Day 29

29 - The Disciple-Makers Challenge: Bear Much Fruit 

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:8

Have you ever counted the number of seeds in an apple? Give it a try. I just cut one open and found seven. What would happen if I took just one of those seeds and planted it? Would it produce an apple? No. It would produce an apple tree... with hundreds of apples. And if I were to then cut each of those apples open, we would presumably find about seven seeds in each one. Each of those apples have the potential to reproduce seven trees with hundreds more apples with seven seeds. Given time, I could cover the planet with apples!

The DNA of each seed contains the potential to multiply itself and bear much fruit. But what about the DNA of a disciple of Jesus Christ?

Read John 15:8.

• How does Jesus say we will we show ourselves to be His disciples? How do you think we “bear much fruit” spiritually? 

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Read Matthew 3:8, Matthew 7:16-20, Philippians 1:11, Colossians 1:10.

• What kind of fruit is the Bible speaking about here? 

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Read Matthew 3:8, Matthew 7:16-20, Philippians 1:11, Colossians 1:10.

• What kind of fruit is the Bible speaking about here? 

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Read Galatians 5:22-23.

• What kind of fruit is the Bible speaking about here?  

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Read Colossians 1:6.

• What kind of fruit is the Bible speaking about here? 

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The Bible speaks about bearing spiritual fruit in three ways. We bear fruit spiritually as we obey God, producing acts of righteousness. In doing so, our behavior matches our new identity as a Christ follower. We also bear fruit spiritually as our character reflects the character of Christ. This is called the fruit of the Spirit. Finally, we bear fruit spiritually as we share the Gospel with those who are spiritually lost and see them put their faith in Christ alone for salvation. This is the abundant spiritual harvest that Jesus speaks of in Matthew 9:35-38.

Bearing much fruit involves all three. We bear fruit as we share the Gospel with those who are spiritually lost. After they have put their faith in Christ, we model what it means to follow Christ, and as they follow our lead, they bear the fruit of righteousness in keeping with repentance. As these new believers learn from us concerning how-to live-in dependence upon and walk in step with the Holy Spirit, their lives will begin to produce the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.

Disciples make disciples. That’s what they do! In Luke 6:40, Jesus tells us, “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.” Jesus uses the words ‘student’ and ‘disciple’ interchangeably. Here He makes it clear. The fully trained student will BE LIKE the one discipling them. Their life will reflect the character and priorities (the fruit) of the one training them. Since their teacher discipled them, if they are to be like their teacher, they must then reproduce spiritually by discipling others.

One apple. Seven seeds. Seven trees full of apples with seven more seeds. Through multiplying apple trees, we can cover the planet with apples. The Great Commission, Matthew 28:18-20, gives us Jesus’ mandate to cover the planet with disciples. Jesus has a clear strategy.

Read Acts 1:8.

• What is Jesus’ strategy for covering the planet with His disciples?

• Would you currently describe your spiritual fruit-bearing stage as an apple (Chair 2- developing your own spiritual fruit), an apple seed (Chair 3- planting the Gospel message with those who are spiritually lost), or an apple tree (Chair 4- multiplying disciples who make disciples)? 

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Apart From Him…

• Ask the Father to help you bring Him glory and show yourself to be His Son’s disciple by bearing much fruit. Ask for His help in bearing fruit in every way- the fruit of righteousness, the fruit of the Spirit and the fruit of the Gospel. 

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Walking As Jesus…

• Take an honest inventory of your own spiritual fruit. How does your character reflect the fruit of the Spirit? In what ways are you producing fruits of righteousness in your actions toward God and others? Who have you spiritually invested in that is now investing in others? 

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• My Personal Disciple-Making Plan: