Pastor Jeff Summers

VINE & BRANCHES

JOHN 15:1-17 GALATIANS 5:22-23

GRANDPA'S ORCHARD

JOHN 15:1-17

JESUS' IMAGERY:

·         Psalm 80:8-9

·         Isaiah 5:1-7

·         Jeremiah 2:21

·         Hosea 10:1

TWO TYPES OF BRANCHES

·         Those that do not bear fruit

o   John 10:27-30

·         Those that bear fruit

FRUIT—A DEFINITION

Jesus points to "fruit" as the character of the Christ-follower.  We can see this because what Jesus teaches here is focused on the hearts of His disciples and their actions toward other Christ-followers. 

Descriptions of the "fruit" in the life of the Christ-follower:

·         Galatians 5:22-23

·         2 Peter 1:5-8

·         Ephesians 5:2, 9

 

SO WHAT DOES "CUT OFF" MEAN?

·         How does a branch produce fruit? 

·         Who produces the fruit?

·         "Cut off" means unable to produce fruit

·         1 Corinthians 3:11-15

SO HOW DO "CUT OFF" BRANCHES GET "RE-CONNECTED"?  SUBMISSION

·         Humility

·         Confession (1 John 1:9)

·         Repentance (Psalm 119:67)

·         The Word of God (Gal 5:24; Psalm 119:92)

SO WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE NOT CUT OFF?  THOSE WHO ARE BEARING FRUIT?

·         God prunes (v.2)

·         What does God prune off of us?  UNRIGHTEOUSNESS (SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS)

o   Envy, greed, slander, malice, anger, bitterness, selfishness, gossip, foolishness, laziness, idolatry, un-forgiveness, judgmental attitudes, indifference

o   Galatians 5:19-21

o   1 Corinthians 6:9-10

o   1 Peter 2:1

·         Why does God prune us?  To be even more fruitful (v.2) and ultimately to bring Him glory (v.8)

HOW DO WE BEAR FRUIT? REMAIN IN HIM

REMAINING  "IN CHRIST":

·         Constant connection (v.4) (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

·         Words remaining in us (v.7)=continual cleansing=more fruit (Psalm 1:1-3; Psalm 119 esp. 1-3, 9-16)

·         Obey His commands (v.10) (Matthew 22:38-40) (v.9, 12, 17)

·         Believe Him—trust God so much that we…

o   …choose to have His word guide our life (v. 7, 10)

o   …ask for what only God can do (v. 7, 16)

o   …actively love other Christ-followers (v. 12, 13, 17)

BOTTOM LINE:

The Church…the people of God…are marked by DEPENDENCE.  The church is defined by DEPENDENCE!

We willingly trust God with every aspect of our lives…not matter its cost!

Dependence demonstrates that Jesus is our only source of life!

Dependence recognizes that obedience is for our good and the good of others!

Dependence trusts God through, in, and for all things!

The DEPENDENT LIFE is marked by RISK, TRUST, FAITH, & BELIEVING GOD—for the individual Christ-follower and for the church as a whole.

How can I demonstrate DEPENDENCE this week?

·         Give sacrificially

·         Share the Message of Jesus

·         Forgive someone

·         Any others?

How can WE demonstrate DEPENDENCE?

·         Dream God's dreams…and trust Him to provide the resources

·         Believe that He wants to change our community…and let Him use us to do it

·         Any others?

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