Using agriculture as a metaphor for spiritual growth, this sermon focuses on the importance of cultivating a "root system" by keeping our hearts. Just as trees need roots to bear fruit, we must tend to our inner life to produce lasting spiritual fruit. We often prioritize the external—our "branches" of doing and achieving—while neglecting the hidden life of the heart.

Scripture References

• Genesis 2:4-9: God plants a garden and forms man from the dust (humus), reminding us of our humble origins.
• John 15:1-8: Jesus is the vine; we are the branches. The command is to "remain" or "abide," focusing on the connection (root) rather than striving for fruit.
• Mark 7:14-23: Jesus teaches that defilement comes from within the heart, not from outside circumstances.
• Proverbs 4:23: "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."
• 1 Samuel 16:7: "Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."
• Ezekiel 36:26-27: The New Covenant promise: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you."

Key Points

1. Prioritize the Root Over the Fruit At the start of a new year, we naturally focus on external results (fruit). However, Jesus consistently points us to the unseen, hidden life (root). If we focus on remaining in Him, the fruit will take care of itself. We must resist the pressure to let our public persona outgrow our private character.
2. Keep Your Heart with All Vigilance The heart is not just emotions; it is the center of our being—mind, will, and desires. Like a musical instrument, it naturally goes out of tune and must be constantly tended. Proverbs 4:23 commands us to guard it above all else because everything in life flows from it. While the world (bosses, teachers, etc.) may only care about our production, God cares deeply about the condition of our hearts.
3. Stop Blaming and Start Investigating We often blame external circumstances or people for our reactions ("Look what you made me do"). But Jesus teaches that what comes out of us (anger, lust, pride) reveals what was already in us. Instead of blaming others for shaking the bottle, we should investigate what's inside.

Conclusion

Spiritual growth isn't just behavior modification; it's heart transformation. We cannot change our own hearts, but God can. The promise of the New Covenant is that God will remove our heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh. Our job is to tend the soil, stay connected to the Vine, and let His grace do the deep work of change.

Calls to Action

1. Invest in Your Marriage: Sign up for the marriage workshop on January 31st to intentionally shape your relationship.
2. Tend to Your Heart: Don't neglect your inner life for the sake of outer performance. Take time to stop and ask, "How is my heart doing?"
3. Journal Your Emotions: Use the simple exercise of writing down what you are Mad, Sad, Afraid, and Excited about to uncover what is truly going on inside you.
4. Stop Blaming: When negative reactions spill out, resist the urge to blame others. Ask God to show you the root of that reaction in your own heart.

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