November 9, 2025 – A Study of Matthew – Being Fruitful

Being Fruitful

Genesis 1:26-31 – New International Version (NIV)

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

²⁷ So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

²⁸ God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

²⁹ Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. ³⁰ And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

³¹ God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Who was mankind made in the image of (verse 26)?

How was mankind created (verse 27)?

What did God tell them to do (verse 28)?

What did mankind have for food (verse 29)?

What did “everything that has the breath of life in it” have for food (verse 30)?

What did God see about “all that he had made” (verse 31)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about being fruitful?

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. ² Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. ³ Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁴ As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. ⁵ Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. ⁹ Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

¹⁸ “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰ The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. ²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. ²³ But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Where did Jesus go and sit (verse 1)?

Why did He move to sitting in a boat (verse 2)?

What did the farmer in the parable go out to do (verse 3)?

What happened to the seed sown “along the path” (verse 4)?

Why did the seed that fell in the rocky places spring “up quickly” (verse 5)?

Why did those plants wither quickly “when the sun come up” (verse 6)?

What happened to the seed that fell among the thorns (verse 7)?

Where did the seed that “produced a crop” fall (verse 8)?

Who is to “hear” (verse 9)?

What happens to the word for those who hear the message and don’t understand it (verse 19)?

How do those who are like the rocky ground receive the word (verse 20)?

When do they fall away (verse 21)?

What chokes the word and makes it unfruitful (verse 22)?

Who are those who are represented by the seed falling on good soil (verse 23)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about being fruitful?

In your opinion, how does the instruction of God to mankind in Genesis 1:26-31 apply to those who receive God’s word in Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23?

Romans 12:3-8 - New International Version (NIV)

³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

With what kind of judgment should each Christian think of themselves (verse 3)?

What has God distributed to each Christian (verse 3)?

What don’t all members of the body have (verse 4)?

Who does each member of the body of Christ belong to (verse 5)?

What do we have different kinds of (verse 6)?

In your opinion, what should we do with our gifts (verses 6 through 8)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about being fruitful?

In your opinion, how does the instruction of God to “be fruitful and increase in number” in Genesis 1:26-31 apply to Christians who have received the gifts in Romans 12:3-8?

In your opinion, what does Romans 12:3-8 help us understand about how Christians can produce a crop as encouraged in Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23?

1 Corinthians 3:5-15 - New International Version (NIV)

⁵ What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. ⁶ I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. ⁷ So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. ⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. ⁹ For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

¹⁰ By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

What has the Lord “assigned to each” (verse 5)?

Who made the seed grow (verse 6)?

Who “is anything” (verse 7)?

How will Christians “be rewarded” (verse 8)?

What are Christians (verse 9)?

How should each one build (verse 10)?

What is the foundation that has been laid (verse 11)?

When will people’s work “be shown for what it is” (verses 12 and 13)?

When will the builder “receive a reward” (verse 14)?

What will happen to the builder if their work is “burned up” (verse 15)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about being fruitful?

In your opinion, how is the task assigned in 1 Corinthians 3:5-15 like the instructions given to mankind in Genesis 1:26-31?

In your opinion, what does 1 Corinthians 3:5-15 help us understand about those who Jesus says in Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 hear and understand “the word”?

In your opinion, how does 1 Corinthians 3:5-15 help us understand how the different gifts listed in Romans 12:3-8 work together to produce results?

In your opinion, what do these Scriptures from Genesis, Matthew, Romans and 1 Corinthians teach us about the source of all Christian growth?

In your opinion, what are the ways we can be fruitful today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

September 13, 2015 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – Service and Love

Matthew 28:18-20 – New International Version (NIV) – The Great Commission

¹⁸ “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Service and Love

Matthew 25:14-30 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. ¹⁵ To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. ¹⁶ The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. ¹⁷ So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. ¹⁸ But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

¹⁹ “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

²¹ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

²² “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

²³ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

²⁴ “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵ So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

²⁶ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? ²⁷ Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

²⁸ “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. ²⁹ For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. ³⁰ And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

In your opinion, what will be like “a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them” (verse 14)?

How did the man decide how many bags to give to each servant (verse 15)?

What did the man with five bags and the man with two bags do (verses 16 and 17)?

