Week 10: Superabundant Fruit!
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:8).
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Mmmm. I love walking through a beautiful garden; the sights, sounds, and smells are divine! Wouldn’t you agree? Just look at the colors of those flowers—how they stand out against the lovely green foliage. And see that bee? God perfectly crafted its fluffy little body to pollinate the flowers and bring us a delicious treat—honey!
But more than just being beautiful to observe, the garden also has a lot to teach us about our life as followers of Jesus. Just think about all the times Jesus used seeds, plants, or gardening to teach us significant truths. There is so much we can learn from creation!
In today’s Bible reading, Peter is following in our Lord’s example and sending us a message about how we should live by using that same garden imagery. We read,
…if these things be in you [that is virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love], and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ok, are you ready? You’ll need your gloves and spade for this one, because we are about to get dirty and dig into the Greek meaning of several words in this passage—starting with the word abound. Well, in the Greek this is the word pleonazo (pronounced pleh-on-ad'-zo), which can be translated to mean “increase,” “to exist in abundance,” or, even better, “to superabound!”
Remember how we talked about virtue (arete) and how that is living up to your full potential? Well, that is the same idea behind the word superabound. Peter is calling us to live up to our fullest potential as trees in the garden of God. David gave us a similar picture when he wrote, “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth fruit in its season and its leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he does, shall prosper” (Psalm 1:3). And what a garden we have been given to grow in! God has planted us exactly where He wants us and has given us everything we need to grow in life and godliness (1st Peter 1:3). Did you hear that? He has given us everything! So all we need to do now is make sure that we are superabounding in the character traits that we have been studying. This is what will keep us from becoming barren or unfruitful.
Barren or unfruitful. Hmm. I don’t know about you, but those words seem to mean the same thing, right? Well, let’s pull aside the leaves, and see what they really mean.
The word barren comes from the Greek word argos, and it carries the idea of someone who is lazy, idle, careless, ineffective, or just not doing what they are supposed to—all things that we do not want to be like!
Next comes the word unfruitful. Unfruitful comes from the Greek word akarpos. A combination of the prefix a (un or to negate something) and the word karpos (fruit), this word is translated as unfruitful or without fruit. Like the word barren, the word unfruitful carries the idea of someone who is not doing what they are supposed to—think of a fruit tree that doesn’t grow any fruit. That’s the lesson God is trying to teach us here in 2nd Peter. We need to be superabounding with lots of fruit so that we can feed others. Here, taste this delicious fruit of kindness or this sweet fruit of sacrifice or this yummy piece of patience pie—you get the picture.
Like the honey bee, we have a job to do, and that is to bear fruit—abundantly (or super-abundantly)! So then, what kind of fruit should we be bearing in our lives (besides the fruit of the spirit— Galatians 5:22-23)? According to Peter, we need to be fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Remember we already talked about knowledge (gnosis) earlier in the challenge? However, the word used here is a little different. Peter uses the word epignosis, which means a full, intimate knowledge of God. This is the kind of knowledge where you know God has your back, that He will work everything out for your good, and that He will keep His promises! This is a knowledge that makes you a blessing to those around you, and will cause others to want what you have. (And the great thing is that you don’t need a green thumb to grow in this kind of knowledge.)
Kind of like gardening, there are some steps you can take to grow in epignosis. First, you must plant the seeds of character in your life—virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. Secondly, you must be watered with the Word of God (turn that hose on full blast!). And last but not least, you must have a personal relationship with the gardener of your soul, Jesus Christ. Without relying on Jesus in our search for knowledge, we become like the fig tree that Jesus cursed in Mark 11:12-14—full of useless leaves and no fruit (that tree has got to go!).
Abide in the vine (Jesus), and you will bear much fruit (see John 15:5)!
Well, thanks for walking through the garden with me. I hope that it has been a delight to your eyes, ears, nose…and heart!
So go now and grow, grow, grow, and may your branches superabound with fruit! (Be sure to stop and smell the roses on your way out!)
Grow with God! He goes with you.
Rainey
Weekly Bible Memory (You can use whatever version of the Bible you prefer): 25 points per passage - additional passages may be memorized for 25 points each (up to 3 verses constitute a passage)
Ages 6-10
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Ages 10-13
“So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1;10).
Ages 14+
“So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:17-20).
Weekly Bible Reading/Book: 5 points per chapter read - any chapter of the Bible may be read anytime during the challenge for 5 points each.
John chapter 15
Reading List:* 1 point per page read - any Lamplighter book/Lamplighter resource book/non-fiction [biography, spiritual growth, informational] may be ready anytime throughout the challenge 1 point per page.
Ages 6-11
Ages 9-14
Ages 12+
*You may read any Lamplighter book at any time throughout the challenge. This list is only recommendations that go along with this week’s theme.
Creative Assignment: A Tree of Superabundant Life (25 points)
First, using the print-out HERE, match each character trait with the correct Greek word (you can refer to past blogs for the answers). Once you have matched all the answers correctly, draw or paint a tree on a large piece of paper. Then draw nine pieces of fruit on the tree. Referring to your matching list, inside each piece of fruit write out both the Greek and English word for each of the character qualities we have learned about in the past weeks; diligence, faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. Lastly, on the trunk, write out our Bible passage for this week,
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:8).
*Submit your Creative Assignment to Lamplighter HERE and award yourself 15 bonus points! Assignments need to be submitted by August 5th, 2024, in order to receive the bonus points.
Practical Assignment: How Does Your Garden Grow? (50 points)
Remember that to grow spiritually and to bear fruit you must be watered with the Word of God. Each day in your Bible study time this week, choose a passage that talks about seeds, planting, harvest, a gardener, or anything garden-related (some suggestions are John 15, Isaiah 51, Luke 13, Genesis 2, 1 Corinthians 3, Matthew 13) and look out for ways that the Bible is telling you to grow. After reading your chosen passage each day, write a short (or long) journal entry about what God is teaching you from that passage, and list out one practical way that you can practice what you are learning.
Additional Resources on Love: (Blog Posts; Podcasts) 5 points for each recommended blog read/podcast listened to.
Blog - Weeds of the Past
Blog - Sometimes We Need to Be Pinched
Podcast - Doctrine of Figs
Podcast - What You Value Determines Your Character - Part 1 and Part 2
Don’t forget to tag us @lamplighterministries
to share with us how you and your family are completing the challenge!
