Updated May 3, 2026
NOTES
TITLE SLIDE
Reading: Colossians 2:6-15; Luke 8:4-15
SLIDE 2
(6) “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: (7) Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7
SLIDE 3
Three Things to Avoid
The Danger of Diversion
The Danger of Drought
The Danger of Deception
Three Things to Embrace
The Necessity of Trials
The Necessity of Time
The Necessity of Being Together
SLIDE 4
The Long Leaf Pine was once very abundant across the Southern United States. It was much sought after by early settlers for its straight hard wood. It was also used for ship building. Today, less than 300 trees are known to exist.
One reason it is so rare is also the reason it was so useful. It grows very slow, producing a hard wood that could stand the strain of a ship’s mast. . After the forest was stripped of these trees, they were replaced by faster growing trees.
As a young tree, they are in what is called the grass stage. At this point they are vulnerable and often accidentally destroyed. This is actually the most important time in their life cycle. The Long Leaf Pine grows a six foot deep tap root before it begins to grow vertically. This root system makes the mature tree impervious to drought, disease, storms, and even fire.
SLIDE 5
Image: Life Stages of the Long Leaf Pine
SLIDE 6
The Danger of Diversion – THE GRASS STAGE
The early life of the Christian is also a fragile and vulnerable time like the grass stage of the Long Needle Pine. Failure to become rooted in Christ may result in falling away from the faith.
This begins with the germination of the seed and continues until a rot system is developed that will support upward growth.
THE RESPONSE TO THE REVELATION
“for he who comes to God must believe that He is” Hebrews 11:6
THE RESPONSE TO TRIALS
“The seed is the Word of God” Luke 8:11
SLIDE 7
THE RESPONSE TO THE REVELATION –Who is Christ?
For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete,
and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;
(Colossians 2:9-11)
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ
(Romans 10:1) / Luke 8:11 (The seed)
SLIDE 8
THE RESPONSE TO TRIALS – The seed must take root.
The seed of the long leaf pine will not survive if it falls on ground cover. Seasonal fires burn away this away and allow the seed to fall on the soil.
“Having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, (Colossians 2:12-13)
The seed must die before it can grow! (John 12:24)
SLIDE 9
THE RESPONSE TO TRIALS – The unprepared soil.
The wayside – A hardened heart – no response.
Hard packed soil that is not prepared to receive seed.
The rocky soil – An impulsive heart – no roots
The stones prevent the seedling from growing into a plant.
The thorny soil – The man with divided heart – no growth
The tender plant cannot compete with the weeds.
SLIDE 10
THE RESPONSE TO TRIALS – The fully prepared soil.
Any gardener knows that this is not the “natural state” of good planting soil. The soil must first be worked (TRIALS).
- Stones are removed (the rocky soil);
- Weeds are removed (the thorny soil);
- Packed soil is broken up (the wayside soil).
The good soil – A heart prepared to receive the Word of God
SLIDE 11
THE DANGER OF DROUGHT
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING THIRSTY FOR THE WATER OF LIFE
“I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the LORD.” (Amos 8:11)
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6)
SLIDE 12
The danger of drought
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING NEAR THE SOURCE OF WATER
“Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:37-38
The offer of Living Water to the woman at the well. John 4:10
I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” Revelation 21:6
Drought Resistance: Isaiah 58:11 / Jeremiah 17:8
SLIDE 13
The Danger of Deception
THE REJECTION OF THE REVELATION OF CHRIST.
Colossians 2:8 / Luke 8:13 (undeveloped roots)
“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy
and empty deception, according to the tradition of men,
according to the elementary principles of the world,
rather than according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)
These readers are believers but the are in danger of suffering the same fate as the unbeliever. They never become disciples.
SLIDE 14
The necessity of trials
When a mature Long Leaf Pine drops its seeds, the will not germinate in leaves or other ground cover. They must fall directly on soil. Naturally, this happens following a forest fire.
The mature tree is protected by thick bark that is resistant to fire. Arborists use controlled burns to remove ground cover to promote reproduction of this tree. Without this trial by fire the species would be lost.
“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” 1 Peter 1:7 /
Colossians 2:14 “Hostile to us”
It is through trials that the Lord brings the Christian to maturity and reveals their true value.
SLIDE 15
The Necessity of Time
The promise of triumph (Colossians 2:15)
The Long Leaf Pine does not produce cones with viable seed for thirty to fifty years. Maturity simply takes time. Paul warns against placing a novice in leadership (1Timothy 3:1-6).
From the conversion of Paul on the road to his ) until his first missionary journey was about twelve years.
Apollos was a gifted orator and knew the Old Testament Scriptures when he came to faith in Christ. Priscilla and Aquila mentored him for a period of time before he was sent out. (Acts 18)
There are three elements here. 1) An able teacher, 2) A willing student, and 3) Time.
SLIDE 16
The Necessity of being Gathered Together
The giant Redwood Trees, like the Long Leaf Pine were nearly harvested to extinction.
Only 5% of the older trees remain. Like the Long Leaf Pine, it takes generations to grow.
How do they live for centuries through storm, fire, and earthquakes? The secret is their root system.
They do not have a deep tap root like the pine tree.
Height 300+ Feet
Lifespan 2,000-3,000 years
Tap Root None
Root System
Depth: 6-12 Feet
Length: 60-100 Feet
Design: Intertwined – for Stable Interdependence
SLIDE 17 – REVIEW
Rooted in christ
Three Things to Avoid
The Danger of Diversion
The Danger of Drought
The Danger of Deception
Three Things to Embrace
The Necessity of Trials
The Necessity of Time
The Necessity of Being Together
Some images of the Long Leaf Pine are from https://longleafalliance.org/ The photograph was taken by my family in Williamsburg.