This sermon uses the image of a tree that loses all its leaves in winter but still has life inside it to explain that God's true people will survive even the worst trials and failures because they have spiritual life within them. Spurgeon applies this to the Jewish nation (which has survived despite many destructions), to the church (which lives on even in dark times because of faithful believers who pray), and to individual Christians (who may lose their joy or even fall into serious sin but still have God's life in them). He warns that only true believers have this inner spiritual life that keeps them alive, while those without Christ are like dead trees that will eventually be destroyed, urging his listeners to make sure they truly have saving faith in Jesus.

A sermon delivered by Charles Spurgeon on March 8, 1857.