Welcome to The Journey Church. I'm Pastor Paris Pasch.

​​

At the outset of this year God instructed the pastoral team of this church to have a focus for the entire year much like He has done in my past.  This year is a little unique in that 3 pastors are involved in carrying that instruction out over the next twelve months.  I believe this year’s focus is based on the last 7 years of instruction that this congregation has been put through.  In addition to our Sunday morning instruction, we’ve been trained to see Jesus throughout the Bible as the single common thread through “Story of God”.  We investigated what and why we believe through our “Believe” series a couple of years back and we are being encouraged and challenged through “Discipleship Essentials” though Pastor Brannen.  God warned us some time back that we were actually called to become disciple makers and not merely disciples ourselves.  Community Groups have endeavored to build you up and strengthened you to become people of God beyond Sunday mornings.  All this to prepare you for this year which God has stated is The Year to Bear Fruit.  We will be relentless with this message focus because time is drawing short for all churches to preach the good news.

 

Last week Pastor Brannen made sure we were developing the correct form of fruit called wisdom and not just developing a head full of leaves of knowledge.  Next week Pastor Ben will instruct us of the need to be securely planted near the right source.

 

Many of us understand the simple pleasure of eating a glorious piece of fruit.  We savor, relish and may even be exhilarated when we bite into a fresh strawberry or a cool piece of watermelon in the heat of summer.  My message today is to remind you that Fruit Has a God Ordained Purpose even in the spiritual realm.  It’s far beyond just being beautiful, delicious or enticing.

 

Most fruit contains a little element inside of it intended to reproduce itself after the meat of the fruit has been consumed.  The fruit’s luscious content is typically the reason a person or an animal is attracted to the fruit in the first place, but it isn’t the primary purpose for the beautiful, delicious fruit to exist.  It’s not just about the church looking attractive.  It’s not simply about you being nice.  This same truth applies to you as a believer.  There is more to us than meets the eye.

 

Most fruit contains a seed or many seeds.  It has these seeds on purpose and for a purpose.  We were never as a church to become a pile of unplanted seeds in a human warehouse.  In fact, if you neglect the very purpose for God’s seed of time, talent and treasure you will eventually eat your last piece of fruit.  Just like an apple, you are God’s fruit for the world to pick and enjoy.  Every Sunday your pastors plant the seed of God’s word in your life soil.  Tragically far too many churches are people gathering to eat fruit and seeds.  But you have a purpose as a believer and it has always been the same, to reproduce what and who you are. 

 

I want to use a recent example among us today.  I’ve acquired his permission to do so as long as I don’t have him come up and stand before you.  Many of you have met Kieth who has connected to The Journey.  You might find Kieth a little reserved or shy at first, but once you get to know him you will soon find he is fun loving, witty, generous with his words and a pleasure to be around.  Plus, he has often got his daughter and granddaughter alongside him who are truly a delight.

 

Kieth is a real-life example of the fruit process this morning I’m speaking about.  Kieth came to us after losing the love of his life “LuAnn” and Pastor Brannen and I served him during that time of loss.  They had been married for over 50 years.  He was sad and in the throes of grief when we first sat together.  Even early on, he came to us accompanied by his daughter and granddaughter.  I believe what he saw in a couple of pastors in those early days, is what I would call pleasant fruit.  We didn’t impress him with our bible knowledge or flood him with platitudes and religious rules and sayings; we just listened, comforted and got to know his family.  A few days after the funeral, Pastor Brannen called him and asked if he could drop a follow-up card by his home and he agreed.  They chatted for over an hour, and Pastor Brannen assured him that he might like The Journey Church as a place to heal after loss.  It was a few weeks, but one day he entered our doors and found a garden full of fruity people. His daughter and granddaughter are almost always at his side, and didn’t I say they were delightful.  Keep in mind they drive an hour to meet him and attend.  Week after week they attended and heard the simple description of who Jesus was and what He was offering people. After a relatively short time he found Jesus to be the answer to his grief and his personal salvation. 

 

One Sunday not so far back he pulled me to the side and said, “Pastor I’ve been born again like you have been teaching on”. Kieth that was one of, 44 years as a pastor, best days.  Since his arrival he has invited family members and friends who have also found joy in the Journey’s Garden.  He’s adjusting some of his life to reflect his newfound faith and I’m so proud of him.

 

Now, he’s not just a pretty piece of fruit for the world around him to see.  He is designed by God as a born-again believer to have the most powerful seed living inside him being developed into a wonderful fruit bearing plant so that the world around him can be drawn toward the goodness of God.  He is designed to reproduce other pieces of fruit.

 

If all he becomes is a leaf bearing plant, then the plant loses its purpose.  If he bears fruit, but it’s scabby, prickly and distasteful then the process is disrupted.  But look at him.  Who could resist that smiling face with all that mustache.

 

Matthew 7:16–20 (NIV) By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

 

Kieth, I see God’s fruit on your branches my dear friend, and this text reminds me of the adage of “The proof of the pudding is in the eating”, or the value or truth of something must be judged by its results or direct experience.  You see it’s consumable fruit that demonstrates an effective fruit production cycle.

 

Some may be wondering what their purpose in life is and I’m trying to remind us that it is simply stated in black and white in your Bible spoken by the Apostle Paul.

 

Acts 20:24 (NIV) However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

 

Jesus said it Himself.

​

John 15:8 (NIV) This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

 

The pastors of this church debrief every Monday morning, and our great joy is seeing God use you to bring your neighbors, relatives and friends into a spiritual environment to let them see God’s orchard of fruit on display.  If you’ve never been an instrument used by God to invite someone into God’s presence or even directly invite someone to meet Jesus, then you have come up short of God’s design for your fruit bearing life.  I don’t want you to miss this glorious experience as a believer.

 

Proverbs 11:30 (NIV) The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.

 

Church, the Bible doesn’t mince words about the importance of this fruit bearing.

 

Matthew 3:10 (NIV) The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

 

Matthew 21:43 (NIV) “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.

 

Don’t take your purpose lightly.  Don’t get sidetracked as to why you are still here.  You have purpose even if you’ve never realized it before.  Encouraging, guiding, sharing your journey are all aspects of seeking to bear fruit.  If bearing fruit wasn’t needed, then the moment you got saved you would have been lifted off this earth toward heaven.  Let me say it again; you have a purpose dear believer.  The world around you is confused, distracted and broken.  We have the focus, the healing medicine for what ails them.  Let me read the words that were written for our instruction and inspiration.

 

Romans 10:14–15 (NIV) How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” 

 

We have invested this last month in a simple and biblical understanding of God’s will for His kids’ lives.  It’s not hidden or cryptic.  It’s not complex to carry out. Don’t be just leafy, don’t be prickly, be full of luscious fruit, fit for all those who pass you by.  Your life will never be the same when you first realize you were an integral part of someone choosing to follow Jesus.  Let’s pray that we will become a full garden of fruit bearing believers who see church growth as a natural byproduct and not some human effort or strategy.

​

Next week Pastor Ben will instruct us of the need to be securely planted near the right source.

​

      Message Questions

1. Is the call to bear fruit given to only professional ministers?

2. Describe in simple words the purpose for fruit in our Christian life.

3. Discuss the highlights of Pastor’s fruit bearing example.

4. Give personal testimony of being a fruit bearing plant.

5. What strong words does God use for those who refuse to bear fruit.