1. Be Fruitful

2. Be Fruitful
Matthew 13:3-9, 19-23
Jesus told them many things in parables, saying, “Listen! A sower went out to sow. While he sowed, some seeds fell beside the path, and the birds came and devoured them. But other seeds fell on rocky ground where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up because they did not have deep soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched.

3. Be Fruitful
Matthew 13:3-9, 19-23
And because they did not take root, they withered away. Some seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. But other seeds fell into good ground and produced grain: a hundred, sixty or thirty times as much. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.” Therefore listen to the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches

4. Be Fruitful
Matthew 13:3-9, 19-23
away what was sown in his heart. This is the one who received seed beside the path. But he who received the seed on rocky ground is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, eventually he falls away, but the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he

5. Be Fruitful
Matthew 13:3-9, 19-23
becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit. Some produce a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.

6. Be Fruitful 1. Created to be Fruitful 2. Flow of Fruitfulness
3. Sowing and Reaping
A. Seeds Need to be Sown to Produce Fruit

7. Seeds Need to be Sown to Produce Fruit
Sowing Seeds – God’s Means of Producing Fruit
Genesis 8:22
While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest… will not cease.

8. Seeds Need to be Sown to Produce Fruit
Sowing Seeds – God’s Means of Producing Fruit
Genesis 1:11
God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.”

9. Seeds Need to be Sown to Produce Fruit
Sowing Seeds – God’s Means of Producing Fruit
John 12:24
Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.

10. Seeds Need to be Sown to Produce Fruit
Sowing Seeds – God’s Means of Producing Fruit
God’s Primary Seed = Jesus
Genesis 3:15
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.

11. Seeds Need to be Sown to Produce Fruit
Sowing Seeds – God’s Means of Producing Fruit
God’s Primary Seed = Jesus
Galatians 3:16; 4:4
Now the promises were made to Abraham and his seed. He does not say, ‘and to seeds,’ meaning many, but ‘and to your seed,’ meaning one, who is Christ… when the fullness of time came, God sent His son, born of a woman.

12. Seeds Need to be Sown to Produce Fruit
Sowing Seeds – God’s Means of Producing Fruit
God’s Primary Seed = Jesus
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

13. Seeds Need to be Sown to Produce Fruit
Sowing Seeds – God’s Means of Producing Fruit
God’s Primary Seed = Jesus
1 Peter 1:23
…you have been born again, not from perishable seed, but imperishable, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.

14. Seeds Need to be Sown to Produce Fruit
How do we Sow?
Words
Sow a thought and you reap an action; sown an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

15. Seeds Need to be Sown to Produce Fruit
How do we Sow?
Words
Matthew 12:36
I say to you that for every idle word that men speak, they will give an account on the day of judgement.

16. Seeds Need to be Sown to Produce Fruit
How do we Sow?
Words
Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue.

17. Seeds Need to be Sown to Produce Fruit
How do we Sow?
Words
Proverbs 12:18
There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

18. Seeds Need to be Sown to Produce Fruit
How do we Sow?
Words & Actions
John 13:15
I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

19. Seeds Need to be Sown to Produce Fruit
How do we Sow?
Words & Actions
2 Thessalonians 3:7-9
For you know how you should follow us. For we were not idle among you, neither did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but we worked tirelessly and toiled night and day that we might not be a burden to any of you. We did this…to make ourselves an example for you to follow.

20. Seeds Need to be Sown to Produce Fruit
How do we Sow?
Words & Actions
1 Timothy 4:12
Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.

21. Seeds Need to be Sown to Produce Fruit
When do we Sow?
Now
2 Corinthians 6:2
…now is the accepted time…now is the day of salvation.

22. Seeds Need to be Sown to Produce Fruit
When do we Sow?
Now
Ecclesiastes 11:6
In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not let your hand rest; because you do not know which activity will find success, this way or that, or if they both will be good.

23. Seeds Need to be Sown to Produce Fruit
Where do we Sow?
Examine the Soil
Luke 6:35
…love your enemies, and do good…hoping for nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be the sons of the Highest. For He is kind to the unthankful and the evil.

24. Next Sunday: Sowing & Reaping 1
Be Fruitful
Next Sunday: Sowing & Reaping 1