SERMON | Branches
Sermon Title: BRANCHES
Scripture: John 15: 1-5, 12
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes[a] to make it bear more fruit. 3 You have already been cleansed[b] by the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just 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. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become[c] my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 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. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Questions
On a scale of 1-10, how was everyone’s week?
What’s your reaction to verse 2?
Dawn talked about the quiet growth of trees. Where in your life have you witnessed quiet growth and been surprised by the result?
Have you ever watched a bird’s nest develop? What was that like?
When in your life have you been forced to recognize your role as the branch attached to Jesus, the true vine?
What does it mean to “abide?” It’s not a word we use often in modern day terms, but it’s used repeatedly in this verse. How do we “abide in Jesus’ love?”