I Am the True Vine
Sermon Notes
Sermon Series: I AM
Sermon Title: I Am the True Vine
Passage: John 15:1
Preacher: Ashley Herr
A. HOW do we bear fruit? (v2-6)
By being pruned by God (v2-3) - God cleansing you, calling out to you, guiding you
By abiding in Jesus (v4-6) - abiding in his love (v7), in his word (v9), with his people - as his Spirit abides in you
B. WHAT does this fruit look like? (v7-17)
Your selfless desires - fruit you can hear through your prayers
Prayers formed by the words of Jesus (v7)
Prayers asked in the name of Jesus (v16)
Your faithful obedience - fruit you can see through the way you live
Your sacrificial love - fruit you can see through the way you love
C. WHY do we bear fruit?
To bring God glory (v8)
To bring you joy (v11)
Reflection
Picture this beautiful image Jesus gives of who you are, your sense of identity, as a branch - “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. You are the branches”
Hear your sense of belonging, as Jesus invites you to abide in him, picturing this image of where you are, as a branch connected to the true vine - “Abide in me, and I in you. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. You did not choose me, but I chose you.”
Notice how you are not the only branch connected to the vine, but surrounded by other branches connected to the same vine, all receiving the same strength and nourishment form the same vine, all abiding in his same love, his same word, with his people, as his same Spirit abides in you.
Hear our sense of purpose Jesus gives to you as a branch, this picture of why you exist, which is to bear fruit, much fruit, fruit that brings glory to God - “I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”
Only by embracing our sense identity as a branch and our sense belonging in Christ are we able to live out our purpose of bearing fruit - “As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
We not only bear fruit by abiding in Jesus, but also by being pruned by God, allowing Him to remove those aspects of your life that distract your attention and draw your affection away from Him, preventing you from bearing much fruit. What is that for you? What is it that God needs to prune from you life?
As the Spirit begins to stir, bringing this to mind, picture God cutting that off and laying it in your hand. As you look at that clipping, what are you going to do with this? Will you continue to hold on it, or will you lay it down, giving it up to God?
