Abide & Bare Fruit
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Handout
-OOS
-OOS
I. Welcome
A. Dustin
II. Opening Prayer
A. Beth B.
III. Worship
A. Songs:
a. In the secret
b. Better is one day
c. Draw me close
d. Breathe
e. Wonderful Merciful Savior (?)
B. Offering:
a. 3 ways to give
1. online: greenmtn.org
2. text the word “give” to (833) 966-2042
i. already gave via text: just text the amount to that same #
3. mail a check to 440 Main St. in Bennington
b. Song: We are one in the spirit
IV. Announcements
A. Graduates
-SERMON
-SERMON
INTRO
INTRO
I. Where We’ve Been
A. Last week finished up I AM’s o Jesus
a. Specifically last week we talked about the I Am statement “I AM the True Vine”
1. Jesus perfectly lives out what it looks like 2 be the people o God & for us to b counted among God’s People we must remain in fellowship w/Jesus
2. Jesus is also the vine in that he is the source for all we need to produce fruit
II. Where We’re Going
A. But what is the fruit that we r supposed to produce?
B. Illust Time @Grace
- we were serving @ a church as associate pastor
- In that time we saw God do lot’s o cool things through us: people falling out, healed, words
-It was also a time where we weren’t completely well met by stepping in their
-How we handled that was characterized by loving folks, self-control, kindness.
-It was a time in our life where we saw our lives and ministry bared fruit & glorified God
b. This week, our main text will sound familiar…it’s the same as last week.
III. Main Text
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.
IV. Prayer
BODY
BODY
I. Jesus declares that branches that remain connected 2 HIM r expected 2 produce…
A. living things produce!! - In this case fruit…
a. Fruit is the outcome of our life & ministry
1. by the context we r clearly supposed to DO…but what?
i. 3 things we do:
-ministry,
-prayer,
-how we live
b. How much o the work God has called us 2 can we accomplish apart frm Jesus?
1. Jesus says we can “do NOTHING”
i. Nothing o eternal value can b accomplished on our own!
c. We r also not saved by what we do
1. The outcome o our ministry, prayer, & life is
i. the natural product o our salvation & continued fellowship w/Jesus
ii. What is the outcome o our ministry, prayer, & life?
II. Fruit as Ministry
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.
A. Ministry is accomplishing God’s mission in our area
—What’s the mission?—
a. 2 know our mission, we must 1st look @ Jesus’ mission
b. Jesus outlined his “mission statement” in his hometown Nazareth by quoting frm Isa...
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
1. Jesus’ Mission was 2 preach the gospel to the poor: Proclaim good news
i. Illust. the Roman root o the word (no where more clear than in Mk 1...
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
-Rome would send a person in2 a nation who had just been defeated & proclaim the gospel (Good News)
*There’s a new king in town…Rome will provide peace, new roads, safety, economic stability, etc.
-Jesus followers repurposed the word 2 articulate that Jesus is taking his rightful place as king over humanity
-But who was this good news for?? the poor
ii. poor defined: not limited 2 economically destitute, or the poor in spirit
-poor is the cultural, socio-economic, spiritually marginalized, devalued & destitute
-So the KOG, as proclaimed by the needy restores value to the biblically defined poor
2. Jesus’ Mission was 2 Heal the brokenhearted
3. Jesus’ Mission was 2 Provide freedom
4. Jesus’ Mission was 2 Heal the infirm/sick
5. Jesus’ Mission was 2 empower the powerless
6. Jesus’ Mission was 2 proclaim the acceptable yr o the Lord: Announce God’s favor over humanity
c. These r the fruit of ministry: restoring people’s value, freedom, health, & empowerment
d. Jesus did all these things while on earth because he was given the spirit w/out measure
1. Jn the Baptist said this o Jesus in...
34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.
