Luke 13:6-9 | 23 March 2025
Pastor Alvin explored Luke 13:6-9, the parable of the barren fig tree, using his micro-green kit mishap as a relatable starting point. He unpacked Jesus' message of patience and practical steps for spiritual growth when we feel fruitless.
Alvin highlighted God’s patience, as seen in the vinekeeper’s plea for “one more year,” showing God’s desire and patience to give us time to grow by offering repeated chances for fruitfulness. He outlined two key actions for fruitfulness:
Digging Around – Self-examination, addressing hindrances, and making space for the Spirit, like loosening compacted soil or choked roots. This might mean therapy for healing or cutting back commitments.
Fertilising – Seeking nourishment through God’s Word, prayer, and community. Even life's difficulties can be “manure” that fuels growth. Alvin shared personal stories of small, consistent “throne room” devotion times and lessons learned through tough conversations in ministry.
He emphasised the role of community, encouraging connect groups and church support to help each other “dig and fertilise.” The sermon ended with a call to embrace God’s patience, take intentional steps toward growth, and respond to the Holy Spirit in prayer.
Additional Resource
John Mark Comer, ‘How to Spend a Day with Jesus’
"When you think about the vast scope of a lifelong spiritual journey, it can feel overwhelming—Where do I even start? While no two spiritual journeys are identical, all of us start by saying yes to the same invitation of Jesus: “Come and follow me.”
Translation: Come and be with me.
As with any journey, the key is to start where we are (not where we feel we “should” be) and take it one step at a time.
Our first goal: to spend a day with Jesus."