• The Banyan Tree

  Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 11, 2012 (message contributor)

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  Scripture:  Acts 9:31

  Tags:  Church General

THE BANYAN TREE

The Banyan is native to India, but they can be found in the United States and other parts of the world, especially Asia. It grows as a young tree and then, as it gets larger, the heavy limbs put forth roots which drop to the ground to form a secondary trunk to support the large limbs. Step under an old Banyan tree, and you are stepping into what looks like a mini-forest. They can grow, therefore, to an absolutely enormous size, and have a long life span. If you look you can see all of the secondary trunks supporting the older, heavy limbs. I saw a large area under which people could gather, as indeed they do in many Asian communities, to discuss issues and concerns of a village. And I saw a metaphor for the church.

This sermon, then, is a sermon about the nature of the church. A large host trunk, many long, large and heavy limbs extending in all directions, supporting trunks and root systems, a huge shaded area where people could gather in community, find shelter from the storm, or rest from their labors.

(From a sermon by Ryan Napalo, The Banyan Tree, 5/10/2012)