Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

True and False Branches

As we come to the text tonight, I want to point out that the content of Jesus’s conversation transcends beyond that dark night as He and His disciples left the Upper Room and walked towards the Garden of Gethsemane, where He would be arrested and shortly thereafter nailed to a cross for your sins and mine - an innocent man, bearing the sins of the world.

His words are for everyone here tonight and for everyone of all time.

The point that He makes is not only an alarming one, but one that should cause every individual to self-examine themselves.

Let’s look at .

Text:

As we come to the text tonight, I want to point out that the content of Jesus’s conversation transcends beyond that dark night as He and His disciples left the Upper Room and walked towards the Garden of Gethsemane, where He would be arrested and shortly thereafter nailed to a cross for your sins and mine - an innocent man, bearing the sins of the world.

His words are for everyone here tonight and for everyone of all time.

The point that He makes is not only an alarming one, but one that should cause every individual to self-examine themselves.

Let’s look at .

Intro

Text:

Intro

As we come to the text tonight, I want to point out that the content of Jesus’s words transcends beyond that dark night as He and His disciples left the Upper Room and made their way towards the Garden of Gethsemane, where Christ would be arrested and shortly thereafter nailed to a cross for your sins and mine.

He was an innocent man, who would bear the sins of the world.

His words are of utmost importance, and they are for everyone here tonight and for everyone of all time.

The point that He makes here is an alarming one.

It is one that should cause every individual to self-examine themselves.

Christ was and is the truth, His words are true, therefore what He said, regardless if one likes it or not, is the truth.

My prayer tonight is that you would examine your own life and ask yourself what kind of branch you are.

Secondly, I hope that you would also heed the words of Christ and consider those around you, specifically those whose salvation is questionable.

But, I want to forewarn you, regardless of what you or anyone else may identify themselves as, the truth is literally on display or not on display in your life.

We can fool ourselves and others, but we will never fool Christ.

For, He is the True Vine, therefore He knows who is drawing life from Him and who is not.

Let’s look at (READ)

As we come to the text tonight, I want to point out that the content of Jesus’s conversation transcends beyond that dark night as He and His disciples left the Upper Room and walked towards the Garden of Gethsemane, where He would be arrested and shortly thereafter nailed to a cross for your sins and mine - an innocent man, bearing the sins of the world.

His words are for everyone here tonight and for everyone of all time.

The point that He makes is not only an alarming one, but one that should cause every individual to self-examine themselves.

Let’s look at .

Last week, we discussed that there were at least three types of fruit that is either produced or not produced by the branches we just read about in verse 2. There are those that bear fruit and those who do not bear fruit.

Remember, the determining factor as to what kind of branch you or anyone else is, is based upon whether or not there is fruit.

Let’s look first at the branch that does not bear fruit, we’ll call them false branches.

Last week, we discussed that there were at least three types of fruit that is either produced or not produced by the branches we just read about in verse 2. There are those that bear fruit and those who do not bear fruit.

Remember, the determining factor as to what kind of branch you or anyone else is, is based upon whether or not there is fruit.

Let’s look first at the branch that does not bear fruit, we’ll call them false branches.

Last week, we discussed that there were at least three types of fruit that is either produced or not produced by the branches we just read about in verse 2 - those that bear fruit and those who do not bear fruit.

Remember, the determining factor as to what kind of branch you or anyone else is based upon whether or not there is fruit.

The False Branches

Now, as we look at verse 2, I want to first of all draw your attention to the fact that there are some who are labeled as branches but have no fruit at all.

Jesus states that there are branches “in him” yet they do not produce fruit.

There are a couple different interpretations that many good, solid Christians and theologians have come to, but truth be told, there can be only one.

Jesus wasn’t speaking to confuse us, so the meaning of the phrase “in me” can be known.

To gather the meaning of this, we need to keep what Jesus said in its context.

Now, as we look at verse 2, I want to first of all draw your attention to the fact that there are some who are branches but have no fruit at all.

Jesus describes them as branches that are “in him” yet they do not produce fruit.

There are a couple different interpretations that many good, solid Christians and theologians have come to, but truth be told, there can be only one.

Jesus wasn’t speaking to confuse us, so the meaning of the phrase “in me” can be known.

To gather the meaning of this, we need to keep what Jesus said in its context.

