Cultivate Fruitfulness for God’s Kingdom

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘God, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.’ ” (Matthew 21:21)  
      Passage: Matthew 9:35-38

         After Jesus had cleansed the Temple, healed people, received praise from children and confronted the Pharisees, He left Jerusalem and spent the night in Bethany. They next morning He was coming back to Jerusalem with the disciples, when He saw a fig tree that looked to be in full bloom. Since Jesus was hungry, He went to pick some figs, which should have been found based on the appearance of the tree. There were none. Jesus cursed the tree, and immediately it withered.
        That tree represented what the Jewish faith had become and what many churches have become. They may look like they are fine on the outside, but they are not reaching any people for Christ and bearing any fruit. A church that wants to please God must cultivate fruitfulness for God’s Kingdom. That involves growing in the Word and intentionally reaching out to the world. Pray for your church and other churches to have a heart to reach people and then ask God to help you be one of the faithful workers in His field. He will answer.       

Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)