Types of Fruit (announcements for January 16)
Hi everyone,
I wrote a little bit last week about the importance of fruitfulness. That raises a few questions, and I want to address one now: What is fruitfulness, exactly? "Fruit" is a vivid picture, but it would be good to know specifically what "fruit" is.
Here are some specifics.
1. The fruit of repentance.
John the Baptist called people to "bear fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matthew 3:8). In other words: don't just say you're sorry, and then assume everything is alright. Actually seek God's mercy and help to fight your sin and grow in righteousness.
2. The fruit of good words.
Jesus said that only a good tree can bring forth good fruit, and he applied this to our speech: "How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:33)
3. The fruit of Christ-like character.
Nothing could describe Christ's character better than the fruit of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22).
4. The fruit of good works.
We are to be "filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:11).
Paul said that if he continued his earthly life, this would mean "fruitful labor" (Philippians 1:22).
Christians should be "bearing fruit in every good work" (Colossians 1:10).
5. The fruit of praise.
"Through him [Christ] then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name." (Hebrews 13:5)
6. Evangelism and discipleship
One outcome of our fruitful Christian lives will be the growth of the Church through evangelism and discipleship. Jesus addressed these topics directly when he told his disciples to "Go into all the world and make disciples" (Matthew 28:19). He said something very similar in John 15:16, using the image of fruit: "I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit."
Paul connected fruitfulness to evangelism and discipleship in Colossians 1:6, where he says this about the Gospel: "in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you." The first part of that sentence is especially about evangelism, the global progress of the Gospel. The second part is especially about discipleship, the progress of the Gospel in our hearts.
Sincerely,
Pastor Goligher
The Lord’s Day
Sunday school is at 9:45am.
The morning service is at 11:00am. This week, Pastor Goligher will be preaching at New Covenant OPC in South San Francisco. That church's pastor, Michael Grasso, will be preaching here.
- Deuteronomy 18:9-22, "The Prophet Like Moses (part 1)" (Pastor Michael Grasso)
- Psalm 3
- Join All the Glorious Names #301
- Jehovah's Perfect Law #151
The evening service is at 5:00pm.
- Deuteronomy 18:9-22, "The Prophet Like Moses (part 2)" (Pastor Michael Grasso)
- My Song is Love Unknown #182
- Now Blessed Be the Lord Our God #11
Through the Week
Prayer Meeting is on Wednesday evening at 7:15pm, at church and on Zoom.
Ladies' Bible Study meets Thursday at 7pm, on Zoom. The study is based on Nancy Guthrie, The Promised One: Seeing Jesus in Genesis. This week's study is on Abraham (Genesis 12-15). Read the Teaching Chapter (pages 153-170), and complete the discussion questions on pages 171-173.
Looking Ahead
Congregational meeting: Our annual meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 26 at 7:00pm.
Teens Lunch: Teens are invited to the Golighers' home for lunch on Sunday afternoon, January 30.
Snow rally: Teens are invited to the Snow Rally on February 25-26. This is a presbytery youth event, hosted in Sonora. Please let Pastor Goligher know if you would like to go.