John 15:1-8

The Vine and the Branches

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

The Secret of Fruit-bearing is…

What role do YOU play in bearing fruit for the glory of the Father? Should your focus be to develop a sweet attitude, lead lots of people to a mature faith in Christ, continually offer praise and thanks to God, and regularly do good things for others (review day 9) OR should your focus be on your relationship with Christ, and then as a by-product, let those “fruits” be borne naturally out of your life?

What eventually happens to people who TRY to develop FRUIT without having a relationship with Christ to support it?

John 15:5 is a conditional verse… “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” What happens to our fruit when our relationship with Christ is not going well?

Within the passage, can you see ANY other responsibilities I (the branch) have in making sure that fruit is borne in my life?

What is the secret of bearing “much fruit”?