Sermons on Unfruitful:

The Vine & The Branches

Contributed by Steven Buhr on Jan 25, 2008

Am I connected to the Vine? If not, I need to be re-connected.

November 4, 2007 – John 15 ‘The Vine and the Branches’ Gardening, it’s something many people like to do, especially here in Victoria where you can usually do it year round. How many folks here are the ‘garden variety’, green-thumb, can make anything grow, win a prize at the Saanich Fair kind of ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Are You Listening

Contributed by Greg Burcham on Sep 11, 2016

This sermon explores the art of listening and the things that hinder our ability to hear God

Are you listening? How well do you listen? For me, listening can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a little scatterbrained. I have the attention span of a squirrel or a gold fish, so paying attention isn’t one of my strong points. God’s word ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:51-54

Denomination: Baptist

Nearsighted Christians Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 31, 2021

A Christian with spiritual myopia is all caught up with an entangled with what is under his nose, but he has lost the vision of the distant past and the upcoming future in God's plan. He is forgetful of the cross, and blind to the glory of the future.

F. W. Boreham, the famous Australian preacher, had an instructive experience in St. Paul's Cathedral. He and a friend were looking at Holman Hunt's well known painting, "The Light Of The World." The Savior stands before a closed door with a lantern in His hand, and He is ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:9

Let's Be Good Ground For Jesus

Contributed by Randall Long on Apr 4, 2020

This message uses Jesus' Parable of the Sower to encourage believers to face the obstacles that hinder us from spiritual growth in our lives.

ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE! PAY ATTENTION! THIS IS SOMETHING YOU NEED TO HEAR! Have I aroused your interest? Are you at least curious what I'm about to say that can justify such verbal arm-waving? Will you be upset (or at least disappointed) if I proceed to tell a story about some guy who has a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:3-9, Mark 4:13-20, Galatians 5:22

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Let's Be Good Ground For Jesus

Contributed by Randall Long on Apr 4, 2020

This message uses Jesus' Parable of the Sower to encourage believers to face the obstacles that hinder us from spiritual growth in our lives.

ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE! PAY ATTENTION! THIS IS SOMETHING YOU NEED TO HEAR! Have I aroused your interest? Are you at least curious what I'm about to say that can justify such verbal arm-waving? Will you be upset (or at least disappointed) if I proceed to tell a story about some guy who has a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:3-9, Mark 4:13-20, Galatians 5:22

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Triumphant Entry & Cleansing The Temple

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Apr 1, 2012

To show how the triumphant entry and cleansing the temple are important to each story.

The notes I used are from Preacher's Sermon and Outline Bible on Matthew. Title: Triumphant Entry and Cleansing the Temple Theme: To show the connection between Matthew 21 and our lives Text: Matthew 21 Introduction The interesting part of Matthew 21 is the contrast between the Triumphant Entry ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:1-44

Denomination: Church Of God

The Parable Of The Soils.

Contributed by David Goering on Mar 31, 2019

There are three types of impenitent bad soil hearers of the gospel and those who receive the word of God in good soil (a contrite heart) are the only ones who are converted to Christ.

Definition of impenitent - IMPEN'ITENT, a. Not penitent; not repenting of sin; not contrite; obdurate; of a hard heart. They died Impenitent. IMPEN'ITENT, n. One who does not repent; a hardened sinner. *Noah Webster 1828 dictionary SCRIPTURE: Matthew 13:3-9 "And he spake many ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:3-9

Keep Shining

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Mar 1, 2021

Paul reminds us that as new born-again-baptized people, we are new creatures in Jesus Christ who are called to exemplify His light in our living and witness, walking as Gods children of light (Ephesians 5:8).

Ephesians 5:8-14  for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light  (9)  (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),  (10)  and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.  (11)  Take no ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:8-14

Denomination: United Methodist

Spiritual Farming

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Jun 29, 2022

Jesus's parable of the four soils is filled with rich principles of how we can become fruitful Christians that we sometimes miss because they take work on our part.

