Sermon Tone Analysis

Bearing Fruit

I have a peach, pear and apple tree in my back yard.

They have produced little or no fruit.

Shall I cut them down?

Give them another year?

Do nothing?

What should I do?

Bearing fruit is part of our responsibility as believers.

If we are not bearing fruit, what are we here for?

Key Text:

Key Text:

Bearing fruit is part of our responsibility as believers.

If we are not bearing fruit, what are we here for?

“An apple tree becomes an apple tree as a gift from God, but it proves it’s an apple tree by making apples” Keith Green “No compromise” page 251

Josephus reports a massive golden vine decorated Israel’s temple during the New Testament period, hanging over the columns at the entrance to the sanctuary (Josephus, Antiquities 15.11.3;

Mishnah, Middot, 3.8; Tacitus, Histories 5.5).

The grapes on this vine were as tall as a person (Josephus, Jewish War 5.5.3)

(The Lexham Bible Dictionary.)

It is a possibly that Jesus was looking at this - perhaps at a distance - when he spoke of the vine to his disciples in

The Lexham Bible Dictionary.

Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.Key Text:

Jesus’ last supper was over and he was giving his disciples some last instructions before his death

- Jesus predicts his betrayal

- Jesus comforts his disciples and tells them of the Holy Spirit that He will ask the Father to send to be there Helper and Comfortor

- Jesus comforts his disciples and tells them of the Holy Spirit that He will ask the Father to send to be there Helper and Comfortor

John 15 - Jesus tells of the importance of abiding in Him so the Holy Spirit can do His work through the disciples

- Jesus gives information about the convicting work of the Holy spirit and how He will operate

- Jesus’ high priestly prayer

- Jesus leaves for Gethsemane

(READ )

Some thoughts about vinyards

Some thoughts about vinyards

VINES, VINEYARD Plants cultivated for the production of grapes, raisins, and wine.

The grapevine is mentioned frequently in Scripture both in a literal and a figurative sense.

Probably originating in the Ararat region (Gn 9:20), the vine was also cultivated in ancient Egypt, where tomb murals depict the wine-making process.

The Canaanites provided wine for Abraham (14:18), and Moses described the vineyards in the Promised Land (Dt 6:11).

Excellent grapes from the valleys and plains (Nm 13:20, 24; Jgs 14:5; 15:5) provided fruit and wine to enhance the bland diet of the Hebrews.

Wine was traded extensively in the late monarchy (cf.

Ez 27:18), as well as in the Greek and Roman periods.

For the Hebrews, an ideal picture of life was a sedentary one in which a man could remain peacefully in one place, cultivating his plot of land, and sitting under his vine (1 Kgs 4:25).

Vineyard - probably originated in Ararat region () - first mentioned was negative yet God works with the bad to make good

For Hebrews, the ideal picture of life was a sedentary one in which a man could remain peacefully in one place, cultivating his plot of land, and sitting under his vine () - picture of the believer’s life

The vines were planted in rows within the enclosed area, and as the plants grew, the tendrils were trained along supports to the fruit-bearing branches off the ground (Ez 17:6) - Believers are groomed and trained in the ways of the Lord to be produce fruit

Vines were pruned and tended by the vinedressers - Just like our heavenly Father

At harvest time grapes were taken to the winepresses - we will go through tribulation

A festive atmosphere accompanied the treading of the grapes (; ) and fermenting juice was collected in new goatskin bags () or large pottery jars - Judgement seat of Christ

People working in the grape harvest were exempted from military service - We do not fight, the Lord fights for us

Nonproductive vines were used for producing charcoal (Ez 15:4; )

The typical vineyard was surrounded by a protective hedge or fence, and at harvesttime a watchtower was manned to guard the crop from thieves (Jb 24:18; Is 1:8; Mk 12:1).

The vines were planted in rows within the enclosed area, and as the plants grew, the tendrils were trained along supports to raise the fruit-bearing branches off the ground (Ez 17:6).

The vines were pruned and tended by vinedressers (Lv 25:3; Is 61:5; Jl 3:10; Jn 15:2).

At harvesttime the mature fruit was picked and taken to the winepresses (Hos 9:2).

A festive atmosphere accompanied the treading of the grapes (Is 16:10; Jer 25:30), and the fermenting juice was collected in new goatskin bags (Mt 9:17) or large pottery jars.

People working in the grape harvest were exempted from military service, which attests to its importance.

Taxes and debts were often discharged by payments of wine, and the law provided for the poor to glean in the vineyards as in the wheat fields (Lv 19:9–10).

Nonproductive vines were used for producing charcoal (Ez 15:4; Jn 15:6).

Tyndale Bible dictionary

(There is another story of a vine owner found in )

I. The necessity of bearing fruit (1-3)

I.

The necessity of bearing fruit (1-3)

Who is the vinedresser” The heavenly Father

He prunes, he dresses, he destroys the useless branches

Jesus is the vine.

Who is the vine?

Jesus

The vine is the symbol of Israel - God’s chosen people.

The vine is the symbol of Israel - God’s chosen people.

Jesus was chosen by God the Father to be the vine we can get strength from

No fruit can be produced without his nourishment

Who is the branch?

The belivers

“Every branch” not just some!

“Every branch” not just some!

What does “in Me” speaks of?

Our relationship with Jesus

Branches “in Me” speaks of our relationship with Jesus

What happens if you don’t bear fruit?

He takes you away.

Who?

The Father

What happens if you bear fruit?

The Father prunes so it will bear more fruit

Pruning can be painful and hard, but is necessary

Jesus wants to make you more fruitful and if he sees some he will prune you to make it better

You are clean because of the Word (faith in Christ) therefore the ground is ready to produce fruit

(Judas Iscariot had already left at this time)

What does Abide mean? - to dwell, to continue a certain state, condition or activity

Who produces fruit?

We do

How is it produced?

By abiding

Who was Jesus giving to help us (context) - the Holy Spirit

II.

The procedure of bearing fruit (4-7)

Without Jesus you can do nothing.

you cannot bear fruit but with Jesus you will bear not some fruit but much fruit

Without Jesus you can do nothing.

you cannot bear fruit

What is the difference between worldly fruit and Godly fruit?