Music from today
-Soul On Fire
-Goodness Of God
-The More I Seek You
-Strength Of My Life

Title: I Am a Branch of the True Vine

Text: John 15:1-16

1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
2 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.
3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
4 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.
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I 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 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.


12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.


1: We are Saved to be Fruitful (8, 16)


8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.


There are no true Christians without some measure of fruitfulness

- This fruitfulness brings God glory

- who are the branches that are cut and thrown away (can you lose your salvation?)?


2: This fruit is at least a Christ-like love for people and a missional heart for the lost. (12-13, 16)


A Love for one another

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

A missional heart for the lost (spreading gospel seed…being witnesses Acts 1:8)

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.



3: We bear fruit by abiding in Christ and accepting God’s pruning (2,5)

Accepting the pruning

2 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.


The pruning can be taking away things from our lives that are hindering our walk with Christ

Pruning may take the form of suffering or health issues

Anything that is keeping us from being more fruitful

Hebrews 12:11 ESV


11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Gardners will tell you that many times the more drastic the pruning the greater the fragrance and beauty that will later be revealed.

In other words, the greater the pruning, the more fruit bearing and therefore the more glory to God

Abiding in Christ

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Abiding is remaining close to Jesus.
Abiding is leaning into and being dependent on Jesus
Don’t live like or think that you can make it on your own in the Christian life
- we need Jesus every moment of every day
- we need the means of grace God has provided for us to remain close to Him (the Word, prayer, fellowship)

Interesting that vs 7 likes God’s word being in us with abiding:

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

As we take God’s word in and believe it (act on it), obedience results (vs 10)

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.