A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
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I. OPPORTUNITY FOR AN OBJECT LESSON
A. LESSON OF GOD’S DEMAND
1. NEARING – Mt 21:18 Early [Tuesday] morning, as He was returning to the city Mk 11:12 from Bethany, He became hungry.
2. NOTHING – Mt 21:19a And seeing a lone fig tree in the distance near the path, He went to it and found nothing but leaves on it.
3. NULLIFY – Mt 21:19b And He said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!”
B. LESSON OF GOD’S JUDGMENT
1. NOTICED – Mt 21:19c And the fig tree dried up immediately. Mk 11:19 And when evening came they left the city, Mk 11:20b and they saw the fig tree dried up from the root.
2. NONPLUSSED – Mk 11:21 And Peter remembered and said to Him, “Reb, look! The fig tree that You cursed is dried up.”
C. LESSON APPLIED TODAY
1. NOTED
2. NAMED
II. OPPORTUNITY FOR A LIFE LESSON
A. LESSON ON GOD’S SUPPLY
1. NEGATIVE – Mt 21:20 When the disciples saw it, they wondered, “How did the fig tree dry up so soon?”
2. NEED – Mk 11:22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.
B. LESSON OF GOD’S POWER
1. NEVER FAILING – Mt 21:21b Truly, I say to you, if you have unwavering faith, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this Mount [of Olives], ‘Be picked up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.
2. NUMERATE – Mt 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. Mk 11:24a Believe that you’ll receive it, and it will happen.
3. NOTATION – Mk 11:25 And whenever you stand to pray, first forgive (if you have anything against anyone), so that likewise your Father Who is in heaven may forgive your offenses.”
C. LESSON APPLIED TODAY
1. NOVEL
2. NOMINAL