Grace Church
Secrets of the Vine - #2 The Who's Who of the Vine
A Study of John 15
Locations & Times
Grace Community Church
8950 M-79, Nashville, MI 49073, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
For the next four weeks we are going to look at one chapter from the Gospel of John. This is one of the chapters where Jesus is speaking to His followers during the week that He's going to be arrested, beaten, and crucified. If we read, study, and wrestle with this chapter, we should see change in our life.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a garden? Or planting? Or in the case today, a vineyard?
Today we'll break down "the who" that makes up the vineyard picture that Jesus is sharing with us in this passage of Scripture. The who's who of the vine.
John 15:1-5
John 15:1-5
1. Jesus - True Vine
John 15:1
John 14:6
This is the image that Jesus is showing them to illustrate who He is.
He shows who He is, and what He does...
-connects us to the Father
-shares the truth from the Father
-gives the life from the Father
John 15:1
John 14:6
This is the image that Jesus is showing them to illustrate who He is.
He shows who He is, and what He does...
-connects us to the Father
-shares the truth from the Father
-gives the life from the Father
2. Father - Vinedresser (Gardener)
John 15:2, 6
Here Jesus shows us who the Father is.
The Father is the gardener. His goal is to have healthy, fruit bearing, plants.
He does this in two ways:
-He cuts off or takes away (lift up)
-He trims & cleans or prunes (cleanses)
We'll look at that more next week.
John 15:2, 6
Here Jesus shows us who the Father is.
The Father is the gardener. His goal is to have healthy, fruit bearing, plants.
He does this in two ways:
-He cuts off or takes away (lift up)
-He trims & cleans or prunes (cleanses)
We'll look at that more next week.
Let's look at the branches that are being talked about here.
These are followers, disciples, students, believers in Christ.
As a believer, here is what we should expect from the Father. He will work with us, shape us, and mold us with the intent to produce fruit.
When we become believers, the Father picks us up out of the mud and dirt of this world. He cleans us up and puts us in a place to be healthy and full of life. The Father prunes us...trims and clears our life of the useless, life sucking, things.
These are followers, disciples, students, believers in Christ.
As a believer, here is what we should expect from the Father. He will work with us, shape us, and mold us with the intent to produce fruit.
When we become believers, the Father picks us up out of the mud and dirt of this world. He cleans us up and puts us in a place to be healthy and full of life. The Father prunes us...trims and clears our life of the useless, life sucking, things.
3. Follower - Branch
John 15:4-5
Our purpose is to abide or remain in Him. Our goal is to bear fruit.
Remaining is about posture and purpose. Apart from Jesus we will not produce fruit!
John 15:4-5
Our purpose is to abide or remain in Him. Our goal is to bear fruit.
Remaining is about posture and purpose. Apart from Jesus we will not produce fruit!
You will begin to LEARN like Him!
You will begin to LIVE like Him!
You will begin to LOVE like Him!
You will begin to LIVE like Him!
You will begin to LOVE like Him!
1. Make reading Scripture a priority this week.
2. Sign-up for a Grace U class that starts in May.
3. Serve in the community through the Vermontville Clean Up night on April 24th at 6:30 pm.
4. Find family, friends, neighbors, classmates, or coworkers who need to be shown selfless love.
2. Sign-up for a Grace U class that starts in May.
3. Serve in the community through the Vermontville Clean Up night on April 24th at 6:30 pm.
4. Find family, friends, neighbors, classmates, or coworkers who need to be shown selfless love.
Challenge:
Read John 15:1-6. Write out any questions, interesting thoughts, and words that need clarity.
Read John 15:1-6. Write out any questions, interesting thoughts, and words that need clarity.
Giving Link
https://gc3.org/giving/Breeze Church Management
At Grace we use a secure directory/giving service called Breeze Church Management. Creating your personal account allows you to contact others in the church family, keep your contact information updated, and keep track of your giving if that is important to you, and/or create an online giving account.
