Our Fruitful Servant: A Sermon on Repentance, Renewal, and Bearing Fruit
We gather in this sacred season of Lent, a time of reflection, repentance, and renewal. Today, our Scriptures remind us of God's patience, His invitation to return to Him, and the expectation that our faith will bear fruit.
In a world where productivity is measured by results, what does it mean to be fruitful in God's kingdom? Through Luke's parable of the barren fig tree, Isaiah's invitation to return to God, and Paul's warnings against complacency, we'll explore what it means to be a fruitful servant—one who receives God's mercy, repents sincerely, and responds with faithful obedience.

by Mark Poyner

The Sobering Reality Check
The Universal Need for Repentance
When asked about Pilate's massacre of Galileans, Jesus refuses to let His listeners deflect blame onto others. Instead, He shifts their focus: "Do you think these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
A Warning Against Comparison
Jesus challenges us not to compare ourselves to others but to recognize that we all stand in need of renewal. The call to repentance is universal—not just for those we deem "worse sinners."
The Urgency of Response
This connects directly to Isaiah 55, where God calls us to "seek the Lord while He may be found." God's invitation is urgent, offering us the chance to return to Him before it's too late.
The Parable of the Fig Tree
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The Planting
A fig tree has been planted in a vineyard, representing each of us—placed with purpose in God's garden. We are not random growths but intentionally planted by the Master Gardener.
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The Waiting
The owner has waited three years for fruit but has found none. God gives us time to develop, to grow roots, and to mature—but with the expectation that growth will eventually produce fruit.
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The Verdict
The initial judgment: "Cut it down. Why let it waste the soil?" Unfruitfulness is not merely neutral—it actively depletes resources that could nourish others.
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The Intercession
"Leave it alone for one more year. I will dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down." The gardener's plea represents Christ's intercession on our behalf.
God's Mercy and Expectation

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Divine Patience
God is merciful – He does not immediately cut down the barren tree. He gives it time, just as He gives us grace to repent. This patience reflects His character as described in 2 Peter 3:9, "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

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Active Cultivation
The gardener's work of digging and fertilizing represents the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. God doesn't merely wait passively—He actively works to nurture growth in our lives through His Word and Spirit.

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Limited Time
The warning remains: If the tree remains barren, it will be removed. This creates not fear but urgency—a reminder that the season of opportunity will not last forever.
Lessons from Israel's History
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Spiritual Privilege
Paul reminds the Corinthians that the Israelites were rescued by God and fed by manna—they experienced extraordinary spiritual blessings. Yet these privileges did not guarantee their faithfulness.
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Falling into Idolatry
"These things happened as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did." (1 Cor. 10:6) Despite God's provision, many turned to false gods and immoral behavior.
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Warning for Believers
Paul's message is clear: Even those who have experienced God's grace can fall if they become complacent. Like the barren fig tree, we must respond to God's grace by bearing fruit.
Connected to the True Vine
The Source of Fruitfulness
Jesus declares in John 15:5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." Our fruitfulness depends entirely on our connection to Christ.
Not Optional
Fruitfulness is not a suggestion or an optional add-on to faith—it is the natural and expected outcome of a genuine relationship with Jesus. A branch connected to a healthy vine cannot help but produce fruit.
The Pruning Process
Jesus also speaks of the Father as the gardener who "cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." (John 15:2)
The Fruit of Repentance
Genuine Sorrow
True repentance begins with godly sorrow—not merely regret at being caught or fear of consequences, but grief over having offended God. As 2 Corinthians 7:10 states, "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret."
Turning Around
The Greek word for repentance, "metanoia," literally means a change of mind that results in a change of direction. It's not just feeling sorry but actively turning away from sin and toward God.
Visible Change
John the Baptist demanded, "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." (Matthew 3:8) Genuine repentance manifests in observable changes in attitudes, priorities, and behaviors—evidence that inner transformation is occurring.
The Fruit of the Spirit

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Love
Selfless concern for others that reflects God's love for us. This is the foundation of all other spiritual fruit.

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Joy & Peace
Inner contentment and tranquility that transcends circumstances, rooted in trust in God's sovereignty and goodness.

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Patience & Kindness
Forbearance with others and active goodwill, extending to others the same grace God has shown us.

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Faithfulness & Gentleness
Reliability in relationships and tender strength in interactions, reflecting God's consistent character.

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Self-Control
Mastery over impulses and desires, allowing the Spirit rather than the flesh to direct our choices.
The Fruit of Service
Motivation
Service flows from gratitude for God's grace, not from obligation or desire for recognition. Jesus taught that our good deeds should glorify our Father in heaven, not ourselves (Matthew 5:16).
Identification
Fruitful servants identify needs around them, seeing opportunities where others might see inconveniences. They ask, "Who is my neighbor?" and respond with compassion like the Good Samaritan.
Action
Faith without works is dead (James 2:17). Fruitful servants move beyond good intentions to tangible acts of service, using their gifts and resources to bless others in practical ways.
Perseverance
Service isn't a one-time event but a lifestyle. Galatians 6:9 encourages us, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
The Gardener's Grace
Jonah and Nineveh
When Nineveh repented in sackcloth and ashes, God relented from the disaster He had threatened. Even a city known for its wickedness found mercy when they turned back to God with sincere hearts.
The Prodigal Son
Jesus tells of a father who ran—against all dignity—to embrace his returning son. Before the son could even finish his rehearsed apology, the father was already planning the celebration of his return.
Peter's Restoration
After denying Jesus three times, Peter might have expected rejection. Instead, the risen Christ specifically sought him out, offering him three opportunities to affirm his love and commissioning him for leadership.
Abiding in Christ
The Myth of Self-Sufficiency
Bearing fruit is not about striving in our own strength—it is about abiding in Christ and allowing His grace to work in us. Jesus is clear: "Apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). Many believers exhaust themselves trying to produce fruit through sheer willpower rather than through intimate connection with Christ.
The Practice of Abiding
Abiding involves regular immersion in Scripture, persistent prayer, participation in worship, and fellowship with other believers. These spiritual disciplines aren't ends in themselves but channels through which Christ's life flows into ours.
The Promise of Fruitfulness
When we abide in Christ, fruitfulness is guaranteed—not because of our efforts but because of His life working through us. The pressure is off; we don't have to manufacture fruit. We simply need to stay connected to the source of life.
Our Response: Becoming Fruitful Servants

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Honest Self-Examination
Ask: "Am I bearing fruit worthy of repentance?"
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Sincere Repentance
Turn from what hinders growth
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Renewed Connection
Deepen your abiding in Christ
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Faithful Obedience
Respond to God's cultivation
The good news is this: God has not given up on you. The Gardener still intercedes. The soil is still being prepared. Will we repent of the things that hinder our fruitfulness? Will we seek the Lord while He may be found? Will we trust that God is faithful and always provides a way forward?
May we answer the call to be fruitful servants, walking in repentance, renewal, and the abundant grace of Christ. For the Gardener's desire is not to condemn but to cultivate—to see us flourish and bear fruit that will last.