One of the highlights of 2024 was speaking at the chapel at Westmont College in Montecito, CA just a few weeks before my daughter Trevi graduated.
She had a great experience getting her degree in Psychology, working as a Resident Assistant, helping lead the chapel band, and working as an intern at the Friendship Center, a great organization that gives seniors with dementia a place to be with others during the day.
Trevi leads worship and then introduces me at the 13 minute mark.
I shared my message on how to become the person God created you to be and gave away 250 copies of my book to some of the students in attendance.
Message Notes:
So great to be with you all today! My daughter Trevi was the high school graduating class of 2020. Any other seniors here today?
High school graduation wasn’t quite the same experience for you all as it was for most people due to the Covid lockdowns. Her plans were to graduate high school and spend a year as a gap year missionary in Paris serving as an au pair and as part of the choir at her church. Before she left, we threw her a party, and I surprised her.
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By the way, part of this moment was so emotional for her because at that time in her life the word “fruitful” had become an important word between her and God. In fact, it was part of her instagram password!
So I want to share with you what I wished I knew before I went out on my own in life.
Through unlocking an ancient truth revealed by Jesus, we can experience a life beyond our imagination and beyond our limitations. Jesus revealed something that prophets and the righteous had longed to discover -a secret that had been hidden for ages.
Jesus revealed a new way of looking at life, a new way of organizing the future. God’s design for our lives is that we would be productive, generative, and creative.
Jesus described four types of soils representing four types of people. Some are like a path, some are like a shallow and rocky soil, some are like soil growing thorns, and some are like a soil that produces much fruit.
Consider which soil are you?
“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 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. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 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. 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. 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.” (Matthew 13:18-23, NIV)
Of all the messages Jesus could share in front of one of the biggest crowds ever gathered around Him, you might be surprised He chose this specific message. He didn’t start this message from the boat talking about life after death. He didn’t talk about wealth or poverty. Instead, Jesus described a journey toward becoming fruitful.
Jesus tells us that in His kingdom you have unlimited potential.
Do you know that God has greater ideas in mind for our lives than we do?
Our fears, weaknesses, past mistakes, regrets, and background cannot prevent us from experiencing God and impacting others in dramatic ways.
We can experience a life beyond our wildest imagination when we maximize who we were created to be. Applying the principles Jesus shared in describing the four types of soils, we can become fruitful (a.k.a., creative, generative, and productive) for the kingdom of God.
Jesus’ parable points out that we struggle to become who we were created to be when we have a hardened heart, a shallow faith, or are easily distracted.
If we can avoid these pitfalls, we will be fruitful.
Which soil do you think best describes where you are in your spiritual journey?
Which soil are you most like?
1. The Rocky Path: A hardened heart
2. The Shallow Soil: A shallow faith
3. The Path with Thorns: A distracted person
4. The Rich and Fertile Soil: The fruitful life
- Some of us have a hardened heart. We have been walked on. We haven’t heard from God in a long time. We don’t want to hear from God.
- Some of us have a shallow faith. Our faith is based entirely on our circumstances and how we feel at the time.
- Some of us have been distracted by temptations we keep falling into over and over.
- Some of us are in a good place. We are seeing change in our lives and change in the ones we care about, and it’s happening through us!
- Some of us see a glimpse of more than one. We are seeing God do good things or even great things, and we are on the edge of falling backwards.
Wherever you are, Jesus pointed us toward becoming fruitful – transformed by God and helping others transform. We can become fruitful!
When we choose to turn from our sins toward following Jesus as our leader, we should become different people.
We are no longer the same. “The old has gone the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
People should notice that we are not as impatient, irritable, insecure, proud, immoral, and so on.
The change takes place instantly as well as over time. God’s Spirit within us convicts us and guides us.
Sadly, too many people have done a great deal of damage in the name of Jesus or even Christianity. Without exhibiting these beautiful traits of kindness, gentleness, love, and patience, religious Christians have imposed their view of the world on others who are not yet sure about faith. Their form of cultural Christianity has kept people from even exploring faith, because they spew condemnation, which comes from a place of darkness. Too often we have allowed distorted versions of Christianity that have more in common with nationalism or Marxism than the teachings of Jesus to affect how we trust God and trust others. We have allowed others to steal from us what God wants to give us. We should not give the worst people in our lives so much power! Do not let the evil choices of others keep you from discovering the God who loves you and invites you into a life of purpose and meaning.
You see, a true follower of Jesus becomes more like Jesus.
When our lives bear the fruit of righteousness and reflect the fruit of the Spirit, we are transformed, and here is what is amazing: many times, those around us become interested in what has happened to us. In fact, they may even want to know how their lives can be transformed as well. A change in our lives cannot help but influence those around us.
On the flip side, when we do not change, we can be a stumbling block to others in our lives who know of our faith in Jesus. How does this happen?
The Four Characteristics To Become Fruitful:
- Receptivity
- Tenacity
- Intentionality
- Proactivity
Receptivity
Receptivity is about having an open mind and open heart to the voice of God.
God speaks to us through the Scriptures. Last year I did a video devotional on every chapter in the New Testament for skeptics, seekers, and those trying to help others. I just highlight the parts that may be difficult to understand in 1-2 minutes each day. You can look up hard passages and watch the video at YouTube.com/ericbryant777 and TikTok.com/@ericbryant or follow along at Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
The Bible is not the only way God speaks. He also speaks with “a still, small voice” and check this out the Scriptures say after we say “yes” to following Jesus then “we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Cor. 2:16
The more familiar we are with the Word of God, the more we know God’s character, and the kinds of things God would whisper to us.
