March 15, 2026

INVITATIONS: BE FRUITFUL

March 15, 2026

Pastor Matt Willmington

Every area of our lives seems to undergo tests when you think about it. For example, our health—especially as we age—is often subjected to a battery of tests to determine if something is wrong. Our driving skills are tested to ensure we are reliable drivers before a new license is issued. Kids endure testing throughout their education, and the military gives frequent tests. However, one area is often overlooked: our spiritual well-being. In 2 Cor. 11:31-32, Paul tells believers that if they would periodically test themselves, God would not have to discipline them. It is true for us today: by frequent testing, we keep ourselves ‘up-to-speed’ in areas that matter so much. What tests would we apply? Join us and learn!

Focal Passages: Genesis 1:28; Galatians 5:22-23; Psalm 128:2-4; John 15:5, 15:1-17; Colossians 1:6, 10; Romans 1:13; Philippians 1:22, Matt. 28:19-20.

Which type of Christian are you?   Personal questions to start an examination of your life:

  • Busy: Are you a busy person? Do you expend energy all day long on various jobs? What are some issues you notice from this schedule? Does burnout happen often? Do you get much joy from the hard work, or is it the ‘same-ol’-same-ol’? What can you do to change? Most importantly, are there eternal consequences that will result from your efforts?
  • Productive: Do others see you as a productive person? What are some of your strengths? Who benefits from your efforts, others, or mostly yourself? Do you feel success as you finish projects? Are there eternal results in your energetic lifestyle? Are there areas of your life where the energy is made up of “dead plants”? Do you want to change? How can you?
  • Fruitful: Do you have a lifestyle of bearing spiritual fruit? Does this lifestyle bring you joy? Do your jobs/service/ministry have eternal fruit? Do you regularly ensure your growth as a believer? If you see an area in life with a problem, are you quick to change? How do you usually deal with unwholesome activities or work? Are you self-disciplined?

We have an invitation: “Come, be FRUITFUL”:

  • Read John 15:5. What is meant by ‘bearing fruit’ in our Christian walk? Go to Gen. 1:28 9:1; and 35:11: did God mean, ‘Be fruitful and multiply’ physically or spiritually? How do we intentionally prepare ourselves to bear fruit spiritually, as followers of Jesus?
  • Read Matt. 28:19-20. Speaking spiritually, how do we bear ‘offspring’ as believers? Do we only need to tell how He has changed us? (When we receive great news, we want everyone to know; why, then, are we slow to say that we received salvation from Christ and eternal life?) Read Gal. 5:22-23. Besides witnessing to the unsaved, how else can we share our fruit? Is this what makes a Fruitful lifestyle?
  • How important is it to you that you see your relationship with God be more loving, obedient, and deeper each year? What do you do to ensure this increases each year?

The Father gardens, Jesus nourishes: 

  • Read John 15:2, 6. Why does God the Father need to prune believers? If you prune some of your house plants, what are you trying to accomplish?
  • If a branch (person) does not remain in Him, what does He do?
  • How does Jesus nourish the plant? What is some evidence that indicates the plant is healthy?

He PRUNES so you’ll PRODUCE:

  • What are the four types of branches on a plant? (Healthy=Best Fruit; Good but not vital= may be sapping nourishment that should go to the best branches; Sick=isn’t going to improve; Dead=taking up space needed for the best branches.) Which one are you?
  • How does He do the pruning? From our perspective, what does that involve?
  • What are some things that need to be taken out of our lives? Why do we justify those things that are in gray areas? How can they be hurting us? What should we do about them?

Remain to Reproduce:

  • Read John 15:4-10. How many times does Jesus say we are to ‘remain’ (abide, etc.) in the Father, and in Him, in this passage? Discuss this for a few minutes.
  • Is it imperative that we truly remain in Christ every minute of every day? Read 1 Cor. 5:6b-7. If we live for Christ twenty-three hours a day, and live like the world the twenty-fourth hour, what is the result? If a branch has no vine, can it have fruit?
  • What are some results of abiding in Him at all times?

Fruit PROVES discipleship and GLORIFIES the Father:

  • Read John 15:9-17. If fruit is being produced in your spiritual life (and therefore physical), what does that prove? If you are abiding in Him daily, how does that bring Him glory?
  • What is the common thread between love and obedience? Where does joy come in? What are some other relational nouns given in this passage?
  • What are we supposed to do with the love that we receive from the Father?

PERSONAL fruit results in MINISTRY fruit.

  • Read Luke 10:38-42. Was Martha a busy person? Did she think her busyness in getting the meal on the table was more necessary than sitting with Mary? What did Jesus tell her? Are there times when sitting at the feet of Jesus (church, a Life Group, etc.) outweighs necessary busyness? Ask yourself: will we starve, or (go without clothes, or… ) _________.
  • Read Prov. 21:5. Does the wealth earned from hard work justify the time that must be given to it? What if it’s a ministry? Can a Christ-follower accidentally get too involved in ministry that their family is left to the ‘crumbs’? How can one balance life and ministry?
  • What are the advantages of having a life of service to other people?

Close: This is a heavy topic, isn’t it? Trying to see your daily life through Jesus’ eyes will help!

By Sandy Day

March 15, 2026                                                

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