Sermons on Fruitless Trees:

First Sunday Of Lent, Year A- The Tactics Of Temptation

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Jan 21, 2023

C.S. Lewis made an astute observation in his masterful Screwtape Letters: the devil cannot manufacture real goods or pleasures; he’s stuck with the ones God has made and for which our natures have an inclination.

I saw this Cartoon of Satan tempting Jesus, saying: “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a medium rare ribeye steak with truffle butter.” [Jesus is thinking to himself, “He’s getting better at this.”] Note that Jesus did not say, “Man cannot live by coffee alone, but he will ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:7-9, Genesis 3:1-7

Denomination: Catholic

Grounded In Christ Series

Contributed by Vic Folkert on Jun 9, 2020

Some miss the gate. Some lose their way, by false teaching, counterfeit spirituality, or not putting beliefs into practice. Some are grounded in Christ, and stand firm in the storms of life!

Healthy Disciples: GROUNDED IN CHRIST—Matthew 7:13-27 Read Matthew 7:13-14. This is troubling. We know that many people in the world are not interested in eternal life with Christ as Lord and King, and that troubles us. Jesus implies, however, that many who claim to be Christians might not be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-27, Colossians 2:6-7

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The River Of Life (Revelation 22)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 27, 2020

Let’s now look at the joyful conclusion of all things, pictured in a pure river of water of life, and the tree of life, access to which will be regained. We also read the last written words of Jesus, “Surely I am coming quickly.” All this is recorded in Revelation 22.

Let’s now look at the joyful conclusion of all things, pictured in a pure river of water of life, and the tree of life, access to which will be regained. We also read the last written words of Jesus, “Surely I am coming quickly.” All this is recorded in Revelation 22. Revelation 22:1 And he shewed ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

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

Love Slaves

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Sep 16, 2006

Jesus’ time of crucifixion was drawing near and here he sat, with his leadership team for the future who still didn’t get it – talk about a desperate and seemingly fruitless reality. Since none moved, Jesus did it. The towel that Jesus wrapped around him

Most of you will be familiar with the term and concept of servant-leadership. It is not a new concept of course. Corporate North America didn’t come up with it and the bright minds of the world didn’t phrase it as a new discovery. One of the Army’s earliest references to servant-leadership is that ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-17

Denomination: Salvation Army

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

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

Any Old Bush Will Do

Contributed by John Gaston on Oct 29, 2025

The bush God chose on Horeb was a worthless, fruitless bush that only stuck you with a thorn if you got close, yet God used it (by His holy presence) to deliver Israel and reveal His power to the world! If He can use that, He can use us!

ANY OLD BUSH WILL DO Ex. 3:1-10 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. President Bush was going through an airport when he saw a man who looked like Moses. He asked him, "Are you Moses?" The man acted as if he didn't hear. 2. He asked him again, "Are you Moses?" The man refused to look ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-10

Denomination: Assembly Of God

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

2. Zacchaeus Meets Jesus (From Rejection To Redemption) Series

Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Nov 24, 2025

One afternoon in Jericho changed everything for a despised tax collector. Jesus looked up into a tree and called a sinner by name. Salvation came that day.

2. ZACCHAEUS MEETS JESUS (FROM REJECTION TO REDEMPTION) Introduction The story of Zacchaeus shows the power of one encounter with Jesus Christ. This man lived in Jericho. He had money, position, and power. But he had no peace, no friends, and no hope. The whole town despised him. Then Jesus walked ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10, Luke 19:2, Matthew 21:31-32, Luke 19:3-4, Luke 19:5, Luke 19:7, Luke 19:8, Leviticus 6:5, Luke 19:9, Luke 19:10, James 2:17, 1 Timothy 1:15, Galatians 5:22-23, Luke 19:6, Revelation 3:20  (view more)  (view less)

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