Transformative Power of Fruitful Communities in God's Kingdom

Summary

### Summary

As we conclude our summer series, "Fertile Ground," we reflect on the transformative power of Jesus' parables. These teachings, like seeds, have the potential to make us fruitful individuals if our hearts are fertile ground. However, it's not just fruitful individuals who change lives; it's fruitful communities that have the power to transform neighborhoods, cities, and even the world. As we move into the fall season, we are called to be a disproportionately fruitful church, impacting Chatham County and beyond.

Jesus' parables often illustrate that the Kingdom of God grows in unexpected ways, not through big money or political power, but through small, seemingly insignificant acts of faith and love. The parable of the mustard seed and the yeast shows that even the smallest acts can have a massive impact when God is involved. This is a call for us to be a community where everyone, regardless of background or current life situation, can find rest, purpose, and a home.

We are invited to be a part of this Kingdom work, to be instruments of rising wherever God has placed us. Whether in our workplaces, schools, or neighborhoods, we are called to bring God's grace, love, and truth into every situation. As we head into a new school year, let's commit to being a community that loves and serves our neighbors, making a disproportionate impact for God's Kingdom.

### Key Takeaways

1. Fruitful Communities Transform Lives: While fruitful individuals can change the lives of those around them, fruitful communities have the power to transform entire neighborhoods, cities, and even the world. When people with fertile hearts come together, their collective impact is not just additive but multiplicative. This is the kind of community we are called to be. [02:09]

2. The Kingdom of God Grows in Unexpected Ways: Jesus teaches that the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed or a bit of yeast—small and seemingly insignificant, yet capable of tremendous growth. This reminds us that God often works through small, humble beginnings to achieve great things. Our small acts of faith and love can have a massive impact. [07:36]

3. Inclusivity in the Kingdom: The Kingdom of God is a place where all are welcome, regardless of background, temperament, or current life situation. Just as the mustard tree provides shelter for all birds, our community should be a place where everyone can find rest, purpose, and a home. This inclusivity is a powerful testimony to the love of God. [10:09]

4. Commitment to Kingdom Values Over Politics: In a world where politics often becomes a substitute for religion, we are called to remember that the Kingdom of God is ultimate. Our commitment to Jesus and His teachings should transcend political affiliations, enabling us to love and serve even those who differ from us politically. This is how we become a truly fruitful community. [19:18]

5. Being Instruments of Rising: We are called to be instruments of rising wherever God has placed us. Whether in our workplaces, schools, or neighborhoods, we are to bring God's grace, love, and truth into every situation. This starts with prayer and extends to tangible acts of service and love, making the world a little more beautiful and a little less broken. [24:33]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[00:49] - Introduction to Fertile Ground Series
[01:32] - The Power of Fruitful Communities
[02:09] - Fruitful Individuals vs. Fruitful Communities
[02:58] - Multiplicative Impact of Fruitful People
[03:49] - Vision for a Disproportionately Fruitful Church
[05:24] - How Jesus Changes the World
[06:32] - Understanding the Kingdom of God
[07:36] - The Parable of the Mustard Seed
[08:36] - The Kingdom of God vs. The Kingdom of Rome
[10:09] - Inclusivity in the Kingdom
[12:02] - The Good News of Jesus
[13:29] - The Promise of the Noble Cedar
[15:36] - Vision for Chatham Community Church
[18:04] - Commitment to Kingdom Values Over Politics
[20:48] - The Parable of the Yeast
[24:33] - Being Instruments of Rising
[26:31] - Upcoming Community Initiatives
[27:26] - Praying Audacious Prayers
[29:12] - Call to Be a Fruitful Community
[32:18] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

### Bible Reading
1. Luke 13:18-19 (NIV): "Then Jesus asked, 'What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.'"
2. Luke 13:20-21 (NIV): "Again he asked, 'What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.'"
3. Ezekiel 17:22-23 (NIV): "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches."

### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus compare the Kingdom of God to in Luke 13:18-19 and Luke 13:20-21?
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the mustard seed and the yeast in Jesus' parables? [07:36]
3. How does the promise in Ezekiel 17:22-23 relate to the parables of the mustard seed and the yeast mentioned in the sermon? [13:29]
4. What are some examples given in the sermon of how small acts of faith and love can have a massive impact? [22:11]

### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus use small and seemingly insignificant items like a mustard seed and yeast to describe the Kingdom of God? What does this tell us about how God works? [07:36]
2. How does the concept of a "fruitful community" differ from that of a "fruitful individual," and why is this distinction important according to the sermon? [02:09]
3. In what ways does the inclusivity of the Kingdom of God, as described in the parable of the mustard seed, challenge our current community practices? [10:09]
4. How can the commitment to Kingdom values over political affiliations transform a community, as discussed in the sermon? [19:18]

### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when a small act of faith or love had a significant impact on your life or the life of someone else. How can you incorporate more of these small acts into your daily routine? [07:36]
2. The sermon emphasizes the power of fruitful communities. What steps can you take to contribute to making your small group or church community more fruitful? [02:09]
3. Jesus' parables highlight the unexpected ways the Kingdom of God grows. How can you remain open to God's work in unexpected areas of your life? [05:24]
4. The sermon calls for inclusivity in the Kingdom of God. How can you make your community a place where everyone, regardless of background or current life situation, feels welcome and valued? [10:09]
5. In what ways can you prioritize Kingdom values over political affiliations in your interactions with others, especially during an election year? [19:18]
6. The sermon encourages us to be "instruments of rising" in our workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods. Identify one specific area in your life where you can bring God's grace, love, and truth this week. [24:33]
7. The sermon invites us to pray audacious prayers for our community. What is one bold prayer you can start praying for your neighborhood, workplace, or school? [27:26]

