Sermon Title: THE CASE OF THE FRUITLESS FIG TREE
Sermon Text: MARK 11:12-25
Sermon Series: THE JERUSALEM MINISTRY: THE KING CONFRONTS EMPTY RELIGION
By: PTR NIC SY
SERMON NOTES
CLUE #1: A (FIG) TREE COVERED WITH LEAVES
People see your “leaves” but God checks fruit.
Appearance without substance is fruitlessness.
CLUE #2: A TEMPLE FULL OF ACTIVITY
Jesus wants a praying heart because a praying heart is where fruit grows.
When prayer disappears, spiritual life collapses.
CLUE #3: A TREE WITHERED FROM THE ROOTS (CASE CLOSED)
The health of the unseen determines the fruit of the seen.
Fruit doesn’t begin with effort. It begins with faith.
Two concrete expressions of faith:
1. Fruitful faith prays with expectation.
Prayer is the first mark of faith because prayer reveals the root.
2. Fruitful faith forgives freely.
Unforgiveness disconnects us from the very root of our faith, which is God’s forgiveness of us.