Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: successful, effectual, efficacious, productive, constructive, fruitful, functional, potent, powerful, convincing, compelling, strong, forceful, forcible, weighty, plausible, sound, valid, well founded, telling, operative, in force, in effect, in operation, official, signed and sealed, virtual, practical, essential, actual, implied, implicit, unacknowledged, tacit

Antonyms: ineffective, weak, invalid, theoretical, ineffectual, useless, inefficient, worthless, unproductive, futile, unsuccessful, fruitless, impotent, inadequate, incompetent, abortive, vain, powerless, pointless, inept, unavailing, inefficacious, unable, incapable

Showing 1 to 50 of 122 results

1. Faithful Fruit

Gal 5:22-23

Illustration

Charles Ryrie

... Every Christian will bear spiritual fruit. Somewhere, sometime, somehow. Otherwise that ... individual will be fruitful. Not to be fruitful is to be ... a believer will always be fruitful. Certainly we can admit ... Peter exhort believers to be fruitful shows that believers are ... not always fruitful. TWO, this does not mean ... that a certain person's fruit will necessarily be outwardly ... because I have not seen fruit. His fruit may be very private ... Nevertheless, every Christian will bear fruit; otherwise he or she ...

2. Don't Eat the Forbidden Fruit

Genesis 3:1-24

Illustration

Morgan Murray

... the forbidden fruit." God said. "Forbidden fruit? We got forbidden fruit? Hey Eve ... ! We got forbidden fruit!" "No ... way!" "DON'T EAT THAT FRUIT!" Said God. "Why?" "Because I ... you not to eat the fruit?" the First Parent asked. "Uh ...

3. They Call Him Fruit Stand

Illustration

Staff

... the kindergarten teachers first met Fruit Stand. Every fall, according to ... bus. So it was for Fruit Stand. The teachers thought the ... to play with the blocks, Fruit Stand?" they offered. And later ... , "Fruit Stand, how about a snack?" ... children out to the buses. "Fruit Stand, do you know which ...

4. Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-26

Illustration

John R. Steward

... the introduction to his book Fruits of the Spirit, Charles Hembree ... in Galatians which describes the fruit of the Spirit. Perhaps we ... should also call these fruits the jewels of the Spirit ... . Adapted from Charles Hembree, Fruits of the Spirit (Grand Rapids ...

5. Good Fruit

Illustration

Michael P. Green

One year the peaches were especially abundant. The fruit was big and juicy, and it was one of the best crops in memory. While harvesting the crop, a picker noticed a limb that had fallen from a tree. Its fruit was rotten and shriveled. Because the limb was detached from the tree, it was no longer producing the good fruit that it should. The same is true of the Christian who ceases to abide in Christ—he ceases to produce good fruit.

6. Anyone Can Have a Fruitful Ministry

John 15:1-8

Illustration

Our Daily Bread

... , who later became a remarkably fruitful missionary to India. Carey's ... glorified, that you bear much fruit." This could be discouraging to ... in a situation that makes fruitful service impossible. If that's ...

7. Pick the Fruit

Luke 9:57-62

Illustration

King Duncan

... as a boy and whose fruit he had eaten all his ... 'm going to pick the fruit and burn what's left ...

8. The First Fruits of the Spirit

2 Peter 1:1-11

Illustration

Jane Shepherd

Do we have the first fruits of the Spirit? Can someone ...

9. Juicy Spiritual Fruit

Matthew 3:1-12

Illustration

Scott Hoezee

... living trees producing juicy spiritual fruit. If I were you, I ...

10. Out Where the Fruit Is

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

The story is told of Will Rogers who came to his friend Eddie Cantor for advice. Will wanted to make some important changes in his act, but was worried about the danger of such changes. He wasn't sure whether they would work. Eddie Cantor's response was, "Why not go out on a limb? That's where the fruit is!"

11. Fruit of the Spirit: On the Fifth Day

Illustration

At the Sudan Interior Mission Kijabe Medical Center, SIM medical missionaries Bob and Marion Bowers once treated a young man with a paralyzing snake bite and saw him live long enough to accept Christ as his Savior. In many Third World countries, snake bites are common and fatal. For four days, the young man remained unconscious. Under normal circumstances he would have died the day of the snake bite. But on the fifth day he miraculously woke up. That afternoon a group of students from Moffat Bible College ...

12. The Positive Fruit of Tension

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

Theodore E. Steinway, president of Steinway and Sons, once noted, "In one of our concert grand pianos, 243 taut strings exert a pull of 40,000 pounds on an iron frame. It is proof that out of great tension may come great harmony."

13. Fruit of the Spirit

Illustration

Donald Grey Barnhouse

Love is the key. Joy is love singing. Peace is love resting. Long-suffering is love enduring. Kindness is love's touch. Goodness is love's character. Faithfulness is love's habit. Gentleness is love's self-forgetfulness. Self-control is love holding the reins.

