Summit Church
Rooted Pt 1 | A Well-Watered Garden | Jim Ladd
Locations & Times
Summit Church
7200 S Clinton St, Centennial, CO 80112, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
“You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
Isaiah 58:11 NIV
Isaiah 58:11 NIV
Three Things That Are Equally True:
You Are The Master's Plan to Change the World!
I Am the Master's Plan to Change the World!
WE Are The Master's Plan to Change the World!
You Are The Master's Plan to Change the World!
I Am the Master's Plan to Change the World!
WE Are The Master's Plan to Change the World!
Big Idea: God’s strategy is blessed people, blessing people.
He calls us to live as well-watered gardens — rooted at His throne, filled with living water, bearing fruit that heals the world.
He calls us to live as well-watered gardens — rooted at His throne, filled with living water, bearing fruit that heals the world.
Ezekiel 47:1-12
“The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was trickling from the south side. As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river. When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea. But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.””
“The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was trickling from the south side. As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist. He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river. When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea. But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.””
1. The Throne of God
Everything good begins with God in His rightful place!
Ezekiel saw water flow from the threshold of the Temple - this is where renewal starts.
Everything good begins with God in His rightful place!
Ezekiel saw water flow from the threshold of the Temple - this is where renewal starts.
Revelation 22:1-5
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
The Temple is the house of the Lord, and you are that Temple.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."
When God is in His rightful place, everything else finds its place.
The river doesn’t flow from our effort — it flows from His presence.
The river doesn’t flow from our effort — it flows from His presence.
2. Living Water
- Dead Sea salt water becomes fresh, teaming with fish of all kinds
* The Dead Sea is about 9 to 10 times saltier than the ocean, a concentration that is toxic to fish and most other life.
* The water only leaves the Dead Sea through evaporation, which leaves behind high concentrations of minerals and salts, further increasing the salinity
- Dead Sea salt water becomes fresh, teaming with fish of all kinds
* The Dead Sea is about 9 to 10 times saltier than the ocean, a concentration that is toxic to fish and most other life.
* The water only leaves the Dead Sea through evaporation, which leaves behind high concentrations of minerals and salts, further increasing the salinity
John 4:7-10
Woman at the well: Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
Woman at the well: Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
John 7:37-39
"On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified."
"On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified."
INTERESTING NOTE: "The swamps and marshes will not be fresh, but will remain full of salt."
This is Moral or spiritual realism: God’s renewal doesn’t erase all resistance. The river brings life where it’s received; where it’s stagnant, it stays salt. A quiet nod to free will — divine power doesn’t override human openness.
This is Moral or spiritual realism: God’s renewal doesn’t erase all resistance. The river brings life where it’s received; where it’s stagnant, it stays salt. A quiet nod to free will — divine power doesn’t override human openness.
This is Symbolic of the economy of holiness: Salt often points to judgment, purification, or permanence. These “salt zones” represent boundaries — spaces that mark what’s holy versus what’s profane, or what’s already completed versus what’s still being worked on.
Where the Spirit flows, death gives way to life.
The river can’t refresh what refuses to receive — life comes to those who open.
The river can’t refresh what refuses to receive — life comes to those who open.
3. Fruitful Trees
"Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”
Their leaves will not whither and their fruit will not fail.
The Leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations.
Yielding its fruit every month serving as food for all
"Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”
Their leaves will not whither and their fruit will not fail.
The Leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations.
Yielding its fruit every month serving as food for all
What is this fruit?
What is it that we offer the world?
Galatians 5:22-26
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."
What is it that we offer the world?
Galatians 5:22-26
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."
Acts 9:31
"Then the church enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers."
"Then the church enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers."
Unfortunately, the fruit of the flesh is far more common from Christians toward a broken world.
Galatians 5:19-20
"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like."
Galatians 5:19-20
"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like."
Roots in His river make fruit inevitable.
We’re healed to become healers; fed to become food for the world.
This is how God has always wanted His people to live in this world, and it is His plan for redemption in action.
We’re healed to become healers; fed to become food for the world.
This is how God has always wanted His people to live in this world, and it is His plan for redemption in action.
Response:
1. Where are you and God's Throne?
2. Be filled with the Holy Spirit - the river of living water from within you
3. Bless others as a fruitful and healing tree.
As you spend time in the Presence this morning, be mindful that He is working in YOU, He is working in OTHERS, and He is working in US TOGETHER.
1. Where are you and God's Throne?
2. Be filled with the Holy Spirit - the river of living water from within you
3. Bless others as a fruitful and healing tree.
As you spend time in the Presence this morning, be mindful that He is working in YOU, He is working in OTHERS, and He is working in US TOGETHER.
Discussion Guide
A Well-Watered Garden
“You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
— Isaiah 58:11
Big Idea: God’s strategy to change the world is blessed people, blessing people.
He calls us to live as well-watered gardens — rooted at His throne, filled with living water, bearing fruit that heals the world.
Icebreaker Question
Describe a place (real or imagined) where you feel completely refreshed — a “well-watered” moment in your life. What made it life-giving?
Discussion Questions:
1. In Ezekiel’s vision, the water begins at the temple threshold. Revelation 22 shows the same river flowing from God’s throne. Why is it important that life flows from His rule?
2. How does knowing you are the temple of the Holy Spirit change your sense of purpose in daily life?
3. Psalm 1 describes a person “planted by streams of water.” What practices keep your roots near that stream?
4. What competes for the throne in your life — and what helps you recentre God there
5. The Dead Sea only receives water — it never gives. How does that image speak to you?
6. Jesus calls Himself the giver of living water. How do you experience that “river within” day to day?
7. Where in your life — or your world — do you see God making salty, lifeless places fresh again?
8. What’s the difference between spiritual busyness and true overflow?
9. The trees in Ezekiel’s vision bear fruit every month. What would “consistent fruit” look like in your life?
10. Which fruit of the Spirit do you sense God inviting you to grow right now — and what might help it flourish?
“You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
— Isaiah 58:11
Big Idea: God’s strategy to change the world is blessed people, blessing people.
He calls us to live as well-watered gardens — rooted at His throne, filled with living water, bearing fruit that heals the world.
Icebreaker Question
Describe a place (real or imagined) where you feel completely refreshed — a “well-watered” moment in your life. What made it life-giving?
Discussion Questions:
1. In Ezekiel’s vision, the water begins at the temple threshold. Revelation 22 shows the same river flowing from God’s throne. Why is it important that life flows from His rule?
2. How does knowing you are the temple of the Holy Spirit change your sense of purpose in daily life?
3. Psalm 1 describes a person “planted by streams of water.” What practices keep your roots near that stream?
4. What competes for the throne in your life — and what helps you recentre God there
5. The Dead Sea only receives water — it never gives. How does that image speak to you?
6. Jesus calls Himself the giver of living water. How do you experience that “river within” day to day?
7. Where in your life — or your world — do you see God making salty, lifeless places fresh again?
8. What’s the difference between spiritual busyness and true overflow?
9. The trees in Ezekiel’s vision bear fruit every month. What would “consistent fruit” look like in your life?
10. Which fruit of the Spirit do you sense God inviting you to grow right now — and what might help it flourish?