May 4: Light, Life, Love: A Journey Through the Gospel of John – John 15:1-17

1. Big Idea:  Bearing fruit is the natural outcome of a healthy follower of Jesus.
2. Bearing fruit … comes through connection with Jesus … requires pruning … in abundance is promised for those who abide in Jesus.
3. Read John 15:1-17

• Bearing fruit comes through connection with Jesus

• I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  John 15:1
• Read Psalm 80:8-9, 14  *for more on Israel as a vine, see Isaiah 5:1-7, Ezekiel 17:8, Jer. 2:21
• Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  John 15:4
• “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  John 15:5-6
• Abiding means wholeness in relationship. It points to a relationship that endures rather than one that is transient. To abide is to be present with and for someone. – Craig Koester
• To abide means to rest in and rely upon Jesus, who is not outside the Christian judging us, but inside of us, empowering us. 
• The more deeply we are aware of our identify in Christ and his ready available power, the more naturally we’ll be fruitful for him.  – James Bryan Smith

1. Fruit? What does Jesus mean?  
1. Character  – Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
2. Converts – Romans 1:13  I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
3. Calling out in praise – Heb. 13:15  Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
4. What fruit are we to produce? 
1. Character
2. Converts
3. Calling out in praise

Apart from me you can do nothing.  John 15:5

1. Bearing fruit … comes through connection with Jesus … requires pruning.
2. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  John 15:1-2
3. When it comes to your life, the life of your company or groups that you care about, is being pruned part of your worldview?
4. Life produces more:
1. Relationships than you can nurture
2. Activities than you can keep up
3. Clients than you can service all in the same way
4. Mentors who once ‘fit’ but whose time has past
5. Hobbies than we can master 
6. Stuff than you have room to store
5. Is there anything in your life that needs to end, but you are resisting that conclusion?  Or is there something in life that you are being pressured to end that really must continue?
6. Bearing fruit … comes through connection with Jesus … requires pruning … in abundance is promised for those who abide in Jesus.
7. Bearing fruit in abundance is promised for those who abide in Jesus.
1. You will bear much fruit (v. 5)
2. Bear much fruit (v. 8)
3. Your joy may be complete (v. 11)
4. Fruit that will last (v. 16)
8. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.  1 Corinthians 15:58