Abiding in the True Vine: Growth and Love
Summary
### Summary
Today, we celebrate Palm Sunday, marking the beginning of Holy Week, a time when Jesus made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, fully aware of His impending betrayal and crucifixion. This week is designed to help us remember and reflect on the profound sacrifice of Christ, culminating in the celebration of His resurrection. Our focus today is on John 15, where Jesus declares, "I am the true vine." This statement is rich with Old Testament imagery, where Israel was often depicted as a vine that failed to bear fruit, leading to God's judgment. Jesus, however, reclaims this imagery, presenting Himself as the true vine who accomplishes what Israel—and we—could not.
Jesus being the true vine means several things for us. First, it means we should expect pruning. Pruning, though painful, is a process that helps us bear more fruit, specifically the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This pruning is not a punishment but a divine act of love aimed at our growth and transformation.
Second, our position is now in His presence. Jesus tells His disciples that they are already clean because of the word He has spoken to them. This cleanliness is not based on their actions but on their belief in Him. Even when we fail, as Peter did, we are still invited to abide in Christ, who abides in us. This union with Christ means that we are seen through the lens of His perfect obedience, not our failures.
Lastly, being in Christ gives us the power to love. As we abide in His love, we naturally begin to obey His commandments. This obedience is not a prerequisite for love but a result of it. Our focus should be on growing our love for Jesus, which in turn fuels our obedience and transformation.
As we enter Holy Week, let us remember that Jesus has done for us what we could never do for ourselves. He is the true vine, and in Him, we find life, growth, and the power to love.
### Key Takeaways
1. Expect Pruning for Growth: Jesus being the true vine means we should expect to be pruned. Pruning, though often painful, is a divine act of love aimed at helping us bear more fruit, specifically the fruit of the Spirit. This process is not a punishment but a necessary step for our spiritual growth and transformation. [08:57]
2. Our Position in His Presence: Our position is secure in the presence of God because of Jesus. We are already clean because of our belief in His word, not our actions. This means that even when we fail, we are still invited to abide in Christ, who abides in us. This union with Christ is a profound mystery that assures us of His constant presence and love. [17:00]
3. The Power to Love: Abiding in Christ gives us the power to love. As we grow in our love for Jesus, we naturally begin to obey His commandments. This obedience is not a prerequisite for love but a result of it. Our focus should be on growing our love for Jesus, which in turn fuels our obedience and transformation. [29:46]
4. Run to Him, Not From Him: Understanding our position in Christ means we run to Him, not from Him, even when we fail. Peter's example of diving into the sea to reach Jesus after his betrayal shows that true understanding of Christ's love leads us to seek Him, regardless of our guilt or failures. [26:44]
5. Joy in Christ: The ultimate goal of abiding in Christ and being pruned is to experience His joy. This joy is not dependent on external circumstances but on the deep-rooted spiritual reality that we belong to Jesus and He belongs to us. This joy is what sustains us through life's challenges and trials. [39:35]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:32] - Introduction to Holy Week
[03:16] - The Seven "I Am" Statements
[03:49] - Context of John 15
[04:37] - Jesus as the True Vine
[06:11] - Old Testament Imagery of the Vine
[07:06] - Jesus Reclaims the Vine Imagery
[08:21] - Implications of Jesus as the True Vine
[08:57] - Expect Pruning
[10:17] - Bearing Fruit as Christians
[11:14] - The Fruit of the Spirit
[13:17] - Misconceptions About Christian Life
[15:34] - Our Position in His Presence
[17:00] - Union with Christ
[20:05] - Human Nature and Avoidance
[22:39] - Peter's Betrayal and Redemption
[26:44] - Running to Jesus
[29:46] - The Power to Love
[31:06] - Love and Obedience
[34:06] - Stirring Affections for Jesus
[39:35] - Joy in Christ
[42:53] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- John 15:1-11
- Galatians 5:22-23
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus mean when He says, "I am the true vine" in John 15:1? How does this imagery connect to the Old Testament? [06:11]
2. According to John 15:2, what happens to the branches that do not bear fruit and those that do bear fruit? [04:37]
3. In Galatians 5:22-23, what are the characteristics listed as the fruit of the Spirit? How does this relate to the concept of pruning mentioned in John 15? [11:14]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What is the significance of Jesus reclaiming the vine imagery from the Old Testament and presenting Himself as the true vine? How does this change our understanding of fruitfulness? [07:06]
2. How does the process of pruning, as described in John 15:2, reflect God's love and desire for our growth? Why might this process be painful yet necessary? [08:57]
3. What does it mean to abide in Christ, and how does this abiding relationship affect our ability to bear fruit? [17:00]
4. How does understanding our position in Christ, as described in John 15:3-4, change the way we approach our failures and shortcomings? [15:34]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt you were being "pruned" by God. How did this experience help you grow in the fruit of the Spirit? How can you view current challenges through this lens? [08:57]
2. Jesus invites us to abide in Him and promises that He will abide in us. What practical steps can you take this week to deepen your abiding relationship with Christ? [17:00]
3. The sermon mentioned that our position in Christ means we should run to Him, not from Him, even when we fail. How can you apply this truth in your life, especially in moments of guilt or failure? [26:44]
4. The power to love comes from abiding in Christ. Identify one area in your life where you struggle to show love. What specific actions can you take to grow in love in that area this week? [29:46]
5. The ultimate goal of abiding in Christ is to experience His joy. What are some distractions or habits in your life that rob you of this joy? How can you minimize or eliminate these distractions? [39:35]
6. Think of a person who tests your patience. What is a short prayer you can say before the next time you interact with that person to help you exhibit the fruit of the Spirit? [12:19]
7. The sermon emphasized the importance of filling our lives with things that stir our affections for Jesus. What activities or practices stir your affections for Jesus, and how can you incorporate more of these into your daily routine? [34:06]
Devotional
Day 1: Expect Pruning for Growth
Pruning is an essential part of spiritual growth. Just as a gardener prunes a vine to help it bear more fruit, God prunes us to help us grow in the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This process can be painful, but it is a divine act of love aimed at our transformation. Pruning is not a punishment but a necessary step for our spiritual development. When we understand this, we can embrace the pruning process with faith and trust in God's purpose for our lives. [08:57]
John 15:2 (ESV): "Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit."
