ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown 1 ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The - PDF document

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown 1

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown From Roots to Trunk to Crown to Fruits : Completeness in Complexity Jer 17 :7 ‐ 8 Jer 17:7 ‐ 8 But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” 2

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown The Crown is vital ‐ to the tree, the forrest and the world 3

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown What do you see / think of first when you look at the crown? Leaves! Where do they come from ? Trees produce them, like roots, as tools, connection to the greater world. We want to look at how that functions. First, roots then stem then leaves. What do they look like when they start to grow? 4

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown Buds ‐ prepared to go into action. Have to unfurl in order to be useful, just like when have to open up to God‘s influence to grow. 5

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown James 4:7 ‐ 8 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Without drawing near to God we will not be able to prosper and grow. 6

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown Unfurled and ready to be useful. What are they for? 1. Photosynthesis ‐ Light collecting ‐ Nourishing the tree. Turn Light into food for the tree. (Click for Ephesians 5:8 ‐ 14) God‘s influence on us (His light) feeds us and makes us visible to the world as light. 7

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown 2. Gas Exchange ‐ Air for the world ‐ Cleaning and replenishing the atmosphere! My life as a christian ‐ A benefit for those around me and the world at large??? What am I giving off? In Matthew 5:13 ‐ 17 Jesus said you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Let us do that. 8

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown What shapes is this tree? Click for funnel. 3. Funneling Water ‐ Feeding the roots ‐ Collecting and keeping the living water that Jesus talked about in John 4 with the woman at the well. 9

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown Old forest ‐ fairly enclosed ‐ the canopy 4. Protecting the young ones ‐‐ Making Shade ‐‐‐ see the little trees 1 Thes. 2,7b ‐ 8 Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. And 11 and 12 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. 10

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown 5. Feeding a lot of critters ‐ Useful produce „Whenever you walk through a tall, dark forest, you are walking down the aisles of a huge grocery store. It is filled with all sorts of delicacies ‐‐‐ at least as far as the animals, fungi and bacteria are concerned. A single tree contains millions of calories in the form of sugar, cellulose, lignin, and other carbohydrates. It also contains water and valuable minerals.“ page 114 11

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown 5. Feeding a lot of critters ‐ Useful produce „Whenever you walk through a tall, dark forest, you are walking down the aisles of a huge grocery store. It is filled with all sorts of delicacies ‐‐‐ at least as far as the animals, fungi and bacteria are concerned. A single tree contains millions of calories in the form of sugar, cellulose, lignin, and other carbohydrates. It also contains water and valuable minerals.“ page 114 12

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown And smaller and perhaps less cute. Also God‘s creations in need of Food. The trees have defense mechanisms against their worst enemies. Sometimes they call in help from birds and fungi. God created all of these and there is balance in nature. But there is also death. All trees won‘t make it. 13

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown This promises us that God will keep us from dropping leaves or losing our usefulness. All evergreens! Speaking of which, how about coniferous trees? What about needles. 14

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown Needles are aktually leaves as well. Different strategy . Example of the diversity we see among tress. Needles are particularly protected ‐ tough ‐ covered with a wax coating, so they don‘t lose so much water, are usually really frugal and are pest resistant. They‘re filled with oils which function as a sort of anti ‐ freeze. They don‘t offer a plain for snow to land on. Year ‐ rounders. Biblical example of a spruce or fir tree, John, the baptist. A little on the rough and tough side, very frugal and super resilliant. But even so, he was all about sowing and planting and spreading the word about the Kingdom. How do trees spread seeds? 15

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown All trees are sending out flyers ‐ Sowing their seeds ‐ the need to multiply. We all sow, we influence and teach. God calls us to be sowing the seed of the Kingdom, the good seed. 16

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ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown What are we sowing? The parable of the sower in Matt 13 shows that we need to be sowing, but we cannot take all responsibility for the growth. Like the trees, our sowing methods are varied. For example, the plants use wind or gravity or birds or animals to spread seeds, but the latter have to be encouraged to help out. 18

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown Blossoms ‐ drawing the masses. This is the precursor to getting to the serious business of propogation. (click for verse) The aroma and the colors draw bees and butterflies and birds, that pollenate the flowers. Not all bugs are called. Once this is done, we can be getting on with fruit production. 19

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown Blossoms ‐ drawing the masses. This is the precursor to getting to the serious business of propogation. (click for verse) The aroma and the colors draw bees and butterflies and birds, that pollenate the flowers. Not all bugs are called. Once this is done, we can be getting on with fruit production. 20

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown This tree is bearing fruit. Why? It was made for that Passing on it‘s seeds in the right place has the right care healthy mature the season for it. Talk about maturity. Patience. 21

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ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown Love is the the first listed of the fruit of the Spirit in Gal. 5:22 ‐ 23a Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self ‐ control. Is this only for my own good? Why bear fruit at all? Food for others!! 24

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown Love is listed first in the fruit of the Spirit in Gal. 5:22 ‐ 23a. love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self ‐ control. 25

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown Das Bild kann zurzeit nicht angezeigt werden. What kind of fruit am I producing? Only healthy trees bear good fruit. All different kinds of fruit Gifts, talents, characters. What do we get when we each bring our gifts and fruits to the Kingdom? 26

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown Das Bild kann zurzeit nicht angezeigt werden. Fruit salad 27

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown Das Bild kann zurzeit nicht angezeigt werden. God created lots of different trees with specific attributes and abilities. Each one of us is unique, with different personalities and skills. Every one of us has different strengths: when we come together, each one using the talents God gave us , we complement each other and are of better use for Him. 28

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown Das Bild kann zurzeit nicht angezeigt werden. Whether you are a weeping willow 29

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown Das Bild kann zurzeit nicht angezeigt werden. Or a tough and curvy myrtle 30

ELR 2017 Lesson 3: The Glorious Crown Das Bild kann zurzeit nicht angezeigt werden. 1 Cor 7:17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. (ESV) Let us bloom where He has planted us and bear fruit for God. 31

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