Bearing Fruit That Lasts

Sermon 6: Bearing Fruit That Lasts

Series: Sent & Rooted: Living the Gospel Together Primary Text: John 15:1–8

Introduction

Most Christians don’t struggle with wanting to bear fruit—they struggle with exhaustion… or maybe knowing how?

We try harder. We do more. We carry guilt when results don’t come.

Or even worse we give up all together and buy into he lie that christian hypocrisy is how we all live.

Jesus offers a radically different vision of fruitfulness—one rooted not in pressure, but in abiding.

John 15:1–8 ESV

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Big Idea

Lasting fruit in evangelism and discipleship flows from abiding in Christ, not striving for results. Fruitfulness is the outcome of intimacy, not effort.

I. Fruitfulness Begins With the True Vine.

John 15:1 ESV

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

Key Observations

Jesus identifies Himself as the source of life

God the Father is actively involved in growth

Fruitfulness is expected—but not forced

Key Truth

Fruit does not come from effort alone—it comes from connection.

Cross References

Psalm 80:8–9 “8 You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. 9 You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land.”

– God plants and tends His vine

Colossians 2:19 “19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.”

– Growth comes from God

1 Corinthians 3:6–7 “6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”

– God gives the growth

Illustration

Branches don’t strain to produce fruit—they stay connected. Disconnection, not laziness, is the real threat.

II. Pruning Is Part of Fruitfulness.

John 15:2 ESV

2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

This is one of Jesus’ most misunderstood teachings.

Key Truth

Pruning is not punishment—it is preparation.

God removes:

What drains energy

What limits growth

What competes with fruitfulness

What is dead…

Cross References

Hebrews 12:11 “11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

– Discipline yields righteousness

James 1:2–4 “2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

– Trials produce maturity

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 “16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

– Renewal through hardship

Illustration

Gardeners prune healthy plants, not dead ones. God’s pruning is proof of His investment.

III. Abiding Is the Non-Negotiable.

John 15:3–5 ESV

3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

What Abiding Means

Ongoing dependence

Continual relationship

Daily trust and obedience

Jesus makes it unmistakably clear:

“Apart from me you can do nothing.”

Key Insight

We often reverse Jesus’ logic—we try to produce fruit to stay connected, rather than staying connected to produce fruit.

Cross References

Psalm 127:1 “1 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”

– Labor without the Lord is vain

Galatians 2:20 “20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

– Christ lives in me

Philippians 4:13 “13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

– Strength flows from Christ

Illustration

An unplugged appliance didn’t malfunction—it simply lacks power… The same is true spiritually.

IV. Lasting Fruit Glorifies God.

John 15:8 ESV

8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

What Is “Fruit”?

Fruit includes:

Transformed character

Gospel witness

Disciples who make disciples

Key Insight

Fruit that remains points beyond the branch—to the Vine.

Cross References

Matthew 7:16–20 “16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”

– Fruit reveals the tree

Galatians 5:22–23 “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

– The fruit of the Spirit

2 Timothy 2:2 “2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”

– Multiplying disciples

Illustration

Flashy growth draws attention—but lasting fruit changes lives.

V. What This Means for Us.

Personal Application

Are you abiding—or just busy?

Where might God be pruning to deepen your fruitfulness?

Is your spiritual life marked more by pressure or by peace?

Corporate Application

Are we measuring fruit by activity or by transformation?

Are our ministries rooted in prayer and dependence on Christ?

Are we helping people abide—or merely assigning them tasks?

Series Tie-In

This sermon prepares the heart for commitment:

Weeks 1–2: God’s mission and our sending

Weeks 3–6: Formation, community, and equipping

Week 7: The source of lasting fruit

Week 8: A call to commit—not from guilt, but from grace

Before we ask people to commit to a year of evangelism and discipleship, we remind them:

The goal is not more effort—it is deeper connection.

Closing Invitation

Jesus never says, “Try harder.” He says, “Abide.”

Stay close. Stay connected. Let God do what only God can do.

The fruit will come.

Group Questions

When you hear the word fruitful in your spiritual life, what emotions come up most often—hope, pressure, guilt, joy, exhaustion? Why do you think that is?

Observing the TextIn John 15:1–8, what roles do you see Jesus assigning to:

The Father

Himself

the branches (us)? How does this challenge the way we usually think about growth?

The sermon said, “We often try to produce fruit to stay connected, instead of staying connected to produce fruit.” Where do you see that reversal show up in your own life?

Jesus says fruitful branches are pruned. Why do you think God prunes what is already producing fruit? How does that reshape the way we interpret hardship or loss?

Is there something in your life right now that might be God’s pruning—something removed, reduced, or disrupted? How might God be using it for deeper fruitfulness rather than punishment?

When Jesus says, “Abide in me,” what do you think that looks like in ordinary, everyday life—not ideal life, but real life?

Jesus’ words here are strong. What do you think He means by nothing? Where have you experienced activity without spiritual life or peace?

The sermon described fruit as transformed character, gospel witness, and multiplying disciples. Which of those feels most visible in your life right now? Which feels hardest?

As a small group, how can we help one another abide, not just stay busy? What rhythms or habits could help us stay connected to Christ together?

As the church prepares for a call to commitment in evangelism and discipleship, how does this passage change the way we should commit? What would it look like to commit from grace rather than guilt?

🍇 Bearing Fruit That Lasts Jesus reminds us that lasting fruit in evangelism and discipleship doesn’t come from trying harder—it flows from staying connected to Him. When we abide, God produces the growth.

If you’ve been busy but tired… faithful but worn down… committed but discouraged—this message is for you.

📍 Allegan Bible Church 🕥 Sundays at 10:30am 📌 412 Sherman St, Allegan, MI 💻 Watch live: https://alleganbiblechurch.com/watch-live

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit…” (John 15:8)

Come be reminded where real fruit comes from.