From the series 'Fruitful Disciples' - Be Fruitful & Multiply

Perhaps the key quality of fruitfulness is multiplication. It is the nature of fruit to carry within it the seeds of reproduction, and Jesus expected that his followers would carry the message to others to believe in him, and prayed for their protection, joy, love, glory and unity as he sent them out to do so. Wherever it goes, the gospel bears the fruit of hope, faith and love, do we have this confidence in the Gospel?

Paul Rogers 16.07.23

From the series 'Fruitful Disciples' - Growing Pains & Gains.

In John 15:1-17, Jesus uses an extended metaphor to give profound teaching about discipleship. The only way to bear fruit is to remain in him and in his love, to let his words remain in us and obey his commands, and to allow the Father to prune anything out which would weaken our ability to be abundantly fruitful- not necessarily bad things. These things (loving connection, obedience and pruning) are easy to say and know intellectually, but some of the hardest to put into practice. 

Erica Richmond 09.07.23

From the series 'Fruitful Disciples' - The Fruitfulness of Christ

We are the fruit of Jesus’ life and sacrifice, and just as a seed reproduces the same kind of plant, so it is now Christ who lives in us. Our lifelong task is to live by the Spirit, not the flesh, so that we become increasingly like him, bearing fruit for God. This kind of fruitfulness is about the life of Christ flourishing in us. 

Karen Swaffield 02/07/23

From the series 'Fruitful Disciples' - Good Soil

In the Parable of the Soils (Mark 4:1-20), Jesus says it is the quality of the soil which determines the fruitfulness of the crop. How did Jesus ensure that his own life was good soil for a fruitful ministry? The key is in his baptism and temptation (Matthew 3:13-4:11): before he uttered a word of public preaching, Jesus was secure in his identity as God’s beloved Son, received the Spirit, and dealt with potential temptation and bad motivations before they could trip him up. He then continued to protect these things in his life. When we pay attention to these foundational things, we will be well-prepared, rich soil, not rocky, stony or thorny.

Paul Rogers 25.06.23

From the series 'Fruitful Disciples' - Are we Willing? (Matthew 14:22-33)

To be fruitful disciples, first we need to ask ourselves we willing to pursue Jesus in our own discipleship? Using the story of Peter walking on water, are we willing to get out of the boat!?

Chris Burgess 18.06.23

From the series 'Fruitful Disciples' - Designed for Fruitfulness 

From Genesis 1 onwards, we see God’s intentions to bless the earth with fruitfulness, flourishing and abundance. Land that is fruitful nourishes life and enables it to multiply. Israel failed at various times to be fruitful, because of their idolatry (Hosea 14:4-8) and, later, their rejection of Jesus (Matt 3:7-11).

Jesus taught that the fruit we bear reveals what is within (Luke 6:43-45), and that God has given his people the job of producing and gathering fruit (Matt 21:33-44) for Him. If bearing fruit shows that we are his disciples, what does it mean to produce and gather fruit? It is a life that matches the reality of being a new creation and pleases God, and which reproduces itself

Erica Richmond 11.06.23