October 17, 2025 -Figs, Mustard and Dough

LUKE 12:35-13:21

JOHN 9:1-41

Chronological Bible Readings

Luke13:6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

We don't have to try to do it alone. God has placed people over the vineyard to help us to mature in our faith. I see the man who took care of the vineyard as pastors, elders, and other teachers in the church. The fig tree are those who say they are Christian but are not maturing and producing fruit. It is the leaders of the church responsibility to recognize their fruitlessness and to care for them. Dig out the soil that is not nourishing them spiritually. Lovingly and gently, being careful to not damage what roots they may have, work to help them remove things that might be holding them back from spiritual growth. Then replace that dirt with good fertilized soil that will feed them with the truth of God's word. If those who are being held responsible to care for the vineyard are not willing to cultivate a good growth environment then we are neglecting our duties. Every tree and every person is different. There are some who need very little cultivating to be fruitful and others in the same place need more. Some survive and even thrive in acidic soil and other need alkaline. But they all need the food of truth and relationship.

Luke 13:18 Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”

20 Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? 21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

The mustard seed doesn't grow without proper light, water and food. The yeast doesn't get into all the dough without it being worked in with kneading, folding and punching of the dough. Nothing grows on it's own. Our faith and our relationship with Jesus also doesn't just grow on its own. We need to seek out spiritual sunlight, water and food so that our faith might grow like the mustard seed. We must work out our faith with action and endure difficulties that might produce an abundant amount of bread as it works through our life like yeast in dough. And we need to cultivate the soil that we are planted in that we might produce fruit abundantly.

What do you need for your tree to be more fruitful?