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:

  1. Mark 4:3-8, 14-20
    1. When did you become a Christian? When you first became a Christian, in what way were you like a seed that sprouted and grew?
    2. Consider each of the soils listed in this parable
      1. The soil along the path
        1. Why did the seed never sprout?
        2. What kind of person does this represent?
      2. The soil in the rocky places
        1. How long did the sprout last? Why?
        2. What obstacles to faithfulness does this soil illustrate?
          • 1 - ______________________
          • 2 - ______________________
      3. The soil among the thorns
        1. Does the sprout ever grow any fruit. Why?
        2. What obstacles to faithfulness does this soil illustrate?
          • 1 - ______________________
          • 2 - ______________________
          • 3 - ______________________
      4. The good soil - Why is this good soil?
    3. Reflection: In what way has any of these obstacles to faithfulness & fruitfulness in the Christian life been a challenge to you?
  2. Matthew 7:17-19
    1. What will happen if you bear good fruit for God?
    2. What will happen if you bear bad fruit?
  3. Matthew 7:20-23
    1. 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
    2. 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?
    3. Whose will do you need to do in order to bear good fruit?
  4. Inspect Your Fruit:
    1. 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)
    2. James 4:17
      1. Is it enough to merely “know” the right thing to do?
      2. In addition to “knowing” the right thing to do, what else must you do?
  5. 2 Peter 3:9 - What does God, in his patience, desire for you to do?
  6. 1 John 1:9 - What will God do when you confess your sins?
  7. 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?
  8. 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?
  9. How to keep from falling away again:
    1. Attend assemblies, don’t be isolated from your brethren
      1. Hebrews 10:24-25 - Do you need to be regular in attendance? Why?
      2. Colossians 3:16 - What are the purposes of singing together?
    2. Be in and live by the Word
      1. 1 Peter 2:2 - What do you need to crave? Why?
      2. Psalm 1:1-3 - What does it take to be fruitful?
      3. James 1:22-25 - How do mere hearers delude themselves?
    3. Engage in Christian service and ministry
      • 1 Peter 4:10-11 - What are you to do with what God has entrusted you with?
    4. Be devoted to prayer
      • Colossians 4:2 - How might prayer help you to be “watchful” and “thankful?”
    5. 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?
    6. Live each day as though it may be your last on earth
      1. Luke 9:62 - How is the Christian life like working a plow?
      2. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 - How can you avoid being unprepared and taken by surprise?


Additional Scriptures Regarding Discipline, Repentance, and Restoration

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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