What did the man who received one bag do (verse 18)?

When did the master of the servants return (verse 19)?

What did the man who received five bags of gold report (verse 20)?

In your opinion, why was the servant invited to “come and share your master’s happiness” (verse 21)?

What did the man who was entrusted with two bags report (verse 22)?

In your opinion, why was the response of the master the same, even though the amounts they gained were different (verse 23)?

How does the third man describe the master (verse 24)?

Why did the man hide the money in the ground (verse 25)?

How does the master describe this man (verse 26)?

In your opinion, why should the master have received back the money with interest (verse 27)?

Who was the one bag of gold given to (verse 28)?

In your opinion, why is it fair that “whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance” (verse 29)?

What is being taken from the one who “does not have” (verse 29)?

Where will the “worthless servant” be thrown (verse 30)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

Ezekiel 3:16-21 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ “At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁷ “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. ¹⁸ When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. ¹⁹ But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.

²⁰ “Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. ²¹ But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.”

When did the word of the Lord come to Ezekiel (verse 16)?

What was Ezekiel made into (verse 17)?

What was Ezekiel to do with the Word of the Lord (verse 17)?

In your opinion, why was Ezekiel to be accountable for the blood of the person he does not warn or speak out to dissuade (verse 18)?

What is the effect for Ezekiel if he warns a wicked person but they do not turn from their evil ways and die for their sins (verse 19)?

Who will the Lord put a “stumbling block” before (verse 20)?

Why will the person “die for their sin” (verse 20)?

What will not be remembered (verse 20)?

Who will be accountable (verse 20)?

In your opinion, why will Ezekiel “have saved” himself if he warns “the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin” (verse 21)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how could the warning to Ezekiel in Ezekiel 3:16-21 be applied to the three men in Matthew 25:14-30 who received the bags of gold and to the rewards and punishment that they received?

Romans 12:3-8 - New International Version (NIV)

³ “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

With what does Paul tell his readers to think of themselves “in accordance with the faith God has distribute to each of you” (verse 3)?

Who has “one body with many members” (verse 4)?

In Christ who does “each member” belong to (verse 5)?

In your opinion, why do we have “different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us” (verse 6)?

What should we do if our gift is prophesying (verse 6)?

What should we do if our gift is serving (verse 7)?

What should we do if our gift is teaching (verse 7)?

If our gift is gift is giving then how should we give (verse 8)?

If our gift is leading then how should we lead (verse 8)?

If our gift is showing mercy then how should we show mercy (verse 8)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what can we who have different gifts according to Paul in Romans 12:3-8 learn from Ezekiel, the watchman that the Lord appointed in Ezekiel 3:16-21, and the instructions that he received from the Lord?

In your opinion, should we who Paul says have different gifts in Romans 12:3-8 learn anything from the promise of Jesus in Matthew 25:14-30 that “whoever has will be given more” and the accompanying warning that “whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them”?

1 Peter 4:7-11 – New International Version (NIV)

⁷ “The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. ⁸ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ⁹ Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

What is near (verse 7)?

Why should we “be alert and of sober mind” (verse 7)?

In your opinion, why does love cover “over a multitude of sins” (verse 8)?

How should hospitality be offered to one another (verse 9)?

What should we use “whatever gift” we have received for (verse 10)?

How should the one who speaks speak (verse 11)?

How should the one who serves serve (verse 11)?

What should happen “in all things” (verse 11)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how do the statements of Paul in Romans 12:3-8 that we have different gifts have an additional impact when combined with the instruction of Peter in 1 Peter 4:7-11 that ends with “so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ”?

In your opinion, how is the stern statement of God to Ezekiel in Ezekiel 3:16-21 about being a watchman given a different emphasis when combined with the statement of Peter from 1 Peter 4:7-11 to “above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins”?

In your opinion, how does the parable of Jesus about the three servants and the bags of gold in Matthew 25:14-30 illustrate Peter’s instruction to “use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” in 1 Peter 4:7-11?

In your opinion, what do these passages, from Matthew, Ezekiel, Romans and 1 Peter show us about the Great Commission?

Next, back to Matthew 25:31 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)