Sermon Tone Analysis

Hampton Court Vine dimensions

The Great Vine- Hampton Court Palace, London

1768

13’ around the base

Branches 120’ long

650-840 lbs of grapes per year

In OT Israel is seen as the vine, but it is often disobedient Israel.

God is seen as the vinedresser or gardener in both.

But in the NT metaphor, JESUS is the vine!

So the way to God is not through Israel but through Jesus!

In OT Israel is seen as the vine, but it is often disobedient Israel.

God is seen as the vinedresser or gardener in both.

But in the NT metaphor, JESUS is the vine!

So the way to God is not through Israel but through Jesus!

Psalm 80:15

Now Christ says this of his father, both with respect to himself the vine, and with respect to the branches that were in him: he was the husbandman to him: he planted the vine of his human nature, and filled it with all the graces of the spirit; he supported it, upheld it, and made it strong for himself, for the purposes of his grace, and for his own glory; and took infinite delight in it, being to him a pleasant plant, a plant of renown.

The concern this husbandman has with the branches, is

Now Christ says this of the Father, both with respect to himself the vine, and with respect to the branches that were in him: the Father was the vinedresser to the Son - that is He planted the vine of his human nature, and filled it with all the graces of the spirit; he supported it, upheld it, and made it strong for himself, for the purposes of his grace, and for his own glory; and took infinite delight in it, being to him a pleasant plant, a plant of renown.

What great concern this vinedresser has for the vine and its branches!

Ask the end questions

Connected to the vine:

grace to interact with the other branches

wisdom to bring along the younger branches - why does an old man plant a pecan tree?

truth that protects every branch - boundaries, pleasant places

all flowing through branches to produce fruit

knowing that apart from Him, we can do nothing

Bearing Fruit

Train up a child in the way he should go and… proverb not promise, but catch the words.

Nurture a child in the way he is bent.

If he is bent toward sin, retrain him.

If bent toward the glory of God nurture according the that bent.

Unique from the natural order because we each have unique fruit, within the boundaries of fruit bearing.

Fruit salad tree

Not Bearing Fruit

Before we tackle the branches that are taken away, let’s remember two verses we have studied in the past few months.

…he takes away… to carry away, to take up, to withdraw.

It is also used ‘to destroy’.

We can never build a theological doctrine, a belief about God, on an single scripture that appears to contradict other scripture.

We must consider the truth being taught:

Believers have the benefit of being connected to Jesus.

Connected believers will produce fruit.

The difficulty of verse 2 is that some will stop producing fruit.

If there is a believer who has stopped producing fruit, but has not been taken home, there is fruit yet to come.

Pray to that end.

I dont get to make that call.

Not for me to decide!

I know its an OT example, but remember King David.

Not bearing fruit while chasing and covering his tracks regarding Bathsheba.

But that wasnt the end.

This is the Fruit

Fruit we bear begins with the fruit of the spirit from .

According to It continues with replicating Christ in us, as in the natural world.

But scripture gives us other instances of fruit bearing: says holiness and obedience are fruit.

Paul, in said generous giving is fruit.

Service grows, like fruit, out of our abiding life in .

And the praise from our hearts and mouths is fruit to the glory of God in .

That my joy may be complete.

That your joy may be full.

He wraps it all up with love.

All fruit bearing is to be done in love

What fruit do I bear?

What do I do to stay connected to the vine?

To submit to the pruning of the vinedresser?

sheep, cows, chickens