Always learning...the cursed fig tree...sermon post of progress

 

I love figs.  I also love those little rectangle cookies called fig newtons!  (No sponsorship from them.)  This fig tree shows how massive these types of trees can become.  

I was listening to a lecture by Tom Schetelich titled An Unhurried Urgency and he referenced Mark 11.12-14 and Jesus' encounter with a fig tree before entering into Jerusalem.  Here is the passage and then some notes that I jotted down.  (Follow the link to listen to the whole message.)

Mark 11.12-14

12 - And on the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry.

13 - And seeing at a distance a fig tree that had leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.

14 - And He answered and said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again!"  And His disciples were listening.  (LSB)

Jesus could see from a distance that this was a fig tree.  He could see its trunk, branches and leaves but coming closer, He came to it, was needed to see if it had some fruit.  

Tom related this to the church.  From a distance you can see its:

• trunk of organization
• branches of great reach
• leaves of activity

All of these are good things but the measure of spiritual growth is to come closer and see if the church is producing fruit.  Do our churches look good from a distance but when you get closer, do we actually find some spiritual fruit?  The test of a healthy church is to be not just alive but to actually being able to feed others.  

The kicker of the passage is the information that it wasn't the season for figs.  Jesus is expecting something of this tree that wasn't agriculturally possible.  This helps us to see the power of a figurative lesson as we associate the fig tree first with Judaism and then also to the Church.  

It doesn't matter what time of the year it is, the church is to be about producing fruit.  It doesn't matter what is happening in society, the church is to be about producing fruit.  It doesn't matter if the climate is hostile to Christianity, the church is to be about producing fruit.  Actually, if the season seems to be not optimal for growth, this is when the evidence of fruit is even more astounding!

In the ministry of interim pastoring, the fruit of the church during transitional times between pastors is really sweet.  Seeing the church in an "off season" when the roster is not full but still being about the Great Commission is a wonderful thing to be apart of.  I introduce myself upfront as "the interim pastor" and some politely stay for the service but turn on their heels for another church that has a "full roster."  But some stay.  Some get saved and baptized.  Some join in membership and the ministries of the church.  Some stay to get excited with the rest of church as we observe together God bringing another team member called our lead pastor or teaching elder.  

The sermon post is a progress report and very directed toward the Weymouth Community Church but there are principles explained for any church, especially the car illustration at the end of the sermon.  Who is in the driver's seat of your church?  I guess this was a Sunday to come a little closer to observe the church and not just from a distance.  Can we point to fruit because spiritual leadership and maturity is measured not by our trunk of organization, our branches of reach, or our leaves of activities but rather by the fruit that people can taste and see that the Lord is good.

Adam

P.S. - The Malachi graphic is to show you where I am going next!