The Story of The Three Trees

Covenant Evangelical Free Church
24 May 201607:39

Summary

TLDRThe script narrates the tale of three trees with lofty dreams: one aspires to be a treasure chest, another a mighty ship, and the third to guide people to God. Despite their wishes, they are transformed into a humble manger, a small fishing boat, and a crucifix. Each tree eventually realizes its true purpose in life, holding the baby Jesus, carrying the King of Kings, and symbolizing God's love, thus finding greater fulfillment than their initial ambitions.

Takeaways

  • 🌟 Three little trees dreamed of their future: one wanted to hold treasure, one wanted to be a mighty ship, and one wanted to grow tall to point to God.
  • 🪓 Each tree was eventually cut down by woodcutters: the first tree was made into a feed box, the second into a small fishing boat, and the third into beams left in a lumber yard.
  • 😔 The trees were initially disappointed, as they did not become what they had dreamed of becoming.
  • 👶 The first tree was used as a manger for the newborn Jesus, realizing it was holding the greatest treasure.
  • 🌊 The second tree became a fishing boat that carried Jesus during a storm, recognizing it was carrying the King of Heaven and Earth.
  • ✝️ The third tree was used to make the cross on which Jesus was crucified, realizing it was pointing to God's love and sacrifice.
  • 🙏 Each tree ultimately fulfilled a greater purpose than they had originally envisioned.
  • 💫 The story highlights themes of faith, purpose, and the unexpected ways in which dreams can be fulfilled.
  • 🎁 The first tree's desire to hold treasure was realized in a spiritual sense, as it held Jesus, the greatest treasure.
  • 👑 The second tree's wish to carry powerful kings was fulfilled by carrying Jesus, the King of Kings.

Q & A

  • What were the dreams of the three little trees on the mountaintop?

    -The first tree wanted to be a treasure chest covered with gold and filled with precious stones. The second tree aspired to be a mighty sailing ship that could travel dangerous waters and carry powerful kings. The third tree desired to grow tall enough to make people look up to heaven and think of God.

  • What happened when the woodcutters came to the mountain?

    -The woodcutters cut down all three trees. The first tree was cut for its beauty, the second for its strength, and the third was cut without any specific purpose in mind by the woodcutter.

  • What did the first tree become after being cut down?

    -The first tree was turned into a feed box for animals by a carpenter, instead of the treasure chest it had dreamed of.

  • What was the fate of the second tree after being cut down?

    -The second tree was made into a small fishing boat, far from the mighty sailing ship it had envisioned.

  • What happened to the third tree after it was cut down?

    -The third tree was cut into beams and left in a lumber yard, seemingly forgotten and without a clear purpose.

  • How did the first tree's purpose change after it was made into a feed box?

    -The first tree became a manger for the newborn baby Jesus, realizing it was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

  • In what way did the second tree's purpose change?

    -The second tree became a boat that carried Jesus and his disciples across the lake during a storm, where Jesus calmed the waters, revealing himself as the King of heaven and earth.

  • What significant event occurred with the third tree?

    -The third tree became the cross on which Jesus was crucified, and on the Sunday morning after, it symbolized God's love and the resurrection.

  • What is the moral or lesson from the story of the three trees?

    -The story illustrates that sometimes our dreams and plans may not align with what life has in store for us, but in unexpected ways, we can still serve a greater purpose and find fulfillment.

  • How do the trees' final purposes relate to their initial dreams?

    -Although the trees did not become what they initially dreamed of, their final purposes were more significant and meaningful, connecting them to the life and teachings of Jesus.

  • What does the story suggest about the value of dreams and aspirations?

    -The story suggests that while dreams and aspirations are important, they can evolve and lead to unexpected outcomes that may hold even greater value.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Aspirations of the Little Trees

The first paragraph introduces three little trees with dreams of grandeur. The first tree aspires to be a treasure chest adorned with gold and jewels. The second tree dreams of becoming a mighty ship for kings, while the third tree simply wishes to grow tall and inspire people to think of God. As the years pass, the trees grow tall, and three woodcutters come along. The first tree is cut down with the expectation of becoming a treasure chest, the second is cut with the intention of becoming a ship, and the third is cut without any specific purpose in mind, leaving it feeling confused and uncertain about its future.

05:01

🛶 Unexpected Fates of the Trees

The second paragraph reveals the unexpected outcomes of the trees' dreams. The first tree, instead of becoming a treasure chest, is turned into a humble feed box for animals. The second tree, not a mighty ship, becomes a small fishing boat on a lake. The third tree, left in a lumber yard, is forgotten. However, their stories take a significant turn when the first tree becomes the manger for baby Jesus, the second tree carries Jesus during a storm where he calms the waters, and the third tree becomes the cross on which Jesus is crucified. Each tree ultimately finds a divine purpose, realizing their true value in serving a higher purpose, which is far greater than their initial dreams.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Dreams

Dreams in the script symbolize aspirations and desires for the future. Each tree has a dream that represents its unique ambition. The first tree dreams of holding treasure, the second aspires to be a mighty ship, and the third wishes to point people towards God. The dreams are central to the narrative, illustrating the characters' hopes and the eventual fulfillment of these dreams in unexpected ways.