14. First Fruits Tithing

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

There was a knock on the door of the hut occupied by a missionary in Africa. Answering, the missionary found one of the native boys holding a large fish in his hands. The boy said, "Reverend, you taught us what tithing is, so here—I've brought you my tithe." As the missionary gratefully took the fish, he questioned the young lad. "If this is your tithe, where are the other nine fish?" At this, the boy beamed and said, "Oh, they're still back in the river. I'm going back to catch them now."

15. Taste and See

Luke 24:36-49

Illustration

Brett Blair

... made her living selling artificial fruit. One day a customer complained ... the fruit she sold was not realistic ... . At that point the artificial fruit lady picked up the apple ... in actuality it is artificial fruit, they conclude. But if you ...

16. Illustrations on the Trinity

John 16:12-15; Mt 28:19

Illustration

Brett Blair

... root, the trunk and the fruit. The root is like God ... and tangible, the branches and fruit is like the Holy Spirit ... of the Spirit we bear fruit in the world. Or look ...

17. The Holy Grail

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-46

Illustration

J. Howard Olds

... , with deep meadows and wonderful fruit trees. But even as he ... ate the fruit, it turned to dust, for ...

18. Hope

1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Luke 4:14-21

Illustration

... old story of the forbidden fruit. Told that she could not ...

19. An Inventory of Blessings

Luke 17:11-19

Illustration

... there's plenty of fresh fruit and water on the island ...

20. Service Keeps Us Alive

Mark 10:35-45

Illustration

... saved. Our lives are not fruitful without service to one another ...

21. The Bristlecone Pine

Matt 10:40-42; Heb 12:11

Illustration

Carlyle Fielding Stewart (adapted)

... that chastening produces "the peaceable fruit of righteousness" (KJV). For those ...

22. Oranges In Your Pocket

Illustration

... one of the pieces of fruit. "You seem to be enjoying ...

23. I Saw the Face of God

Matthew 25:31-46

Illustration

Johnny Dean

... a couple of pieces of fruit. Slowly but surely, she was ...

24. Why Do We Try to Know It All?

John 1:1-18

Illustration

Kenneth W. Collins

... , I cannot eat all the fruits, would you wish that I ...

25. Sending It on Ahead

Matthew 6:19-20

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

... , his farmers to work transplanting fruit trees to the island, farmers ...

26. One Pastor's Answer to What He Does

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

... in Christ and bear abundant fruits of the Spirit. He is ...

27. Taking Grace Seriously

Ephesian 1:18-20

Illustration

John R. Steward

... the king a piece of fruit which the king would receive ... man presented his gift of fruit to the king, the monkey ... the stage and grabbed the fruit out of the hand of ... a bite out of the fruit and all were amazed at ... jewels fell out of the fruit. The king quickly turned and ... had been doing with the fruit. The assistant said that they ... had been throwing the fruit through the window of a ... among the rotten and decaying fruit a fortune in jewels. We ...

28. I Am the True Vine - Sermon Starter

John 15:1-17

Illustration

Brett Blair

... it is a very delicate fruit and requires being treated with ... is not permitted to bear fruit for the first three years ... branches that do not bear fruit are cut out to further ... to a vine, while the fruit bearing branches here are the ... and die and bear no fruit. They then will have to ... , it means we must bear fruit for the Kingdom of God ...

29. Top Ten Things I Have Learned from Gardening

Matt 13:1-43

Illustration

Allen R. Rumble

... sow". Good seeds bear good fruit.9. Without rains and storms ... there is no growth - no fruit is produced. 8. When weeding ... cannot rush the harvest. Bearing fruit takes time and patience. Premature ... fruit is almost always sour. 2. ...

30. Blossoms and Bitterness

Illustration

Misty Mowrey

... tree was full of green fruit the size of large nuts ... blows them away, and its fruit is terrible and bitter. When ... will never bear the better fruit of joy. Could it be ... forget some of the best fruit ripens late?

31. Care of Vines

John 15:1-8

Illustration

Michael P. Green

... would produce little or no fruit and would produce mainly leaves ... sucker shoots to ensure plentiful fruit. Since the shoots grow right ... that is beginning to bear fruit, beginning to produce the likeness ... that we may bear more fruit.

32. Parable of the Talents Retold

Matthew 25:14-30

Illustration

Unknown

... had a talent for growing fruit. The second for raising sheep ... down some of his beloved fruit trees for firewood? When he ... cut down some of the fruit trees for firewood." And the ...

33. When a Grain of Wheat Falls - Sermon Starter

John 12:20-36

Illustration

Brett Blair

... it dies it bears much fruit. Jesus then explained what he ... wheat falls it bears much fruit. Finally, Christ is the grain ... that dies and bears much fruit.