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Fruitful Communities
When individuals with fertile hearts come together, their collective impact is not just additive but multiplicative. Fruitful communities have the power to transform entire neighborhoods, cities, and even the world. This is the kind of community we are called to be. When we work together, our combined efforts can create a ripple effect that extends far beyond our immediate surroundings. This is a call to be a disproportionately fruitful church, impacting Chatham County and beyond. [02:09]

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (ESV): "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

Reflection: Think of a community project or initiative you can join or start that would benefit your neighborhood. How can you involve others to make a greater impact?

Day 2: The Kingdom of God Grows in Unexpected Ways
Jesus teaches that the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed or a bit of yeast—small and seemingly insignificant, yet capable of tremendous growth. This reminds us that God often works through small, humble beginnings to achieve great things. Our small acts of faith and love can have a massive impact. We are encouraged to not underestimate the power of small, faithful actions in our daily lives. [07:36]

Zechariah 4:10 (ESV): "For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth."

Reflection: Identify one small act of kindness or faith you can do today. How can you trust God to use this small act for His greater purpose?

Day 3: Inclusivity in the Kingdom
The Kingdom of God is a place where all are welcome, regardless of background, temperament, or current life situation. Just as the mustard tree provides shelter for all birds, our community should be a place where everyone can find rest, purpose, and a home. This inclusivity is a powerful testimony to the love of God. We are called to create an environment where everyone feels valued and accepted. [10:09]

Isaiah 56:7 (ESV): "These I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples."

Reflection: Think of someone who might feel excluded or marginalized in your community. How can you reach out to them and make them feel included and valued?

Day 4: Commitment to Kingdom Values Over Politics
In a world where politics often becomes a substitute for religion, we are called to remember that the Kingdom of God is ultimate. Our commitment to Jesus and His teachings should transcend political affiliations, enabling us to love and serve even those who differ from us politically. This is how we become a truly fruitful community. Our allegiance to God's Kingdom should guide our actions and interactions, promoting unity and love over division. [19:18]

Colossians 3:11 (ESV): "Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent political discussion or disagreement you had. How can you approach future conversations with a focus on Kingdom values rather than political differences?

Day 5: Being Instruments of Rising
We are called to be instruments of rising wherever God has placed us. Whether in our workplaces, schools, or neighborhoods, we are to bring God's grace, love, and truth into every situation. This starts with prayer and extends to tangible acts of service and love, making the world a little more beautiful and a little less broken. We are invited to be active participants in God's redemptive work in the world. [24:33]

Isaiah 58:10-11 (ESV): "If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."

Reflection: Identify a specific need in your community or workplace. How can you be an instrument of God's grace and love in addressing this need today?

Quotes

1. "Fruitful individuals change the lives of people around them. But here's the truth of the matter. Fruitful communities change neighborhoods, towns, cities, counties, the world. Fruitful communities are the kind of places that God loves to pour out. Fruitful have disproportionate impact on the lives of people around them." [02:09] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We're praying that God would make us a disproportionately fruitful church. For Chatham County, for our friends and neighbors, and for everyone around us. That we could be the kind of place that bears the kind of fruit that God wired us up to be." [03:49] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. Here's a mustard seed. Super small, right? Super small kind of a thing that doesn't look like much at all. If you didn't know what the potential loaded up in this seed, you'd have no idea what it might produce, right? You have no idea what might come out of it." [07:00] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Today and every single Sunday. Almost every tribe. Almost every culture. Almost every language. There are people gathered together to declare in all kinds of languages that Jesus Christ is Lord of all to the glory of God the Father, just like Jesus said they would. All the birds of the air perching in this kingdom of God thing." [09:34] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "If you're in a place in your life where the pieces are all over the place, it's in shambles and you need to put the things back together again, welcome to the mustard tree, the place where all the birds of the air find their nest. Find rest, find a place to restore and heal." [11:11] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "The best thing that we have to offer Chatham County, of course, is the gospel of Jesus. The best thing we could offer any of our neighbors is the good news that God has saved us from sin and death forever and ever. Amen. That's the primary way we cause Chatham County to rise." [26:16] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Wouldn't it be great, wouldn't it be great if part of our witness this fall is the good news that there's something more important than politics? We will not believe the lie that politics is ultimate because we already know what's ultimate. His name is Jesus." [18:37] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Everything it touches rises. My friends, everything that the kingdom of God touches, when it's operating in the spirit the way that God designed it to, designed. Us too. Everything it touches rises." [21:24] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "My friends, where has God put you that you might make things rise? People, places, situations. Where has God put you that you might make this place, this world a little bit more powerful? A little more, it's beautiful, it's broken. What if God has said, I want you to make it a little more beautiful, a little less broken?" [24:33] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Fruitful people change the lives of people around them. That is so great, so good. I'm praying that we might be a fruitful individuals but then fruitful communities, they change the world and we've seen that through the work of Christ and through the work of the church over the last 2,000 years." [29:26] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?