First Thoughts: Since we're working with youngsters, we're going to focus on the parable itself (not touching on the context). Even if we look only at the parable, this lesson is likely a hard one for us to receive. We are accustomed to thinking of God as patient, long-suffering, the giver of second (and third and fourth) chances. Here, though, it seems that God has reached a limit. God will only wait so long for a tree to bear fruit; God will wait only so long to see the outgrowth of faith in our lives before God tears down the plant and tries something new. Although I don't think this means God actually discards us, I do think God brings radical change in to our lives, "uprooting" us and "turning our soil" to encourage new growth. The parable is clear: God is not satisfied with our being staid and comfortable; God wants our growth, our healing, and our fruitfulness, even if it comes at the cost of what seems to be devastating discomfort. Think back to a time in your life when you felt "uprooted" by life. What was the growth that came from that experience? How did your faith flourish? Carry your reflection with you in your time with the children.
Teaching On Your Own: (looks sad, sighs) Hey everybody. I'm really bummed this morning. You know why? I got kicked out of my book club yesterday. They just kicked me out for no reason at all. Can you believe that? Well, maybe they had a small reason: I haven't read the last three books. But that's not such a big deal is it? I mean, okay, the book club is about reading books and talking about the books. I guess I never really did have much to say. Plus, since I didn't know the books myself, I was always asking questions to figure out what everyone else was talking about. So I guess I was a bit of a pain. I really didn't live up to the club obligations, did I?
I am reminded of the story Jesus shared with his disciples about a fig tree that wouldn't produce any figs. For three years the gardener took care of it, but it never made any fruit. Finally the tree's owner decided just to tear it up and stop wasting the soil on it. But the gardener told the owner to give him one more year, to really care for the tree and try to coax a few fruits. If the fig tree still didn't make fruit after that year, the gardener would tear it up. I guess there's not much of a reason to have a fig tree if it doesn't make figs, is there? And not much of a reason to be in a book club when I don't read the books. Hey, in the story, the owner gave the tree one more chance to grow that fruit. Maybe if I go back to the book club and apologize, they'll give me one more chance. But this time I'll do the reading!
Teaching As A Team:
(Leader 2 looks sad, sighs a bit)
Leader 1: Hey, (name), you look sad this morning. Is something wrong?
Leader 2: Yeah, I got kicked out of my book club!
Leader 1: You're in a book club?
Leader 2: I was, but they kicked me out yesterday.
Leader 1: They kicked you out, just for no reason?
Leader 2: Well, maybe they had a small reason.
Leader 1: What's that?
Leader 2: I haven't read the last three books.
Leader 1: So you weren't living up to the obligations of the club.
Leader 2: But why kick me out?
Leader 1: Because a book club is about reading books and discussing the books together. If you aren't reading the books yourself, you're really not contributing much. In fact, you're probably just being a burden on everybody.
Leader 2: I guess that's true.
Leader 1: It reminds me of the story Jesus shared with his disciples about a fig tree that wouldn't produce any figs. Three years the gardener took care of it, but it never made any fruit. Finally the tree's owner decided just to tear it up and stop wasting the soil on it.
Leader 2: Like when the book club kicked me out.
Leader 1: Right. But the gardener told the owner to give him one more year, to really care for tree and try to coax a few fruits. If the fig tree still didn't make fruit after that year, the gardener would tear it up.
Leader 2: I guess there's not much of a reason to have a fig tree if it doesn't make figs, right?
Leader 1: Right.
Leader 2: And not much of a reason to be in a book club when I don't read the books?
Leader 1: That's right too.
Leader 2: In the story, the owner gave the tree one more chance to grow that fruit. Maybe if I go back to the book club and apologize, they'll give me one more chance.
Leader 1: It's certainly worth a try. But this time remember to do the reading!
Closing Prayer: Gardener God, help us to be fruitful in our lives. Help us to grow in our faith and our expression of faith, so that your fruits of love and compassion are always present on our branches. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
Follow-Up Lesson: To reinforce this lesson in a home or classroom environment, talk to the children about different areas in their lives where they're expected to progress. For example, in school you're supposed to learn and master new ideas, in sports you need to practice and learn new skills, in boy and girl scouts you earn badges for new accomplishments. The same is true in our lives as Christians. We are expected to grow and change as we live in God's love and to produce fruits of the Spirit. Name a few of the fruits of the Spirit you think the children will best relate to (joy, peace, faithfulness, patience, kindness). Ask the children which of these fruits are challenging to them and ask for specific examples from their lives. Now invite the children to imagine how they will deal with these situations when they're older. Will they have the exact same response in those situations or will they be more kind, patient, joyful, and so forth? God is working with us right now to be more like God in the world, so we can be like the productive fig tree, making the world a better place.
If you want to try an edible craft, you can help the children make "Bible" fig newtons. (Remind the children that this is the fruit from our story!) First cut off one of the cake edges, so that it looks like a book with binding on only one side. Then give each child a tiny sliver of a red fruit roll up, about as long as a thumbnail, and allow the children to press the sliver into the middle with a toothpick, to look like a bookmark sticking out. (You can precut the newtons and have the roll up pieces ready in advance.) Finally, give the children a white icing tube for them to decorate the top of their Bible with a cross. When the children finish the craft, you can let them sample their "Bibles" reminding them that we are fed on God's Word and that's what makes us fruitful in the world. Close with prayer.
