Vine and Branches

God is the Gardener

-v2 EVERY branch “in me” that does not bear fruit he takes away.

God will remove branches from the vine that aren’t doing what they’re supposed to be doing

-reference Dr. Henry Cloud’s “Necessary Endings”

-A key here is that these branches are “in him” meaning there is a connection to Jesus. This whole metaphor is about those people who appear to be in relationship with Jesus and His body.

-If you aren’t bearing fruit you’re going to be cut off. Think practically. What does this look like for someone to be this branch?

-Show pictures of trees with dead limbs. Give people a visual so they can connect with this metaphor.

-This cutting off is comprehensive. No unfruitful branches are going to escape the hand of the gardener. You may think “well I’m producing just enough fruit to keep me on the vine”…that may be true but unfortunately I have painful news for you next week.....

-V2b Every other branch (there are only two kinds) ALSO gets cut!!! If you are a good branch don’t think you’ll escape the knife. God is the preimminent cultivator of your life and He will cut off fruitless parts of your life (even painfully) if that’s what it takes to make you bear the fruit you’re supposed to for Him.

-v4-8 The only way to actually bear fruit is to continue in Jesus. Branches don’t just sprout fruit. If you have a lot outside the only thing that’s going to grow on it is fungus and lichens…those things that feed on death. It’s because apart from being connected to the source of life, you will be decaying.

-But Jesus gives us life. He ensures we have the nurishment we need to bear fruit and continue to grow.

-Do a time lapse of a piece of a vine pulled from a healthy vine. Show what happens after it’s been away from the source of nourishment. It slowly dies

-v7 abiding in Him means His word is going to continue to abide is us. If we don’t continue in Him we’ll slowly die. Getting in His word every day ensures we’re connected to Him and in WILL make us fruitful. It might not feel like it right away but eventually it will produce a crop.