34. The Theft Itself

Illustration

Saint Augustine

... pear tree, loaded with fruit, though the fruit was not particularly attractive ... hour) and stole all the fruit that we could carry. And ...

35. The Importance of Rooftops in Jesus' Day

Matthew 10:1-42

Illustration

Rooftops were places of great activity in Bible times. The high, open, flat surfaces were perfect for winnowing chaff from grain, drying fruit, storing grain, nuts, and fruit, and sun-bleaching laundry. Rooftops were also household gathering places because so much work was done there, and they were sleeping places on the hot nights of summer. But rooftops, because of their height, their openness, and frequent assemblies of people, rooftops were great places from which to shout the news.

36. In Communion with Christ

John 15:1-8

Illustration

James Merritt

... I in him, bears much fruit." Now that is communion. Union ... , so that you become a fruit-bearing branch.

37. Why Bother?

Mark 10:46-52

Illustration

... , and today he lives a fruitful and productive life. No matter ...

38. A Man of One Book

Illustration

Michael B. Brown

... to say, "We cannot have fruits without roots!"5 The Christian ...

39. Storing What We Do Not Need

Luke 12:13-21

Illustration

Staff

... generously blessed his land with fruitfulness. Fortune has smiled on him ...

40. Simple Caring

Matthew 10:40-42

Illustration

Gene Blair

... children had contributed extra sandwiches, fruit, desserts, and drinks until the ...

41. Understanding Life

Matthew 13:1-23

Illustration

Brett Blair

... the kingdom grows and produces fruit; they are good soil. There ...

42. The New Narnia

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

Illustration

C. S. Lewis

... to tell you how the fruits of that country taste. Perhaps ...

43. Fear - Sermon Starter

Matthew 14:22-36

Illustration

Brett Blair

... had partaken of the forbidden fruit, something which had been specifically ...

44. Refusing to Share

Matthew 21:33-46

Illustration

Keith Wagner

... servants were to reap the fruits of the vineyard for the ...

45. Bread Is Wondrous

John 6:24-35

Illustration

Ladislas M. Orsy wrote: "There is something wondrous in the taste of bread. It is so ordinary yet it is so good. It is very democratic. It nourishes the poor and the rich. It goes well with meat or fish, with fruit or cheese. It may return three times a day to the table; it may even stay there all day long. Yet it never outstays its welcome." Jesus Christ said, "I myself am the bread of life. No one who comes to me shall ever be hungry; no one who believes in me shall ever thirst."

46. I Think of Maria Often

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Illustration

... came anyway, bringing the Wiesels fruits, vegetables, and cheese. One day ...

47. Eager for the Journey - Sermon Starter

Luke 5:1-11

Illustration

Brett Blair

... behold. Sandy white beaches, juicy fruits, foreign peoples, priceless treasures, and ...

48. Yes, But How?

Luke 13:1-9

Illustration

Lee Griess

... to repent and bear good fruit. We know what the Christian ...

49. God in Our Gratitude

Luke 12:13-21

Illustration

Carveth Mitchell

... it. God was in his fruits, God was in his fields ...

50. I Shall Not Rush

Matt. 24:36-44; Luke 2:1-20; Psalm 23

Illustration

Kathryn Spink

... and effectiveness shall be the fruits of my hours for I ...

Showing results

Showing 1 to 50 of 122 results

1. Faithful Fruit

Gal 5:22-23

Illustration

Charles Ryrie

2. Don't Eat the Forbidden Fruit

Genesis 3:1-24

Illustration

Morgan Murray

3. They Call Him Fruit Stand

Illustration

Staff

4. Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-26

Illustration

John R. Steward

5. Good Fruit

Illustration

Michael P. Green

6. Anyone Can Have a Fruitful Ministry

John 15:1-8

Illustration

Our Daily Bread

7. Pick the Fruit

Luke 9:57-62

Illustration

King Duncan

... as a boy and whose fruit he had eaten all his ... 'm going to pick the fruit and burn what's left ...

8. The First Fruits of the Spirit

2 Peter 1:1-11

Illustration

Jane Shepherd

Do we have the first fruits of the Spirit? Can someone ...

9. Juicy Spiritual Fruit

Matthew 3:1-12

Illustration

Scott Hoezee

... living trees producing juicy spiritual fruit. If I were you, I ...

10. Out Where the Fruit Is

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

11. Fruit of the Spirit: On the Fifth Day

Illustration

12. The Positive Fruit of Tension

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

13. Fruit of the Spirit

Illustration

Donald Grey Barnhouse

14. First Fruits Tithing

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

15. Taste and See

Luke 24:36-49

Illustration

Brett Blair

16. Illustrations on the Trinity

John 16:12-15; Mt 28:19

Illustration

Brett Blair

... root, the trunk and the fruit. The root is like God ... and tangible, the branches and fruit is like the Holy Spirit ... of the Spirit we bear fruit in the world. Or look ...

