Sermon Text: Luke 13:1-9 (EHV)
At that time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 He answered them, “Do you think that these
Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered these things? 3 I tell you, no. But unless you repent, you will all perish too. 4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse sinners than all the people living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no. But unless you repent, you will all perish too.”
6 He told them this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it, but he did not find any. 7 So he said to the gardener, ‘Look, for three years now I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and I have found none. Cut it down. Why even let it use up the soil?’ 8 But the gardener replied to him, ‘Sir, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put fertilizer on it. 9 If it produces fruit next year, fine. But if not, then cut it down.’”
Sermon Theme: Jesus Calls Us to “Repent!”
1. Listen
– When we see natural disasters, war, and tragedy in our world, is God sending us a “message?” If so, what is that message? (v. 5)
– “Repent / Repentance” means: ________________________________________________.
2. Bear Fruit
– What do the various “characters” in Jesus’ parable represent? (v. 6-9)
The owner of the vineyard, The gardener, The vineyard, The fig tree
– What lesson(s) can we learn from Jesus’ parable of the fig tree?
– What comfort can we gain from this parable?