Important Questions
Christian, What Kind of Fruit Are you Producing?
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At some point in your life, you gave your life to Christ as Lord. You committed to becoming a Christ follower, and was baptized into him. Your old self died with Christ and you became a new person in Christ. Are you still committed to Christ, or have you been slipping?
Someone has cared enough for you to share this pamphlet with you. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 tells us to warn those who are idle and to encourage the disheartened and weak. James 5:19-20 reminds us that if we bring back one who has wandered from the faith, we save a soul from death. Galatians 6:1 reminds us to gently restore those who are no longer doing God’s will. A brother or sister has brought these scriptures to you to as a reminder and encouragement for you. Please consider what God is communicating to you in these passages:
- Mark 4:3-8, 14-20
- When did you become a Christian? When you first became a
Christian, in what way were you like a seed that sprouted and
grew?
- Consider each of the soils listed in this parable
- The soil along the path
- Why did the seed never sprout?
- What kind of person does this represent?
- The soil in the rocky places
- How long did the sprout last? Why?
- What obstacles to faithfulness does this soil illustrate?
- 1 - ______________________
- 2 - ______________________
- The soil among the thorns
- Does the sprout ever grow any fruit. Why?
- What obstacles to faithfulness does this soil illustrate?
- 1 - ______________________
- 2 - ______________________
- 3 - ______________________
- The good soil - Why is this good soil?
- Reflection: In what way has any of these obstacles to
faithfulness & fruitfulness in the Christian life been a challenge
to you?
- Matthew 7:17-19
- What will happen if you bear good fruit for God?
- What will happen if you bear bad fruit?
- Matthew 7:20-23
- Which of the following statements is true?
- ___ Those who do good works in the name of Jesus will enter
the kingdom of Heaven
- ___ Those who do the will of the Father will enter the kingdom
of Heaven
- In the illustration Jesus used, those who said, “Lord, Lord” had
not been bearing good fruit. Whose will did they need to do in
order to bear good fruit?
- Whose will do you need to do in order to bear good fruit?
- Inspect Your Fruit:
- What bad fruit needs to be gotten rid of our of your life? What
good fruit is missing in your life? (Check all that apply:)
- Bad Fruit in Your Life:
- ___ Fornication (1 Cor 6:9)
- ___ Thievery (1 Cor 6:10)
- ___ Drunkenness (1 Cor 6:10)
- ___ Reviling (abusive speech)
(1 Cor 6:10)
- ___ Strife, dissensions (Gal 5:19)
- ___ Envy (Gal 5:21)
- ___ Greed (Rom 1:29)
- ___ Deceit (Rom 1:29)
- ___ Malice (Rom 1:29)
- ___ Gossip, slander (Rom 1:29-30)
- ___ Arrogance (Rom 1:30)
- ___ Disobedient to God (Tit 1:16)
- ___ Lying (Col 3:9)
- ___ Adultery (Heb 13:14)
- ___ Hating your brother (1 Jn 3:15)
- ___ Insulting your brother (Mt 7:22)
- ___ Filthy language (Col 3:8)
- ___ Abusive (2 Tim 3:2)
- Good Fruit In Your Life:
- ___ Love God & Neighbor (Mt 22:37-40)
- ___ Assemble regularly with
the Saints (Heb 10:25)
- ___ Stimulate brethren to love
and good deeds (Heb 10:24)
- ___ Put God first (Mt 6:33)
- ___ Offer yourself as a living
sacrifice to God (Rom 12:1)
- ___ Be devoted to one another in
brotherly love (Rom 12:10)
- ___ Sing to each other & God (Col 3:16)
- ___ Do good to enemy (Rom12:19-21)
- ___ Set your mind on things above,
not on things of this world (Col 3:2)
- ___ Compassion (Col 3:12)
- ___ Kindness (Col 3:12)
- ___ Humility (Col 3:12)
- ___ Gentleness, Patience (Col 3:12)
- ___ Forgiving (Col 3:13)
- James 4:17
- Is it enough to merely “know” the right thing to do?
- In addition to “knowing” the right thing to do, what else
must you do?
- 2 Peter 3:9 - What does God, in his patience, desire for you to do?
- 1 John 1:9 - What will God do when you confess your sins?
- Hebrews 3:12-15
a. On what day do you need to respond to God?
b. If you do not respond, what happens to your heart?
- Hebrews 6:4-8 - What does the hyperbole, “...impossible to renew
them again to repentance…” say about the urgency of responding
sooner and not later?
- How to keep from falling away again:
- Attend assemblies, don’t be isolated from your brethren
- Hebrews 10:24-25 - Do you need to be regular in
attendance? Why?
- Colossians 3:16 - What are the purposes of singing
together?
- Be in and live by the Word
- 1 Peter 2:2 - What do you need to crave? Why?
- Psalm 1:1-3 - What does it take to be fruitful?
- James 1:22-25 - How do mere hearers delude themselves?
- Engage in Christian service and ministry
- 1 Peter 4:10-11 - What are you to do with what God has
entrusted you with?
- Be devoted to prayer
- Colossians 4:2 - How might prayer help you to be “watchful”
and “thankful?”
- Flee sin and temptation
- 1 Corinthians 10:13-15 - If God provides a way of escape
when you are tempted, what do you need to do?
- Live each day as though it may be your last on earth
- Luke 9:62 - How is the Christian life like working a plow?
- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 - How can you avoid being
unprepared and taken by surprise?
Additional Scriptures Regarding Discipline, Repentance, and Restoration
- Gal 6:1 - The brethren are obligated to restore a straying brother
- Mt 5:21-24; 6:14-15; 1 Pt 3:7; 1 Jn 1:7 - Fellowship with God & brethren are tied
- Mt 18:15-17 - Refusal to repent breaks fellowship with God, and thus the church
- 1 Cor 5:1-11 - Purpose of discipline to 1) Save a brother 2) Prevent sin spreading
- 2 Thess 3:6,14-15 - Discipline does not make a brother an enemy
- 2 Cor 2:6-8; 7:8-10 - The goal is repentance & restoration
_______________________________
Compiled by
John Telgren
Nebraska City Church of Christ,
1102 S 10th St, Nebraska City, NE 68410
(402) 873-7241 - www.ncncocorg - www.epreacher.org
January 10, 2018