Reflection: What areas of your life do you feel are being pruned right now? How can you trust God more deeply in this process?
Day 2: Our Position in His Presence
Our position in God's presence is secure because of Jesus. We are already clean because of our belief in His word, not our actions. This means that even when we fail, we are still invited to abide in Christ, who abides in us. This union with Christ is a profound mystery that assures us of His constant presence and love. Understanding this truth helps us to run to Him, not from Him, even in our moments of failure. [17:00]
John 15:3-4 (ESV): "Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 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."
Reflection: When you fail or fall short, do you tend to run to God or away from Him? How can you remind yourself of your secure position in Christ during these times?
Day 3: The Power to Love
Abiding in Christ gives us the power to love. As we grow in our love for Jesus, we naturally begin to obey His commandments. This obedience is not a prerequisite for love but a result of it. Our focus should be on growing our love for Jesus, which in turn fuels our obedience and transformation. This love is not something we can manufacture on our own; it is a fruit that grows as we remain connected to the true vine. [29:46]
John 15:9-10 (ESV): "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love."
Reflection: How can you intentionally grow your love for Jesus today? What practical steps can you take to abide more deeply in His love?
Day 4: Run to Him, Not From Him
Understanding our position in Christ means we run to Him, not from Him, even when we fail. Peter's example of diving into the sea to reach Jesus after his betrayal shows that true understanding of Christ's love leads us to seek Him, regardless of our guilt or failures. This kind of response is rooted in the assurance of His unwavering love and forgiveness. [26:44]
John 21:7 (ESV): "That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, 'It is the Lord!' When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea."
Reflection: Think of a recent failure or mistake. How can you run to Jesus with it today, trusting in His love and forgiveness?
Day 5: Joy in Christ
The ultimate goal of abiding in Christ and being pruned is to experience His joy. This joy is not dependent on external circumstances but on the deep-rooted spiritual reality that we belong to Jesus and He belongs to us. This joy sustains us through life's challenges and trials, giving us strength and hope. It is a joy that comes from knowing we are deeply loved and secure in Christ. [39:35]
John 15:11 (ESV): "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."
Reflection: What are some ways you can cultivate and experience the joy of Christ in your daily life, regardless of your circumstances?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "And so what we're celebrating is that this is the Sunday that Christ would have made His entry into Jerusalem, knowing He was going to die, knowing He was going to be betrayed. And on, if we looked at the kind of whole of the calendar, you would have a season of Lent where you have kind of denied yourself something to begin to prepare your heart for this week." [02:32] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "And so this is Palm Weekend or Palm Sunday for us. And so we're going to spend our time in John chapter 15. And what we've been doing... For the last seven, eight weeks, we've been walking through the seven I Am statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John. We said it's one thing to understand what Jesus does, but it's another thing to understand who He is." [03:16] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So in short, he's saying, I am doing what you cannot do and I am being what you have not been able to be. And so this is nothing short of a gospel declaration from Jesus. He's entering into really this banner of failure over their lives. And he's saying, I got this. That's what just happened when Jesus said, I am the true vine." [07:06] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "To be a Christian is to bear fruit. If there, there is no fruit, there is no genuine belief. Now, how you define that fruit starts to matter, right? If you define that fruit in, in kind of external moral religious ways, then then you're no better than the Pharisees because that's not how Jesus defines fruit." [10:17] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So when Jesus says that because he is what we could not be, that he will prune us, he is pruning us so we can grow in these areas. And the reason this is singular and not plural is because if you tease any one of these out and make it singular, then it shows, it reveals that it's a counterfeit fruit." [12:19] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "And so what happens is here in a second, you'll see that being pruned is to be blessed. Right? We don't have a lot of categories for that, but it's true. So expect pruning. Our position is now in his presence. And then lastly, that Jesus being the true vine gives us the power to love and that power to love. That's going to be, I think, I hope a real profound moment for us." [09:19] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "And therefore the Lord in his kindness prunes so that I might grow in these areas somewhere, somewhere along the way. And I've said this to you before. I don't know where. I've really tried to kind of research and figure out where it happened. It's such a kind of accumulation of foolishness that we began to believe that to follow the Lord is some sort of spirit sprinkle, no kind of room for difficulty or suffering or hardship or doubt." [13:17] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "To understand our position in the presence of God is to understand that in Christ, we don't have to avoid, but can run too, regardless of what we're guilty of. That's stunning right there. That Peter didn't hide, but dove into the ocean and swam towards him. I mean, goodness, they were trying to turn the boat around to all get there, but Peter, who was most guilty, was the one who jumped into the water and didn't wait for the boat to get to the shore." [26:44] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So it's not obey my commands and you'll love me. But as you grow in your love for me, you'll obey my commands. Now, when you get this backwards, you totally enslave yourselves and step outside. Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christian faith is not do so you might be approved. It's love. So therefore you'll do." [29:46] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So like we talked about last week, I don't ever feel like I'm going to be outed by somebody. I don't ever, if somebody points out a sin in my life, I don't ever feel like I'm I can, I can usually think, whew, that's all they know about and rest in Christ finished work in my life and in yours. And so why these things matter is the God of the universe is serious about your joy, your deep rooted, deep seated confidence that he has you, that he's for you and that he will make a way." [41:10] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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