The False Branches

Now, as we look at verse 2, I want to first of all draw your attention to the fact that there are some who are branches but have no fruit at all.

Jesus describes them as branches that are “in him” yet they do not produce fruit.

Now, there are a couple different interpretations that many good, solid Christians and theologians have come to, but truth be told, there can be only one.

Jesus wasn’t speaking to confuse us, so the meaning of the phrase “in me” can be known.

To gather the meaning of this, we need to keep what Jesus said in its context.

Context to Understand “in me”

Now, as we look at verse 2, I want to first of all draw your attention to the fact that there are some who are branches but have no fruit at all.

Jesus describes them as branches that are “in him” yet they do not produce fruit.

Now, there are a couple different interpretations that many good, solid Christians and theologians have come to, but truth be told, there can be only one.

Jesus wasn’t speaking to confuse us, so the meaning of the phrase “in me” can be known.

To gather the meaning of this, we need to keep what Jesus said in its context.

Just prior to chapter 15, Jesus and the disciples were in the Upper Room, where Judas Iscariot betrayed Christ.

At the end of chapter 14, Jesus and His 11 disciples left the Upper Room and walked out into the night.

It has been said that where they were at, they would have walked by the temple where there was a beautiful carving of a vine over the temple entrance.

Perhaps as they were making their way to the Garden of Gethsemane, the moonlight shined upon this carving and it caught Jesus’ eye, which prompted Him to talk about what just happened and what would happen in the near and distant future, using the creative imagery.

He therefore began to speak of a vine, branches, and a husbandman who would take away branches that produced no fruit and prune the branches that did produce fruit.

Context to understand “in me”

Just prior to chapter 15, Jesus and the disciples were in the Upper Room, where Judas Iscariot betrayed Christ.

At the end of chapter 14, Jesus and His 11 disciples left the Upper Room and walked out into the night.

It has been said that where they were at, they would have walked by the temple where there was a beautiful carving of a vine over the temple entrance.

Perhaps as they were making their way to the Garden of Gethsemane, the moonlight shined upon this carving and it caught Jesus’ eye, which prompted Him to talk about what just happened and what would happen in the near and distant future.

Using this image, He therefore began to speak of a vine, branches, and a husbandman who would take away branches that produced no fruit and prune the branches that did produce fruit.

Just prior to chapter 15, Jesus and the disciples were in the Upper Room, where Judas Iscariot betrayed Christ.

Jesus and His 11 disciples left the Upper Room and walked out into the night.

It has been said that where they were at, they would have walked by the temple where there was a beautiful carving of a vine over the temple entrance that perhaps was glowing in the moonlight.

This probably prompted Christ to talk about what just happened and what would happen in the near and distant future.

He therefore began to speak of a vine, branches, and a husbandman who would take away branches that produced no fruit and who would also prune branches that did produce fruit.

Explanation of “in me”

Explanation of “in me”

There are some people who may be “in Him” but they are not true branches, but false ones.

Judas Iscariot is a classic example of such a branch.

He was “in Christ,” in the sense that He followed Christ for a period of time, then betrayed Him.

You see, “in me” does not necessarily mean “in Christ” in the sense of having a relationship with Him.

It can also mean fellowship with or association with.

There is a distinct difference between being associated with and having a personal relationship with someone.

So, as we look at the phrase “in me,” it's important to understand that there are some people who may be labeled as being “in Him” or “in Christ,” but they are not true branches, they are false ones.

Judas Iscariot is a classic example of such a branch.

He was “in Christ,” in the sense that He followed Christ for a period of time, then betrayed Him.

You see, “in me” does not necessarily mean “in Christ” in the sense of having a relationship with Him.

It can also mean having fellowship with or association with.

There is a distinct difference between being associated with and having a personal relationship with someone.

There are some people who may be labeled as being “in Him” or “in Christ,” but they are not true branches, they are false ones.

Judas Iscariot is a classic example of such a branch.

He was “in Christ,” in the sense that He followed Christ for a period of time, then betrayed Him.

You see, “in me” does not necessarily mean “in Christ” in the sense of having a relationship with Him.

It can also mean having fellowship with or association with.

There is a distinct difference between being associated with and having a personal relationship with someone.

ILLUST: The Apostle Paul speaks much of the latter meaning, namely having membership or a relationship with Christ.