💡Treasure Chest

A treasure chest is a container for valuable items and is used metaphorically in the script to represent the first tree's desire to be adorned with gold and precious stones. It signifies the idea of material wealth and beauty. However, the tree is transformed into a humble feed box, which later holds the baby Jesus, symbolizing that true treasure is not material but spiritual and divine.

💡Sailing Ship

The concept of a 'sailing ship' embodies the second tree's ambition to be strong and travel across dangerous waters. It represents power, adventure, and the ability to carry important figures like kings. The ship's journey is a metaphor for life's voyages and the unexpected turns it can take, as it becomes a small fishing boat, ultimately carrying Jesus during a storm, revealing its true significance.

💡Mountaintop

The 'mountaintop' is a place of origin for the trees and serves as a symbol of a lofty starting point or perspective. For the third tree, it represents a place of contentment and connection with nature. The mountaintop is also a place where the third tree's dream is realized, as it becomes the cross on which Jesus is crucified, thus pointing to the divine.

💡Woodcutters

Woodcutters are characters in the script who cut down the trees, serving as agents of change and catalysts for the trees' destinies. Their actions, though seemingly mundane, are pivotal in the fulfillment of the trees' dreams in ways they could not have foreseen, highlighting the theme of destiny and the unexpected paths to fulfillment.

💡Carpenter

The carpenter in the script is a craftsman who transforms the first tree into a feed box. This character represents the hands that shape our destinies, often in ways that diverge from our initial dreams. The carpenter's work leads to the tree holding the baby Jesus, illustrating that even the most humble of roles can have profound spiritual significance.

💡Fishing Boat

The 'fishing boat' is the vessel created from the second tree, which initially seems a downgrade from its dream of being a mighty ship. However, it becomes a significant part of the narrative when it carries Jesus and his disciples, showing that even small and seemingly insignificant roles can have great importance in the grand scheme of things.

💡Lumber Yard

The lumber yard is where the third tree's logs are left, symbolizing a place of apparent abandonment and disappointment. However, it is also the place from which the tree's ultimate destiny as the cross is realized, underscoring the theme that even in moments of seeming failure, there can be a greater purpose.

💡Newborn Baby

The 'newborn baby' is a reference to Jesus, whose birth is a pivotal event in the script. The baby's placement in the feed box, originally the first tree's humble destiny, signifies the divine importance of that which may seem ordinary, turning the tree into a vessel of the greatest treasure.

💡Traveler

The 'traveler' is a character who, along with his friends, boards the second tree's fishing boat. This character is revealed to be Jesus, whose presence during a storm calms the waters, signifying his divine power and the tree's true purpose as a carrier of the King of Heaven and Earth.

💡Cross

The 'cross' is the final form of the third tree and is a central symbol in Christianity, representing sacrifice, redemption, and the intersection of earth and heaven. The tree's transformation into the cross, where Jesus is crucified, fulfills its dream of pointing to God and becomes a symbol of ultimate spiritual significance.

Highlights

Three little trees on a mountaintop dream of their future aspirations.

The first tree aspires to be a beautiful treasure chest, holding gold and precious stones.

The second tree dreams of becoming a mighty ship, carrying powerful kings across dangerous waters.

The third tree desires to grow tall on the mountaintop, inspiring people to look up to heaven and think of God.

Years pass, and the trees grow tall as they face the reality of their dreams.

Three woodcutters climb the mountain and encounter the three trees, changing their destinies.

The first tree is cut down, expecting to become a treasure chest but is made into a humble feed box.

The second tree is chopped down, hoping to be a strong ship but becomes a small fishing boat instead.

The third tree is cut and left in the lumberyard, confused about its purpose.

The first tree finds new meaning as it becomes a manger for the newborn Jesus.

The second tree gains significance when it carries Jesus, the King of Kings, across a lake during a storm.

The third tree is used as the cross on which Jesus is crucified, becoming a symbol of God's love and sacrifice.

Each tree realizes that their true value lies not in their initial dreams but in their unexpected roles.

The story conveys the message that sometimes life's greatest treasures and strengths come from unexpected places.

The trees' transformations teach the lesson of finding beauty and purpose in life's unexpected turns.

The narrative illustrates the power of faith and the idea that God's plans may be different from our own.

The story concludes with the trees understanding that their true significance lies in their connection to God and humanity.

