Fruit Bearing Study ~ Discussion

The authentic disciple [follower] of Jesus Christ is called forth to bear fruit in his/her life. In this study/discussion we will be considering this aspect of the Christian’s life. In order to make this study/discussion most profitable it is vital that we read each of the biblical references and spend time discussing each one. Before we begin our discussion: What does fruit-bearing mean to you as a believer in Jesus Christ?

The apostle Paul, who was undoubtedly the greatest teacher of the Christian Faith, issued an exhortation in Colossians 1:9 & 10. He declared to the believers in Colosse that he was praying for them in this manner.

	How would you summarize Paul’s prayer and exhortation in this instance?
	What does it mean “being fruitful in every good work”?
	How does the believer increase in the knowledge of God? Give some practical suggestions.

In order for there to be fruit there must be work done beforehand. For instance seed must be sown. One of the methods in the teaching ministry of our Lord was that of using what we know as parables.

	What is a parable?
	Why do you think that Jesus often taught using parables?
	How should we understand parables? As literal truth, figurative or allegorical?

In this discussion on fruit-bearing we need to consider our Lord’s parable of the sower, the seed and the fruit. See Matthew 13:18-23.

	What is your understanding of the parable?
	To you who is the sower?
	What is the seed?
	How is this parable applicable to our day? To the church? To evangelism and soul-winning?

Take a look at the next parable recorded in Matthew 13:24-30.

	What is “the kingdom of heaven” that is being referred to in this parable?
	What is the “good seed”?
	Who are some of the enemies that we face?
	What are “the tares”?
	What does it mean to “let both [tares and good seed] grow together”?
	What is the “harvest” that our Lord if referring to? What is this saying to us as members of the Body of Christ?

How do you understand Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed recorded in Matthew 13:31-32?

Taking a look at the fruit:
Those of you who do grocery shopping do not go into one of the local supermarkets and randomly, with inspection, pick up whichever fruit you are buying. You probably examine each one to be sure that it is not over ripe nor filled with blemishes or worms. Some people spend considerable time examining the fruit.

Why does God examine the fruit produced in our lives as Christians?

Unfortunately not every seed that is sown by the child of God is one that bears “good” fruit. The apostle Paul addressed this in Galatians 6:7 & 8.

	What do you view as bad fruit? as “good” fruit?
	If we discover that there is some bad fruit that we are reaping in our lives what positive steps of action can or should be taken to reverse this situation?
	Taking a look at verse 9 how does this enter into the fruit born in our lives?

The writer of the book of Proverbs speaks of the individual who “sows discord” (Prov. 6:14c)

	What are some of the aspects of discord that you see being sown in the church and/or among Christians?
	Why does it appear that so many Christians get caught up in sowing discord in the Body of Christ?
	What can and should each of us do to help control the spread of discord in our churches? in our group? in the neighborhood?

Our aim as disciples of Christ should be to continually be producing good fruit in our lives, in our small groups and in our churches. A vital fruit that is necessary unto salva-tion is referred to

in Scripture as one that is “worth of repentance.”

Taking a look at Matthew 3:1-8 we have the account of both “bad” and “good” fruit bearing. Note in this passage of Scripture that the religious leaders (Pharisees and Sadducees) were not b

earing fruit approved by God.

	Why is it taught in Scripture that simply being “religious” does not nec-essarily mean that the individual or the groups will be producing “good” fruit?
	Discuss some of the “bad” fruit produced by religion that you have ob-served since coming into a personal relationship with Christ as your Savior and Lord.
	Why do we say that authentic Christian faith is not being religious nor is biblical Christianity simply another religion?
	What are some of the fruits “worthy of repentance”?

Paul speaks of “the fruits of righteousness” in Philippians 1:11.

	How do you define righteousness?
	With your definition of righteousness what are “the fruits of righteousness”?

Discernment is a very admirable trait that some Christians appear to have developed to a greater degree than have other believers. Even though discernment is not directly referred to as “a fruit” in Scripture, yet it is as aspect of our Christian walk and life that should be sought. When a group of believers realize that one or more of their number appear to be able to discern truth and error to a greater degree than are others in the group, they should “listen” to that individual(s). No one has total discernment, yet some believers in their God-given wisdom have a greater spirit of discernment.

Keeping this in mind how should believers act upon our Lord’s exhortation in Mat-thew 7:15-20?

Fruit of the Spirit:
Whichever translation of the Bible you are using will render a listing of the fruit of the Spirit with some variation. Read Galatians 5:22 & 23. The New King James Version of the Bible renders this list thusly:

	Love		Longsuffering		Faithfulness
	Joy		Kindness		Gentleness
	Peace		Goodness		Self-control

	Spend some time reviewing this listing of the fruit of the Spirit. How do you measure up?
	Which areas do not need some work on?
	Which areas give you little trouble?

At this point you may wonder how a believer develops, maintains and increases a manifestation of each of the fruit mentioned in the listing. The apostle Paul answers this thusly:

Fruit-bearing:
Fruit-bearing is not only important to the child of God it is vital to one’s spiritual growth and spiritual health. The question might arise as to how fruit-bearing is really possible in one’s life? It is possible only when the Christian is filled with and by the Holy Spirit. We read in Ephesians 5:18: “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.”

There is considerable confusion and differences of opinion in the Body of Christ as to what this means. Some Christians do not differentiate between being baptized in/by the Holy Spirit with being filled by/with the Spirit. Rather than entering into a lengthy discussion relating to this matter I believe that all genuine believers are baptized “in”, “with” and “by” the Holy Spirit upon their conversion to Him as Savior and Lord. When the individual is “born again” that individual is “born of the Spirit.” The apostle Paul taught,

“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit [the Holy Spirit] we [believers] were all baptized into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

This teaching indicates that every person who repents, believes by faith and person-ally receives God gift of grace, is automatically immersed (baptized) into the Body of Christ. This is that baptism that is referred to as being baptized by the Holy Spirit. Note it does not require that one speaks in tongues as taught by some well-meaning, sin-cere Christians and churches. The gift of tongues is separate for this experience. We are informed in Romans 8:9 that the individual who does not have the Spirit does not belong to Christ, is not an authentic believer, not part of the spiritual Body of Christ. In fact, on other occasions the apostles teaches that the very body of every believer is the dwelling place or temple of the Holy Spirit.

The command to be filled with the Holy Spirit is given to all those who have al-ready been baptized by the Spirit. The exhortation to be filled recorded in the letter to the Ephesian church indicates that this filling is to be ongoing, not just a one-time-experience.

· Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? How do you know that you are filled?
· Has there been a time when you can remember being initially filled?
· Is this filling ongoing or a past experience in your Christian walk and life?

What is referred to as the fruit of the Spirit can only be manifested in your life as you are continually being filled with and by God’s Spirit.

If you are not a fruit-bearing Christian, become one. . . NOW!!