The Word about Gardening
Passage Mark 4:26-29. Lesson 1
1. Who is speaking and what are the circumstances?
2. “The kingdom of God is like….” Is this a place or a people?
3. Who is scattering seed? What is the seed being scattered?
In my little backyard garden, I have some control over what happens next. My water hose helps to make sure that the seeds get enough water. I can watch for signs of pests. A fence will keep varmints out. But this gardener doesn’t seem to be “working it”.
4. What is it that makes the seed sprout? (How does this relate to the kingdom of God?)
5. Compare the soil of this garden to our Ozark Hills ground. (You’ll have to point out the “good” by absence of the “bad”.)
6. What is significant about the 3 stages of the growth of the plant? Why wouldn’t it grow to maturity? And again, what is the spiritual meaning?
7. The harvest seems like the end, but in what ways does the plant continue to give life?
The Word about Gardening
Passage John 15:1-17 I am the Vine. Lesson2
Who is speaking and what are the circumstances?
What is Jesus’ role? What is God’s role? And what is our role in the passage? Give your thoughts about the relationship of these roles.
Clearly, the purpose of “the vine” is to bear fruit. From the complete passage, what is the fruit we are to bear?
Dead-heading just sounds so vicious. But popping off the flower after it has withered does help your plant produce more blossoms. So it’s in the best interest of the garden, for visual appeal.
What purpose(s) does cutting off unproductive branches serve? What happens to those branches?
Can you think of ways that God “prunes” us? Any experience you want to share?
What is the source of the fruit we bear? How many times is this repeated?
How does this make our joy complete?
How does verse 16 make you feel?
The Word about Gardening
Passage Galatians 5:16-26 The Fruits of the Spirit Lesson3
So, as Jesus instructed us in the last lesson, we must remain in Him in order to have life…Real Life. Our relationship with Him will be evident by the fruits we produce. This week, we’ll look at the Fruits of the Spirit and talk about what they mean for us today.
1. To whom is Paul speaking and what is the basic issue of this book?
2. Paul begins this section by saying, “live by the Spirit”. From your knowledge of the scripture, who can live by the Spirit? (OT examples, NT instruction…)
3. If we are led by the Spirit, then we are not bound by what?
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious, and easy to identify. Or are they? Hatred, selfish ambition, dissensions…sometimes we can disguise these things pretty well.
4. List the Fruits of the Spirit. Do you have them memorized? How could memorizing this list help you in your daily walk?
5. Which of the fruits do you have the biggest issue with? (It’s difficult, ridiculous, hard to see the usefulness, a real struggle?)
6. Put verse 24 in your own words:
7. What are some practical ways that we can “keep in step with the Spirit”?
The Word about Gardening
Passage: Titus 2 Fruits from a Different Angle Lesson4
With the passage from last week in mind, (Galatians 5:16-26), let’s look into Paul’s instruction for “teaching in accordance with sound doctrine”. Some of the familiar fruits of the Spirit are mentioned here, but there are practical applications and extensions in service as well.
1. Who is Paul instructing and what is the general purpose of the book?
2. What categories of people are instructed?
3. How does Paul describe these teachings? What phrase does he use?
4. What three reasons does Paul give for exhibiting the fruits of God’s Spirit? (vs 5, 8, 10)
5. Which teaching stands out to you?
6. From verse 12, what has the grace of God brought to us?
Consider this thought about doctrine: If the doctrine be not sound, vain is the profession of it, and vain its influence. It is good to be zealously affected in a good thing; but zeal for what is not of God will do no good to the souls of men, how sincere soever that zeal may be. Adam Clarke Commentary
Read Matt. 28:19-20. This is the command directly from Jesus…to the disciples…passed on by Paul…and also to us! So we need to be certain of what “sound doctrine” is! (Maybe that will be the summer study?!)
The Word about Gardening Lesson5
Passage: Romans 11 (especially verses 11-24) Wild Olives
Paul is writing to the Roman church. The overall theme of the book is Righteousness by Faith, a difficult thing for the early church to freely embrace. In this chapter, Paul describes us, the Gentile Believers, as Wild Olives.
1. What ulterior motive does Paul have for preaching to the Gentiles? (He mentions it twice!)
2. Why, do you think, Paul uses this illustration of grafting in? Can you give an example from “modern gardening” of grafting in?
3. Why were some of the original branches broken off? Does this action of God surprise you?
4. “The nourishing sap from the olive root” describes what in our lives?
5. The explanation of the grafting in and breaking off of the branches of the olive tree is a picture of how God views us and the Jews. List 3 lessons we can learn from this picture? (11:17-24)
1.
2.
3.
6. What are your thoughts about the kindness and sternness of God in the rest of this chapter?
7. This section ends with a doxology. Which verse speaks to you?
The Word about Gardening
Passage Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 Parable of the Weeds Lesson6
1. Who is Jesus speaking to and what are the circumstances?
2. “The kingdom of heaven is like….”why do you think Jesus starts many of the parables with this phrase? How does this relate to us, today?
3. When were the weeds sewn? When were they detected?
4. Can you think of times/ways that weeds are sewn in our (kids) lives? (Unnoticed until the weeds sprout.)
5. The man knows instantly that the enemy has done this. How can he know this so quickly?
6. Why doesn’t he want to pull the weeds out right away?
7. What are some of the hazards of growing side-by-side with the weeds?
8. What are some of the “tools” we use to combat the hazards?
9. What opportunity can you see in leaving the weeds to grow?
10. What is the hope we have in this story?
The Word about Gardening
Passage Genesis 2 & 3 The Garden of Eden
1. How is the earth described in verses 2:5-7?
2. What verb is used in verse 8 concerning God and the garden? Share your thoughts on this word choice.
3. How is the garden described in 2:9-14? List some of the contrasting points from question 1.
4. What reason does God have for putting Adam in the garden?
God forms the animals in an attempt to keep Adam from being alone, but to no avail. He decides to create a woman, from Adam, to be his suitable helper.
5. Do you have any questions in your mind, because I sure do? List some of the questions or problems you see so far with this story.
6. How does the serpent trick Eve? What is the root of the temptation?
7. What did God really say about the tree? (2:17) How does the “punishment” to both Adam & Eve reflect what God originally said?
8. What are the first fruits of sin, as recorded in Adams response to God?(3:10)
9. The consequences of sin change things. How do you see God’s provision, even in this turn of events? What lessons can we take from this today?
The Word about Gardening
Passage Isaiah 11:1-16 The Branch from Jesse Lesson8
As we saw in last week’s lesson, God made provision for Adam and Eve. This week’s passage gives insight to the key element of God’s plan for all man.
1. Why do you think this term is used; the stump of Jesse?
2. What are Jesse’s roots? (Challenge Question)
3. “The Spirit of the Lord” is described with what attributes? What spirit is this referring to?
4. Judgment is mentioned in 3-4. How is this judgment far superior to our own?
5. With what weapon will the Lord correct the earth?
6. Righteousness and faithfulness are described as articles of clothing. How are they described in the armor of God? (Eph 6:13-17)
7. Verses 6-9 give a picture of a place in perfect harmony. How is this different than the Garden of Eden? (clue: vs9)
8. “In that day…” what day is he talking about? And why do you think that?
