Fruit of the Spirit

Lesson Theme: The Object Lesson of the Cursed Fig Tree

I’ll admit, when I first read this story, I was pretty quick to take up an offense for the poor fig tree. It’s not the tree’s fault that it is not in season. What do you expect?!? This tree is completely innocent in this crime!

Is Christ being an unrighteous judge, perhaps influenced by His hunger?

When we ask ourselves the following questions, this story goes from odd to downright perplexing!

Q1: Is this fig tree bearing fruit?

Q2: WHY isn’t it bearing fruit?

Q3: Is it the tree’s fault that it is not in season?

Ultimately, WHO set up the seasons? Who should have known better than to expect an out-of-season fig tree to be abundantly stocked with figs? Was someone supposed to be taping them up there for just such an occasion?!

WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?

Obviously, if our Saviour can fast for 40 days in the wilderness, disappointed hunger certainly isn’t the motivator here. But rather, could it be possible that this tree’s purpose isn’t to bear fruit, but rather to be an object lesson?

Note: No PowerPoint lesson today. Let’s just use our Bibles and make some notes in the margins.

The Failing Fig Tree – Lesson

“And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.”

— Jonah 4:9

Lesson Theme: Isn’t Niceness a fruit of the Spirit?

“Before you speak, make sure your words will improve upon silence.” I heard this quote this week, and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. It reminded me of the old adage, ‘If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything.’

But aren’t there times when hard things must be said? My generation is one filled with people who avoid talking about uncomfortable and hard topics because it’s hard to keep a civil tongue in our mouths. However, instead of learning to avoid hard conversations, wouldn’t it have been better to teach how to HAVE hard conversations?

In this lesson, let’s take a look at the modern substitute for Patience, Longsuffering, Charity, and Humility… it’s a fact-free, fluff-filled substitute called ‘Niceness.’

Oddly enough, in spite of its universal acceptance and adoptance, it is completely contrary to every fruit of the Spirit and Christian Virtue. Don’t believe me? Check it out!

The Spirit of Niceness – PowerPoint

The Spirit of Niceness – Lesson

The Spirit of Niceness – Video 1

The Spirit of Niceness – Video 2

“But though we, or an angel form heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

— Galatians 1:8