Vine & Branches Introduced

John 15:1 CSB

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.

INTRO—

“Turn to John 15. We will get to this passage of the Bible momentarily—as I introduce to you our next emphasis in our time together on Sunday Mornings.”

“Right now I want to talk to you all about work our Ministry Leadership Team has been doing...” [[Pass out CBC MLS sheets.]]

THE CBC MINISTRY LEADERSHIP SURVEY 2023…

Our church MLT is working to restart our church ministry teams (this isn’t all of our church leadership needs…these ministry areas simply serve as our starting point in renewing opportunities for serving our church family as we seek to fulfill our Great Commission & Great Commandment calling as a church).

Now that everyone here has a copy, I want to also place sections of this on our screens for those joining today via our live-stream…

NOW… Let’s turn our focus to John 15 as I introduce our new Sunday Morning series.

Today we begin looking at KINGDOM LIFE. Essentially, where do we find the source and means of sustaining (sustainability) the ability to live the Christian Life?

I believe we can find the answers we need in the first eight verses of John chapter fifteen— The Illustration of “The Vine & the Branches”

[Read the entire passage.]

For today, let’s just take a look at one verse…Verse One!

Taking place immediately after the conclusion of Jesus instituting the Lord’s Supper (His body—the bread; His blood—the fruit of the vine [wine]) [John 14.31]

Most likely somewhere on the road/path between the house of the Upper Room and the Garden of Gethsemane…an illustration, object lesson, of opportunity [twice-over].

THE TRUE VINE AND THE GARDENER [John 15.1]

John 15.1 ““I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.”

JESUS = The True Vine

Lit. — “The vine, the true (one)”

Anyone or Anything else claiming to be The True Vine…is lying, deceiving…attempting to supplant (uproot, replace, supersede) Jesus.

GOD, THE FATHER = The Gardner

The Caretaker (“vine dresser; farmer”)…& Owner/Proprietor.

Only God cares for and tends to the HEALTH of the branches, et al.

THE SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE AND HEALTH = GOD (Father, Son, and Spirit)

CONCL—

John records various times in which Jesus says, “I am...”

“I am the bread of life” John 6.35.

“I am the light of the world” John 8.12.

“I am the gate” John 10.9.

“I am the resurrection and the life” John 11.25.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life” John 14.6.

“I am the true vine” John 15.1.

INVITATION:

Salvation…Service…Membership…

John 15:8 CSB

My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.