Use the link below to get started or to login if you already have an account.
https://gc3.org/login/CJ's Coffee Shop Pre-Order Link
https://gc3.org/cjs/The Greenhouse Project
https://gc3.org/tgp/2024 Bible Reading - Grace Journals
If you haven't already, you can pick up your 2024 Grace Journal in CJ's coffee shop. You can find an at-a-glance list of the reading each week at the link below. We are excited for you to grow in your faith as we read and study through the writings of Paul together!
https://gc3.org/bible/Meet and Greet
Grace Church holds a Meet & Greet for those who are newer to Grace Church on the 4th Sunday of each month. Our next Meet & Greet is April 28th following the service in CJ's coffee shop. It is a great opportunity to meet the staff and leadership of Grace Church and learn a little more about the church. It also gives us an opportunity to learn a little about you! Contact Leslie Booher if you have any questions (leslie@gc3.org).
CJ's Gift Cards
You can now purchase CJ's Gift Cards in either $10 or $20 amounts at the counter in CJ's. These cards are good for anything purchased in CJ's (not for online purchases). This is a great way to bless someone as well as supporting the Samaritan Fund to help those in need in our community!
Vermontville Clean-Up Project
Grace Church is heading to the streets of Vermontville for the annual clean up to help the village prepare for the Vermontville Syrup Festival.
Join us on April 24th, at 6:30 pm at the park in downtown Vermontville where Ryan will give you an area of town to work on. Bring work gloves if you can.
This is a great opportunity to get out into the community and serve alongside your Grace Church family members. Contact Ryan Hickey if you have any questions (ryan@gc3.org).
Join us on April 24th, at 6:30 pm at the park in downtown Vermontville where Ryan will give you an area of town to work on. Bring work gloves if you can.
This is a great opportunity to get out into the community and serve alongside your Grace Church family members. Contact Ryan Hickey if you have any questions (ryan@gc3.org).
Wednesdays at Grace
This Wednesday, April 17th, is the first of the Wednesdays @Grace series 6:00-7:30 pm
Kids, bring your bikes/trikes/scooters to the parking lot and ride with your friends. CJ’s is open and other activity ideas include: hiking trails, basketball, playground, disc golf, chatting and/or playing a game on the back patio.
Kids, bring your bikes/trikes/scooters to the parking lot and ride with your friends. CJ’s is open and other activity ideas include: hiking trails, basketball, playground, disc golf, chatting and/or playing a game on the back patio.
National Day of Prayer Event at Grace
The Grace Church Prayer Team would like to encourage you to come and support the National Day of Prayer on May 2, 2024, at Grace Church. The church will be open from 11 am until 7 pm for this self-lead prayer event. There will be 7 prayer stations set-up with areas of focused prayer. Prayer team members will be available to provide prayer support and materials will be provided to assist you. We anticipate it would take approx. 35 to 45 minutes to visit all 7 prayer stations. Child care will not be available during this time.
American Red Cross Blood Drive at Grace Church
The next American Red Cross Blood Drive at Grace Church is Thursday, May 2nd from Noon to 5:45 pm. You can make an appointment at this LINK.
https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=GracefulMay/June Grace U Classes
Spiritual Disciplines with Lisa Sterkenburg on Thursdays at 6:30 pm beginning May 2nd. Raising Kids for True Greatness with Aaron & Angie Walker on Sundays at 9:00 am beginning May 5th. 4 Chairs with Pastor Josh Burt on Mondays at 6:30 pm beginning May 6th. Love to Pray with Val VanDuser on Sundays at 8:30 am beginning May 19th.
Use the link below to sign up for a class.
https://gc3.org/grace-university/Birthdays and Anniversaries We're Celebrating This Week!
Sunday, April 14th - Ruth Hickey
Monday, April 15th - Brice Hasselback
Tuesday, April 16th - Aaron Smith, Amy Coblentz
Thursday, April 18th - Schylar Orton
Friday, April 19th - Jim & Naomi Yenger
Monday, April 15th - Brice Hasselback
Tuesday, April 16th - Aaron Smith, Amy Coblentz
Thursday, April 18th - Schylar Orton
Friday, April 19th - Jim & Naomi Yenger