Transcripts

play00:27

three little trees stood on the

play00:30

mountaintop and dreamed of what they

play00:32

wanted to become when they grew up the

play00:38

first little tree looked up at the stars

play00:40

twinkling like diamonds above him I want

play00:43

to hold treasure it said I want to be

play00:46

covered with gold and filled with

play00:48

precious stones I will be the most

play00:51

beautiful treasure chest in the world

play00:55

the second little tree looked out at the

play00:58

river flowing towards the ocean I want

play01:01

to be a mighty sailing ship it said I

play01:03

want to travel dangerous waters and

play01:06

carry powerful Kings I will be the

play01:09

strongest ship in the world the third

play01:14

little tree looked down into the valley

play01:15

where busy men and busy women worked in

play01:18

a busy town I don't want to leave this

play01:21

mountain top at all it said I want to

play01:24

grow so tall that when people stop to

play01:26

look at me they will raise their eyes to

play01:29

heaven and think of God I will be the

play01:33

tallest tree in the world

play01:48

years passed the rains came the Sun

play01:52

shone and the little trees grew tall

play02:00

then one day three wood cutters climbed

play02:03

the mountain and saw the three tall

play02:05

trees the first woodcutter looked at the

play02:08

first tree and said this tree is

play02:10

beautiful it's perfect for me with a

play02:13

swoop of his shining axe he cut down the

play02:16

first tree now I shall be made into a

play02:19

beautiful treasure chest thought the

play02:21

first tree I shall hold wonderful

play02:24

treasure

play02:25

the second woodcutter looked at the

play02:28

second tree and said this tree is strong

play02:31

it's perfect for me with a swoop of his

play02:34

shining axe he chopped down the second

play02:37

tree now I shall sail mighty waters

play02:41

about the second tree I shall be a

play02:44

strong ship fit for kings the third tree

play02:49

felt its heart sink when the last

play02:51

woodcutter looked its way the tree stood

play02:54

straight and tall pointed bravely

play02:56

skyward toward heaven but the woodcutter

play02:59

never even looked up any tree will do

play03:02

for me he muttered and with a swoop of

play03:04

his shining axe the third tree fell down

play03:07

to the ground

play03:22

the first tree rejoiced when the

play03:25

woodcutter brought it to a carpenter's

play03:26

shop but the busy carpenter was not

play03:29

thinking about treasure chests gold or

play03:31

jewels instead he used his work worn

play03:34

hands to make the tree into a feed box

play03:36

for animals the once beautiful tree was

play03:39

not covered with gold or filled with

play03:41

jewels and treasure and was coated with

play03:43

sawdust he filled with hay for hungry

play03:46

farm animals the second tree smiled when

play03:49

the woodcutter took it to a shipyard but

play03:52

no mighty sailing ships were made that

play03:54

day instead the once strong tree was

play03:58

chopped up and hammered into a small

play04:00

fishing boat too small and too weak to

play04:03

sail an ocean or even a river it was put

play04:06

into a little lake every day simple

play04:09

fisherman got on board and filled him

play04:11

with loads of dead smelly fish the third

play04:15

tree was confused for the woodcutter cut

play04:18

him into strong beats and just left him

play04:21

in the lumber yard what happened the

play04:23

ones tall tree wondered all I ever

play04:25

wanted to do was stay on top of the

play04:28

mountain top and point to God

play04:41

many many days and nights passed and the

play04:46

three trees nearly forgot their once

play04:48

precious dreams then one night golden

play04:52

starlight poured over the first tree as

play04:54

a young woman placed her newborn baby in

play04:58

the feed box I wish I could make a

play05:00

cradle for him her husband whispered the

play05:04

mother squeezed his hand and smiled as

play05:06

the starlight shone on the smooth and

play05:09

sturdy wood this manger is beautiful for

play05:12

how little Jesus she said and suddenly

play05:15

the first tree knew it was holding the

play05:19

greatest treasure in the entire world

play05:22

one evening years after that a tired

play05:25

traveler and his 12 friends crowded into

play05:28

an old fishing boat the traveler fell

play05:31

asleep as the second tree quietly sailed

play05:34

out into the lake Sioux Thunder and

play05:36

thrashing storm arose

play05:39

vote started screaming and affair that

play05:41

they would all perish the tree shuddered

play05:44

it did not have the strength to carry so

play05:47

many passengers

play05:50

the tired man wakened he stood up

play05:53

stretched out his head and said peace

play05:57

the storm stopped as quickly as it had

play06:00

begun and suddenly the second tree knew

play06:03

it was carrying the real king the king

play06:06

of heaven and earth a little later on a

play06:11

Friday morning the third tree was

play06:13

startled when its beans were yanked from

play06:16

the forgotten wood pile it flinched as

play06:18

it was carried through an angry jeering

play06:21

crowd

play06:25

the tree couldn't believe it when

play06:27

soldiers nailed a man's hands to it

play06:30

the tree felt ugly and harsh and cruel

play06:37

but on Sunday morning when the Sun rose

play06:39

and the earth trembled with joy beneath

play06:42

the third tree knew that God's love had

play06:46

changed everything it had made the first

play06:51

tree beautiful as beautiful as all the

play06:54

treasures on earth it had made the

play06:56

second tree strong stronger than all

play07:00

Kings put together and every time people

play07:03

thought of the third tree they would

play07:05

think of God the greatest treasure

play07:09

the mightiest King and the Lord of lords

play07:14

that was better than being the tallest

play07:17

tree in the world

Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

الوسوم ذات الصلة
DreamsDestinyTreesTreasureTreasure ChestSailing ShipFaithGodTransformationLife LessonsChristianity
هل تحتاج إلى تلخيص باللغة الإنجليزية؟