Growing in God's Vineyard
I had opportunity to preach on Sunday AM a c ouple of weeks ago. Here is my outline for John 15:1-17
Introduction
God has a vineyard
In it, Jesus is the vine and we are the branches
God wants us to bear fruit
God Meticulously Maintains His Vineyard
Branches which do not bear fruit he takes away (2)
Apart from Jesus we can produce nothing (4)
Abiding in Jesus we WILL produce MUCH fruit (5)
Abiding in Jesus our prayers are answered (7)
Abiding in Jesus, God, the owner, is glorified when we bear much fruit and prove to be Jesus' disciples (8)
In God's Vineyard, the climate to bear fruit is provided
If you keep my commandments you will abide in my love Jesus said in verse 10.
What is his command? Verse 12--This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you.
In God's vineyard there is meticulous maintenance for purity, energy from Jesus for successful living, the security of God's love and Jesus' joy, and plentiful fruit through imitation of Jesus' love
Proposition
Believers must make Jesus our home to draw on his power to live a God-glorifying life.
I had opportunity to preach on Sunday AM a c ouple of weeks ago. Here is my outline for John 15:1-17
Growing in God's Vineyard
John 15:1-17
John 15:1-17
God has a vineyard
In it, Jesus is the vine and we are the branches
God wants us to bear fruit
God Meticulously Maintains His Vineyard
Branches which do not bear fruit he takes away (2)
God has a failed vineyard in the past, described in Is 5:1-7
Branches that do bear fruit He prunes to make them even more productive (2)
Now the vine is Jesus himself. He WILL bear fruit! He will please the Father!
In God's Vineyard, the Resources to bear fruit have been provided
Apart from Jesus we can produce nothing (4)
Abiding in Jesus we WILL produce MUCH fruit (5)
What does it mean to abide in Jesus?
The greek word is translated variously in the KJV as remain, dwell, continue, tarry and endure.
Psalm 91:1, 9-10 probably captures the idea best
Abide means "making your permanent dwelling place: essentially "make Him your home".
Think about what home means to us:
Home is where your heart is; where you want to be
Home is the place to which you return (like, after vacation)
Home is where you feel comfortable and can really be yourself
Home is a place of safety and security
Home is where you bring your friends for fellowship
Home is our base of operations; at the center of what we do
Home is where you find your strength for life; where you eat and sleep
Home is where the people and things we love most are found
--adapted from Bob Diffenbaugh at netbible.org
Apart from Jesus we face judgement (6)The greek word is translated variously in the KJV as remain, dwell, continue, tarry and endure.
Psalm 91:1, 9-10 probably captures the idea best
Abide means "making your permanent dwelling place: essentially "make Him your home".
Think about what home means to us:
Home is where your heart is; where you want to be
Home is the place to which you return (like, after vacation)
Home is where you feel comfortable and can really be yourself
Home is a place of safety and security
Home is where you bring your friends for fellowship
Home is our base of operations; at the center of what we do
Home is where you find your strength for life; where you eat and sleep
Home is where the people and things we love most are found
--adapted from Bob Diffenbaugh at netbible.org
Abiding in Jesus our prayers are answered (7)
Abiding in Jesus, God, the owner, is glorified when we bear much fruit and prove to be Jesus' disciples (8)
In God's Vineyard, the climate to bear fruit is provided
1. We are surrounded by God's love
The Father loves the son (9)
2. We are filled with Jesus' joy (11)
In God's Vineyard, Fruit is PlentifulThe Father loves the son (9)
The Son loves us (9)
As Jesus remains in the father's love (10)So, we abide in Jesus by keeping his commandmants (9b-10)
As Jesus obeys the father (10)
2. We are filled with Jesus' joy (11)
If you keep my commandments you will abide in my love Jesus said in verse 10.
What is his command? Verse 12--This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you.
Jesus gives us three examples of how he has loved us:
SummaryJesus lay down his life for us (13)
Now, we are to love one another the way Jesus loves us (17)He lay it down in death on the cross
He lay it down in servanthood
Jesus brings us into an intimate relationship (14-15)He lay it down in servanthood
Though he serves us and though we are his servants, he now calls us his friends
As his friends, we are privy to God's private and secret thoughts and plans
Jesus has specifically chosen and appointed us to bear fruit; lasting fruit (16)As his friends, we are privy to God's private and secret thoughts and plans
Because of this, God will answer our prayers that are made within Jesus' will.
We are to love one another sacrificially
We are to love one another through intimate acceptance
We are to love all men through evangelism
We are to love one another through intimate acceptance
We are to love all men through evangelism
In God's vineyard there is meticulous maintenance for purity, energy from Jesus for successful living, the security of God's love and Jesus' joy, and plentiful fruit through imitation of Jesus' love
Proposition
Believers must make Jesus our home to draw on his power to live a God-glorifying life.