bearing. How can you share God's goodness with them this week? ([39:09])
Devotional
Day 1: Rooted in God's House for Growth
Being planted in the house of God is essential for spiritual growth and maturity. Just as a tree requires good soil to flourish, believers need a strong community to thrive. This community provides nourishment through fellowship, teaching, and accountability. It is within this environment that individuals can discover and walk in the good works God has prepared for them. Being rooted in a local church allows believers to develop deep spiritual roots, which are crucial for withstanding life's challenges and bearing fruit even in old age. It is not enough to simply attend church; one must be actively engaged, serving, and growing in the place God has appointed. This commitment to being planted in God's house is a testament to the transformative power of grace in a believer's life. [23:52]
Psalm 92:12-14 (ESV)
"The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green,"
Reflection: How are you actively engaging in your local church community to grow and serve in the works God has prepared for you?
Day 2: Steadfastness in Spiritual Growth
Remaining steadfast in one's faith and church community is crucial for spiritual growth and fruitfulness. Challenges and difficulties are inevitable, but they serve to deepen spiritual roots, providing stability and nourishment. Just as trees do not uproot themselves when storms come, believers must resist the temptation to abandon their faith or church family during hard times. Instead, they should remain committed, allowing their roots to grow deeper, which in turn enables them to continue bearing fruit regardless of circumstances. This steadfastness is a reflection of trust in God's faithfulness and a commitment to the long-term journey of faith. [31:13]
Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV)
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
Reflection: What challenges are tempting you to uproot, and how can you deepen your roots in God's truth to remain steadfast?
Day 3: Vigilance in Bearing Fruit
The process of bearing fruit requires vigilance and proactive care. Believers must guard against the enemy's attempts to steal their fruit and be diligent in removing anything that hinders its growth. The fruit of the Spirit is not solely for personal enjoyment but is also meant to nourish others. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the fruit one bears is genuine and beneficial to those around them. This ongoing process of protecting and inspecting one's fruit is a vital part of living out a faith that is alive and active. [39:09]
Luke 6:43-45 (ESV)
"For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."
Reflection: What steps can you take today to protect and nurture the fruit of the Spirit in your life?
Day 4: Divine Inspection for Quality Fruit
Inviting God to inspect and prune one's life is essential for producing the best possible fruit. This divine inspection may be uncomfortable, but it is necessary for removing anything that does not reflect Christ accurately. The pruning process helps believers to grow and mature, ensuring that their lives bear fruit that brings glory to God. It is through this process that one can be confident that their actions, attitudes, and words are a true testament to God's transformative power. [42:46]
Hebrews 12:10-11 (ESV)
"For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need God's pruning, and how can you submit to His discipline to produce better fruit?
Day 5: Active Participation in God's Kingdom
Believers are not saved to sit idly but to actively participate in God's kingdom. Living out one's faith involves demonstrating the evidence of God's work through actions, attitudes, and words that point others to Christ. This active participation includes making disciples and bearing lasting fruit in His name. The good fruit that believers bear should be a clear testament to the transformative power of God's grace in their lives. [43:20]
Colossians 1:10 (ESV)
"So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;"
Reflection: What specific action can you take today to demonstrate the transformative power of God's grace in your life?
Quotes
1) "We should walk in those good works now. This is not about buying your salvation; you could not earn forgiveness from God. But our actions prove that we're saved, our actions are the evidence of his goodness in our lives." [04:45] (Download | )
2) "An inward change should produce an outward change. If you change on the inside, it may not be immediate, but you'll see a change in your life. Stuff starts to bother you; we should see an outward change based on the inward change that happened to us." [07:35] (Download | )
3) "Christians who have been made alive and created for good works are supposed to produce good works, good fruit. So Christians that don't have good fruit in their life are living beneath the potential that God put inside of them." [11:47] (Download | )
4) "Being planted and rooted somewhere requires patience. It takes time to get to know your place, to grow and to put down roots. An uprooted tree cannot bear fruit, a believer that never stays planted will never reach their full potential." [27:34] (Download | )
5) "Don't give up every single time something happens and expect to reap a harvest. If you go and pull up your seed every single time something happens, you're never going to see it reach its full potential. Storms are going to come." [28:38] (Download | )
6) "Stay planted and get what he's got for you while you're there. Protect and inspect the fruit. Whatever God gives you, look out for it, take care of it, inspect it, make sure it's what you say it is." [43:51] (Download | )
7) "What is it that we've got in our life that looks so good but when you cut it open it's not legit? Whenever the world comes to get it from us because they need it, they're finally ready for it, they come to get it, they take a bite and they're disappointed." [42:11] (Download | )
8) "Let's inspect our fruit before the world does. If we've got nine great things and one bad, pull it off, get rid of it, so that whenever somebody comes to get something from us, we've given them what they need and not disappointed them." [42:46] (Download | )
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