A Tree And Its Fruit (Harvest).

SERMON OUTLINE:

• All Trees Bear Fruit (vs 43-44)

• All People Bear Fruit (vs 45a)

• Your Words are the Fruit (vs 45b)

SERMON BODY

Ill:

Tree Trivia/seven tree facts:

• (1). There are approximately three trillion trees on planet earth.

• Yet, 5 billion of those trees are cut down each year.

• (2). Earth has more than 60,000 known tree species.

• (3). More than half of all tree species exist only in a single country.

• (4). Trees in a forest can 'talk' and share nutrients,

• They do this through an underground internet built by soil fungi.

• (You could say via the Wood Wide web).

• (5). Since 1981, every Chinese citizen over 11.

• Has been required to plant three trees per year.

• (6). Adding one tree to an open pasture can increase its bird biodiversity,

• From almost zero species to as high as 80.

• (7). The locations of the world’s tallest and oldest trees are kept top secret;

• This is to avoid tourist crowds damaging them and their surroundings.

• (Bonus bit of trivia). If a birdhouse is hung on a tree branch,

• Strangely, it does not move up the tree as the tree grows.

Quote:

• Dr. Martin Kaonga,

• Director of Science & Conservation for Christian conservation charity

• “Trees are an invaluable part of our world.

• In fact, there would be no life on earth without trees and other plants.

• They produce oxygen for us and other animals to use,

• And they absorb the carbon dioxide we breathe out!

• Trees also provide habitat and food for countless animals,

• And food and medicines for people.

• Forests are the nurseries of life;

• They contain more species per hectare than any other kind of land-based habitat”

• TRANSITION: you don’t need me to tell you that tees are important,

• Just recently we have heard and seen on the news stories of raging fires,

• That have ripped through the Amazon rainforest for weeks.

• Yet people seem to care more about a burning Cathedral in Notre Dame,

• Than they do about a burning forest known as “the lungs of the earth”,

• Did you know;

• More than 20% of the world’s oxygen is produced by the Amazon rainforest.

• It is also home to about 3m species of plants and animals,

• And one million indigenous people!

Now this morning’s sermon is not about the ecosystem,

• Because the trees mentioned in this passage of scripture,

• Are symbolic not physical.

• They are part of a parable Jesus told.

Ill:

• I explain a parable to children this way.

• Think of a jam doughnut.

• The story is the dough and the meaning is the splodge of jam in the middle!

• TRANSITION: So, Jesus told a story about two trees,

• But always don’t forget to look for the jam - what Jesus is teaching.

(1). All Trees Bear Fruit (vs 43-44)

“‘No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognised by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn-bushes, or grapes from briers.”

• The statement by Jesus is not complicated or confusing,

• In fact, it is fairly obvious, and it doesn’t require much explanation.

Ill:

• Even a sick and weak tree will produce a crop

• What it produces may be measly and tasteless; maybe even bitter.

• But even a sick and weak tree will produce some fruit,

• Now sit back, because for the next few minutes;

• It is, ‘Gardeners Question Time’ with you host,

• Mr Green-fingers himself, Gordon Curley.

There are often three reasons your trees, plants or vegetables will not grow:

FIRST: Malnourishment

• Lack of nutrition in the soil can cause a tree to be bad or produce poor fruit.

• So, if your fruit tree or vegetable plants persistently keep refusing produce,

• You should apply a fertilizer to see if it improves.

SECOND: Watering and General Care.

• Healthy growing is a time-consuming venture.

• If you are not taking proper care of your trees or vegetable plants,

• They will not give fruit.

• For instance, if you are neglectful of the plants’ needs,

• Don’t plant them with enough space,

• And don’t remove weeds regularly;

• The plants will just not give their finest produce.

THIRD: Sunlight and temperature.

• Sunlight is an important necessity for good healthy growing,

• Strong sunlight will give you great, tasty fruit and vegetables.

• Gardeners use Greenhouses in cold weather for young saplings or vegetables.

• To protect them.

• Sunlight and temperature can be very important when it comes to production.