Mark 4:3-9 (William Barclay) "Listen! Look! The sower went out to sow. As he was sowing, some seed fell along the roadside; and the birds came and devoured it. Some fell upon rocky ground where it did not have much earth; and it sprang up immediately, because it had no depth of earth, but, ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Are You Listening? Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Jan 12, 2024

Listen! That is the request of Jesus in our text, both in the beginning and the end.

The Healing Touch of Jesus: An Honest Look at Your Heart Mark 4:1-34 Introduction Listen! Did your parents ever tell you that? A teacher? Maybe you said it to your children. Did anyone ever tell you how to listen? I read an article about how to listen and it gave ten pointers. A few of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:1-34

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Parables Of The Kingdom – The First - The Sower Or Rather The Soil – Part 3 Of 5 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jul 31, 2025

We continue the Sower, considering the seed that fell into rocky ground, the shallow soil, with a warning. Temptation plus affliction and persecution will in time burn and kill off any mere profession. These hearers are only temporary. Then we begin the seed choked in the thorny soil.

PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM – THE FIRST - THE SOWER OR RATHER THE SOIL – Part 3 of 5 Last time we finished thinking about the good seed that was wasted on the barren pathways and beside the roadway. There was nothing wrong with the seed, but the reception was nil because men closed their hearts to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:5-6, Matthew 13:20-21, Mark 4:17, Luke 8:6, Luke 8:13, Luke 8:14, Matthew 13:7, Matthew 13:22, Mark 4:18-19, Genesis 3:17-18  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Parables Of The Kingdom – The First - The Sower Or Rather The Soil – Part 4 Of 5 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Aug 1, 2025

We are studying the third soil in the Parable of the Sower and now consider the reasons why the good seed gets choked by thorns. How many of us know someone who walked as a strong Christian but just departed the faith? It is a complex matter and we try to see why that happens.

PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM – THE FIRST - THE SOWER OR RATHER THE SOIL – Part 4 of 5 In the last message we did the seed that fell on the rocky soil, and we also did some of the seed that was choked by thorns. We will finish that choked seed this time. Let us revise the relevant verses from last ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:14, Matthew 13:7, Matthew 13:22, Mark 4:18-19, Matthew 11:28-29, Matthew 6:31-33, Matthew 6:34, 1 Timothy 6:9-11, Proverbs 21:17, Matthew 16:26, Philippians 4:11, Colossians 4:14, 2 Timothy 4:10, 1 Timothy 6:8-9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Why Are Some People Disqualified For Positions Of Service?

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

1. Many people are disqualified for positions of service in the church because of their sins of omission.

1. Many people are disqualified for positions of service in the church because of their sins of omission. James wrote, "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins." (James 4:17) In this passage we read about how the apostles were forced to choose a replacement for Judas ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:21-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Works Of A Sower

Contributed by George Smith on Jan 9, 2002

A look at how we need to prepare the ground to sow seed.

PARABLES OF THE SOWER (Effects of Preaching Gospels truths) MATTHEW 13:3-8 & 18-23 (Study reference Mark 4:3-8; Luke 8:5-8) Mark8:13-20 ; Luke8:11-15 Intro. WE have work to do but it seem that no one is willing to put there hands to the plow. BUT WE ARE LIKE FARMERS V. 3 And he spake many ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:3-8

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

"A Call To War!"

Contributed by Kevin Taylor on Mar 8, 2002

A call to spiritual warfare. God is calling us to ’be all we can be,’ and ’do all we can do!’

I. Man Your Battle Stations! A. Sound the Alarm B. Text: I Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life… ” And… Ephesians 6:10-18 C. God has called this church to a time of spiritual warfare! D. We must prepare for battle. E. The enemy is on attack! And we must be ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:12, Ephesians 6:10-18