Typically, God’s voice calls us towards those things which are selfless, require courage, and are consistent with His character as found in the Scriptures.
Tenacity
Second, tenacity means not giving up even when things get hard like the shallow soil. It’s about overcoming trials in our life.
When things get tough, you may not know what to do, but you can know the One who does.
You can trust Him.
You can trust that somehow what was intended for evil, He can work so powerfully and mysteriously that good can come out of the darkest moments.
We do not know why, but we know the One who does.
We can trust Him.
We can choose hope even when we don’t feel like it.
What I learned when I was one of the pastors at Mosaic in Los Angeles was that faithfulness is doing the right thing no matter how small it is and perseverance is doing the right thing no matter how small it is and no matter what challenges you may face!
You become tenacious and refuse to give up no matter what you may be facing! You lean into your faith and your community when things are hard when so many others give up on God or their church right when they need Him and them the most!
Intentionality
Third, intentionality is about overcoming temptations.
I grew up in church hearing all about what we needed to stop doing. I saw Christianity as a giant “Don’t Do List.” The problem is that I never understood why we should avoid these behaviors. What I didn’t hear was that this was a list of things that hurt us and brought pain into our lives and the lives of others. For the longest time, I never realized God was offering a better alternative. God’s message to us is, “Come as You Are, and You Don’t Have to Stay That Way!”
“God loves you just the way you are. In fact, He loves you so much that He refuses to leave you that way.”
-Max Lucado
There is so much hope and beauty in that! Often, we make progress only to fall again. During this relapse, we give up trying.
Remember: Messing up does not have to mean giving up! Get right back up and start over.
The more we succeed, the more confident we will become.
Furthermore, it is not a sin to be tempted. Just because a thought comes crashing into your mind does not mean you have to act on it. Just having the thought can derail us or discourage us unless we put these principles into practice.
Therefore, it is so important to take every thought captive and renew your mind.
We need to rely on God’s help and the encouragement of others, but we can do this. We don’t have to stay this way! When I share about next steps to take, I will share ways to get connected to community to help you in this! We need help from others to grow!
Still struggling to get started? If so, choose to move forward for others and with help from others. I think of my uncle who quit smoking the day his first child was born. He couldn’t quit on his own, but he could quit for his son.
If you aren’t willing to take care of yourself now, then you won’t be able to take care of others later. Let your motivation come from a deeply spiritual place—out of gratitude to God.
Proactivity
Proactivity is about overcoming selfishness.
A proactive person doesn’t remain a victim, no matter what they may face.
A proactive person doesn’t complain about something they are unwilling to do anything about!
A Christ-follower follows Christ. We strive to become who He has created us to be by surrendering our past, present, future, regrets, mistakes, wicked choices, dreams, and hopes to Him.
When we live the way of Christ, we obey Christ.
Throughout the Scriptures, we see a connection between listening to God and doing what He says.
“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.” (John 14:21, NIV)
Only those who trust God obey Him.
Obedience has negative connotations in our society but think of obeying God as being invited by someone to your surprise party. You don’t know why they are asking you to do what they are asking, but you know you can trust them. The result of obeying them (even though you don’t want to) is a fantastic party (even if it wasn’t totally a surprise).
God’s Love Language is trust, obedience.
Growth always requires change.
When we take advantage of the discomforts and tests we face, we can make significant progress in our lives.
As we take personal responsibility for our spiritual growth, we will be more engaged with God personally and more connected with others relationally.
When spiritual growth is only about you, you miss what God has for you. When you understand the need to be proactive in serving others with others, everything changes.
If you want to learn to hear God’s voice, overcome trials and temptations, and create a better future, I have a gift for you. We have 200 free copies of my book Fruitful: Becoming Who God Created You To Be.
We can be a part of pursuing others with God’s love. We have the privilege of serving God as His messengers. We can share the life-changing message of Jesus with others so that their lives would be just as transformed as ours.
Jesus shares a remarkable spiritual principle:
“Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39, NIV)
A couple years back I received a Facebook message from a woman who had come to faith at Mosaic while we were here. It was fifteen years ago that she was spiritually searching, and she came up to me on a Sunday and said: “Sometimes I just wish Jesus was here to give me a hug.”
I looked around to see who could give her a hug. Not seeing anyone, I gave her a hug and then it dawned on me.
I told her: “The next time you need a hug, offer one to someone who needs a hug.”
You see, every time I have ever hugged someone, they have always hugged me back. Except that one time with my grandpa—but other than that, when you hug someone, they hug you back.
What I did not realize until we started messaging was the backstory. She wrote to me: “I was really struggling because I wanted what those around me had…. I felt so alone and told you I wanted a hug. I thought that if Jesus were real, and loved me, surely, He’d know I ‘needed’to be held and would ‘send me’ a hug through one of ‘His followers.’”
Isn’t that amazing? I am so glad I hugged her!
Even more remarkable is what happened after that: she decided to follow Jesus.
She wrote me the following: “[Instead of remaining a victim], you helped me see that I was being a volunteer for that loneliness and encouraged me to be an active participant in ALL of my relationships by giving versus ‘expecting’ to receive. It has been through giving that I get, and God helped teach that to me through you… Now whenever I want something, I ask God to help me offer that same thing. And it has worked like a charm for over fifteen years now!”
When you and I seek the good of others, we are blessed.
You were created by God to be fruitful! To be transformed and to help others be transformed!
Take personal responsibility and connect to community. Our broken world needs you to become who God has created you to be!
