Made for Connection | John 15:1-11
Sermon Summary
The vinedresser, God the Father, loves us and wants us to bear much fruit. He lifts us up in His love and prunes away everything that hinders our spiritual growth. Some of the tools He uses to prune us are trials, suffering, and persecution – but because we receive His tenderness first, we are able to endure and see fruit.
The more time we spend with God, the more we see what He’s after – enjoying relationship with us.
The Big Idea
We want to be people who bear the fruit of the Spirit, by abiding in the grace, love, and word of God.
Key Scriptures:
John 15:1-5 (NASB): I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
Psalm 119:67 (NASB): Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.
Psalm 1:1-3 (NASB): How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and ]in whatever he does, he prospers.
Colossians 3:16 (NASB): Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Truths to focus on this week:
Abide in God’s grace: As we rely on God rather than our own strength, He brings the breakthrough. It's about humility and dependence on Him, not independence and isolation, because dependence connects us to God.
Abide in God’s love: We don't want to live in the "miserable middle", where we avoid sin just to feel better, but never actually experience Jesus as a friend. Abiding in Him is simply surrendering to Him, being taught by Him, being led by Him, and resting in His love for us.
Abide in God’s word: As we meditate on and abide in His word, we become quicker to respond to His will and experience fruit. We need time to rest and hear God in the midst of the busyness, to keep us dependent on Him.
Reflection Questions
Where has busyness and hurriedness crowded out meditating on God's word this week? What's one thing you want to say no to in order to make room?
As you reflect on your relationship with God, has it revolved around executing disciplines and checking boxes or cultivating intimacy with Jesus? What would it take for you to choose intimacy instead?