17. The Holy Grail

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-46

Illustration

J. Howard Olds

... , with deep meadows and wonderful fruit trees. But even as he ... ate the fruit, it turned to dust, for ...

18. Hope

1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Luke 4:14-21

Illustration

... old story of the forbidden fruit. Told that she could not ...

19. An Inventory of Blessings

Luke 17:11-19

Illustration

... there's plenty of fresh fruit and water on the island ...

20. Service Keeps Us Alive

Mark 10:35-45

Illustration

... saved. Our lives are not fruitful without service to one another ...

21. The Bristlecone Pine

Matt 10:40-42; Heb 12:11

Illustration

Carlyle Fielding Stewart (adapted)

... that chastening produces "the peaceable fruit of righteousness" (KJV). For those ...

22. Oranges In Your Pocket

Illustration

... one of the pieces of fruit. "You seem to be enjoying ...

23. I Saw the Face of God

Matthew 25:31-46

Illustration

Johnny Dean

... a couple of pieces of fruit. Slowly but surely, she was ...

24. Why Do We Try to Know It All?

John 1:1-18

Illustration

Kenneth W. Collins

... , I cannot eat all the fruits, would you wish that I ...

25. Sending It on Ahead

Matthew 6:19-20

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

... , his farmers to work transplanting fruit trees to the island, farmers ...

26. One Pastor's Answer to What He Does

Illustration

Editor James S. Hewett

... in Christ and bear abundant fruits of the Spirit. He is ...

27. Taking Grace Seriously

Ephesian 1:18-20

Illustration

John R. Steward

28. I Am the True Vine - Sermon Starter

John 15:1-17

Illustration

Brett Blair

29. Top Ten Things I Have Learned from Gardening

Matt 13:1-43

Illustration

Allen R. Rumble

30. Blossoms and Bitterness

Illustration

Misty Mowrey

31. Care of Vines

John 15:1-8

Illustration

Michael P. Green

32. Parable of the Talents Retold

Matthew 25:14-30

Illustration

Unknown

33. When a Grain of Wheat Falls - Sermon Starter

John 12:20-36

Illustration

Brett Blair

... it dies it bears much fruit. Jesus then explained what he ... wheat falls it bears much fruit. Finally, Christ is the grain ... that dies and bears much fruit.

34. The Theft Itself

Illustration

Saint Augustine

... pear tree, loaded with fruit, though the fruit was not particularly attractive ... hour) and stole all the fruit that we could carry. And ...

35. The Importance of Rooftops in Jesus' Day

Matthew 10:1-42

Illustration

36. In Communion with Christ

John 15:1-8

Illustration

James Merritt

... I in him, bears much fruit." Now that is communion. Union ... , so that you become a fruit-bearing branch.

37. Why Bother?

Mark 10:46-52

Illustration

... , and today he lives a fruitful and productive life. No matter ...

38. A Man of One Book

Illustration

Michael B. Brown

... to say, "We cannot have fruits without roots!"5 The Christian ...

39. Storing What We Do Not Need

Luke 12:13-21

Illustration

Staff

... generously blessed his land with fruitfulness. Fortune has smiled on him ...

40. Simple Caring

Matthew 10:40-42

Illustration

Gene Blair

... children had contributed extra sandwiches, fruit, desserts, and drinks until the ...

41. Understanding Life

Matthew 13:1-23

Illustration

Brett Blair

... the kingdom grows and produces fruit; they are good soil. There ...

42. The New Narnia

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

Illustration

C. S. Lewis

... to tell you how the fruits of that country taste. Perhaps ...

43. Fear - Sermon Starter

Matthew 14:22-36

Illustration

Brett Blair

... had partaken of the forbidden fruit, something which had been specifically ...

44. Refusing to Share

Matthew 21:33-46

Illustration

Keith Wagner

... servants were to reap the fruits of the vineyard for the ...

45. Bread Is Wondrous

John 6:24-35

Illustration

46. I Think of Maria Often

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Illustration

... came anyway, bringing the Wiesels fruits, vegetables, and cheese. One day ...

47. Eager for the Journey - Sermon Starter

Luke 5:1-11

Illustration

Brett Blair

... behold. Sandy white beaches, juicy fruits, foreign peoples, priceless treasures, and ...

48. Yes, But How?

Luke 13:1-9

Illustration

Lee Griess

... to repent and bear good fruit. We know what the Christian ...

49. God in Our Gratitude

Luke 12:13-21

Illustration

Carveth Mitchell

... it. God was in his fruits, God was in his fields ...

50. I Shall Not Rush

Matt. 24:36-44; Luke 2:1-20; Psalm 23

Illustration

Kathryn Spink

... and effectiveness shall be the fruits of my hours for I ...

Showing results