Sermons on Fruitless Trees:

Graced From Shame (2nd Sunday) Series

Contributed by Kent Kessler on Dec 9, 2006

Has someone put a little "dis" on the front of your grace? Elizabeth knew what that was like. Her freedom was hindered, her past was haunting her, her conditions were less than what they should be, her religion was empty and she her efforts were fruitless

When I was little, if I had something on my face, my mother would often spit on a napkin or her thumb, reach over into my space and wipe the grit, or food, or dirt off of my face. It is a proven fact that a mother’s spit contains the same ingredients found in Formula 409! When we don’t look right, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25

Denomination: Methodist

Short People Got No Reason

Contributed by Dawn Marie Turner on Nov 2, 2004

It isn’t Zaccheaus size or that he climbed the tree that matters, it is that he was willing to come down and meet Jesus and transform his life.

Zacchaeus’ story reminds me of a song made popular by Randy Newman called short people: Short people got no reason Short people got no reason Short people got no reason To live They got little hands And little eyes And they walk around Tellin’ great big lies They got little ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Gates, Fruit And Foundations

Contributed by David Hicks on Nov 15, 2006

The stories of the narrow gate, the healthy tree, and the house built upon the rock all have a common theme in Christ’s Sermon on the Mount.

Gates, Fruit, and Foundations Matthew 7:13-27 There was no denying he had changed. When I was 20 years old I watched a transformation take place before my eyes. I had become a Christian 3 years prior, and I had tried on many occasions to witness to my parents. But I was not successful at ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-27

Denomination: Holiness

Palm Sunday Without Figs, But With A Clean Temple Series

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Jan 22, 2008

Triumphal Entry, Fig Tree, Cleaning Out The Temple - all prophetic actions. Looks at how these stories interact for a greater prophetic meaning.

Note to reader: (The individual stories in Mark 11:1-25 each have an important message when we look at them individually – when taken together they show us a far greater meaning in terms of prophecy. - May God bless you in your preaching.) A grand arrival; A cursed fig tree; Cleaning out the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-25

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Parable Of The Mustard Seed

Contributed by David Henderson on Dec 22, 2015

To get a better understanding of what this story teaches, I am going to take this apple, cut it open, and take out the seeds. There are five seeds in my apple. Now, imagine that we planted these seeds and each grew into an apple tree. How many apples do you think each tree might grow/produce?

Parable of the Mustard Seed Mark 4:30-32 Living Bible (TLB) 30 Jesus asked, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story shall I use to illustrate it? 31-32. It is like a tiny mustard seed! Though this is one of the smallest of seeds, yet it grows to become one of the largest of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:30-32

Denomination: Baptist

Genesis 11 – Part 5 – So, Is God A Chauvinist? Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Feb 16, 2010

In Genesis 11 we have the family tree of Shem, but only 3 women are mentioned by name - very Chauvinistic to our modern way of thinking!

Genesis 11 - Part 5 - SO, IS GOD A CHAUVINIST? Being an only son not only meant growing up in a house full of women, but also it meant that I was the last of the Cochrane's in my family line. I carried on the name of Cochrane when I had a son. My son's wife is about to have a son. This means that ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:10-32

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Let It Go Series

Contributed by Duane Wente on Nov 15, 2021

Some people get depressed when they see the trees losing their leaves in autumn. Some even say that the trees look sad. Autumn though shows us how beautiful it is to let things go. We need to consider what, in our lives, we need to drop in order to heal our souls, move forward in our lives and grow.

source: http://www.jokes4us.com/miscellaneousjokes/weatherjokes/falljokes.html Why does Humpty Dumpty love autumn? Because he had a great fall! Why are trees very forgiving? Because in fall they “let it go” and in the spring, they “turn over a new leaf.” Fall is a time of transition. There are ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:31-32, Matthew 18:21-22, Luke 1:37, Philippians 4:8-9, Isaiah 43:18-19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Great Reversal

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Nov 15, 2015

Just when the tree of David seems to be left without hope, without offspring, this Branch emerges to establish justice and righteousness in the world: the LORD our Righteousness.

THE GREAT REVERSAL. Jeremiah 33:14-16. In a double metaphor concerning gardening and building, the prophet Jeremiah was commissioned by the LORD not only ‘to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy and to throw down’ but also ‘to build and to plant’ (Jeremiah 1:10). There was certainly enough ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:14-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

3 Lessons All Children Need To Know - Genesis 4 Series

Contributed by Scott Turansky on Jul 23, 2021

He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

Well let’s pick up the story where we left off last week because as we were looking at our story last week we talked about Adam and Eve and how they sinned. So we left off with the consequences of their sin. We talked about the curse that God proclaims on each of them and we learned some things ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:24

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Hope Throughout The Ages

Contributed by Brian Williams on Dec 5, 2024

Every person in Jesus’ family tree has a story and actually their story plays a part in the first Christmas celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, God incarnate.

Matthew 1:1 - 17 (NLT) This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Depths Of Commitment: Lessons From The Garden Of Gethsemane"

Contributed by Jessie Manuel on Apr 14, 2025

the Garden of Gethsemane. Here, in the stillness of the olive trees and the shadows of the night, we encounter Jesus at His most vulnerable, grappling with divine purpose and human frailty.

Introduction Dearly beloved, as we gather today, we find ourselves at the threshold of a profound journey—the journey through Holy Week. Our focus rests upon a sacred moment in Scripture, nestled within the narrative of Christ's impending sacrifice: the Garden of Gethsemane. Here, in the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 22:39-46

Denomination: Methodist

Expectations – General And Specific – Great And Small Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Sep 16, 2022

Expectations keep us hoping if they are good, and fearful if they are bad. There are many examples in the bible of expectations but I have selected only a few, then we look at Christian expectations. Even cricket is touched on.

EXPECTATIONS – GENERAL AND SPECIFIC – GREAT AND SMALL I wonder how many are familiar with the novel “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens. Pip the orphan boy relates his story that is based around what expectations wait for him, surprises, incorrect assumptions, tragedy and a lot more. Well as ...read more

Scripture: Acts 12:8-16, Genesis 48:11, 1 Kings 2:15-16, Job 30:26-29, Isaiah 5:2-4, Matthew 11:2-3, Luke 21:25-28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

It Is Near - Mark 13:28-31 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Apr 23, 2024

What good is it to know that his coming is near? Would you live differently if you knew for sure it would be in your lifetime? Shouldn’t you live that way all the time? And if we can’t know when it will happen, what does “near” even mean?

Mark 13:28 "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:28-31, Matthew 24:32-35, Luke 21:29-33

The Wee Little Man Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Mar 5, 2001

What made Zacchaeus become a tax collector? Why did Jesus appeal to him so that he would embarrass himself by climbing a tree to see Him?

A man went for physical checkup and the nurse asked him how much he weighed. He held his stomach in and replied, "160 lbs." She got him on the scales, weighed him and said: "No, your weight is 166 lbs. The nurse then asked him how tall he was. Standing very straight he answered, "5 feet 10 ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Scraps For Jesus

Contributed by Evie Megginson on Oct 18, 2000

The Prophet, Isaiah, long ago drew a picture of the people of his day by using the illustration of a man who fell a tree and used its parts in various ways.

The Prophet, Isaiah, long ago drew a picture of the people of his day by using the illustration of a man who fell a tree and used its parts in various ways. With part of it, he he warmed himself, with part of it, he used it for fuel,with part of it, he used it t cook his foor and after ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 44:10-17

Denomination: Baptist