35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.
i. We, do not have the spirit w/out measure,
-instead we have received a measure o the spirit
ii. so, the church brings our measure o the spirit 2gether so that united we accomplish the works Jesus did
-We aren’t all going 2 have the ministry o healing, but we all will do ministry & 2gether all the fruit will b present…but we have 2 maintain cooperative fellowship w/Jesus
e. Jesus’ Mission is 2 build the Church through his followers (followers making followers):
1. Three step process outlined in...
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
2. We can’t do these things on our own…we must b completely dependent upon Jesus 4 'em
i. Remember, apart from him we can do nothing
ii. Jesus, living in us by the Spirit, empowers us!
- That’s what “Spirit is upon us” means in Lk
-Paul says it this way
29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
*who’s energy was pwrfly @work w/in him as Paul struggled? - Jesus!
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B. r the works outlined in Lk Just 4 Jesus? it has been argued as so
a. Consider Jesus’ words 2 the 12 in...
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
1. Jesus’ ministry is the Church’s ministry (will do the works that I do)
i. & Jesus promises that our ministry will be done to greater measure than he did
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III. Fruit as Prayer
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
A. So, as long as we read our bible and do what we’re told,
a. we can ask 4
1. big houses,
2. perfect job,
3. shiny new car and we’ll get it;
i. is that what Jesus meant?
B. Jesus declares that we remain in him by his word (his teaching & prompting) remain in us…why?
a. so that our requests align w/His promises/prompting, his will & his mission.
1. This is what Jesus means by “In my name” in...
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
i. Ask according to his promises/prompting
-Illust. James
-Illust. Song standing on the promises of God
ii. Ask according to his will
-our desires should line up w/Jesus desires
-don’t ask for sin!
iii. ask according to his mission
- "In Jesus name” is not the phrase on the end o our prayer like a ?
-Praying in Jesus name is aligning our requests w/HIS promises, will, & Mission
*How do we know a prayer is aligned w/ Jesus’ promises, will & mission?
*REMAIN IN JESUS
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2. A great example o fruit as prayer is found in the book o Acts
8 It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him.
9 And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.
i. When we abide in Jesus by his teaching remaining in us prayers r answered
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IV. Fruit as How We Live
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.
A. Fruit o the Spirit is more than character, it’s how we treat others
a. it’s not that christians have a loving disposition, but that we love selflessly, serve others (biblical love)
b. it’s not inner peace, but shalom…living in restored relationship w/others
c. we aren’t kind hearted, but we treat others w/kindness
d. we aren’t good natured, but r good (act justly) 2 others
e. we r loyal, gentle, in control of our emotions & temper
B. If a Christian & a non-Christian were interacting would we be able 2 tell who was following Jesus & who wasn’t?
a. It shouldn’t take very long & an observer should b able 2 spot the Christian by his words & deeds
IV. Bearing Fruit by remaining in cooperative fellowship w/ Jesus is vital
— Consider Jesus’ words in—
8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
A. Bearing fruit glorifies God
a. Glorifying God is showing people who he is... that is: what he’s like, & what he does
b. Remember fruit is the outcome of our life & ministry
1. So, as we remain in fellowship w/Jesus & experience his presence through the H.S. (cooperative fellowship w/Jesus), then our lives & ministry reflect the character & work o God & he is glorified as people catch glimpses o what he is truly like.
2. Our hope is that in the process many will come 2 know God & put their trust in Jesus. (becoming disciples)
i. & they will bear fruit as they remain in cooperative fellowship w/Jesus
-followers making followers
B. Bearing fruit is also How folks know we r disciples (re-read vs8)
a. If u were brought 2 trial 4 being a Christian, would there b enough evidence frm ur life 2 convict u?
C. If we don’t remain in Jesus we will wither & die spiritually & r eventually burned
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.
a. Here’s the good news!
1. The gathering & burning only happens @the end... so its not too late
i. How do we reconnect?
-same way we connected 2 Jesus in the 1st place:
b. We reconnect through repentance & then trust
