Grace Church
Secrets of the Vine - #4 Fruit, More Fruit, Much Fruit
A Study of John 15
Locations & Times
Grace Community Church
8950 M-79, Nashville, MI 49073, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
This month we are looking at chapter 15 in 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.
So far we've looked at the who's who of this lesson and the priorities and purposes of the different parts.
Jesus - True Vine
Father - Vinedresser (Gardener)
Follower - Branch
Last week we talked about pruning.
Jesus - True Vine
Father - Vinedresser (Gardener)
Follower - Branch
Last week we talked about pruning.
Today we're looking at the fruit that is produced by remaining in Jesus.
John 15:2, 5
John 15:2, 5
People often ask which type of fruit is being talked about in this passage in John 15.
Is it Galatians 5 fruit...Fruit of the Spirit?
Is it Matthew 28 fruit...Disciples?
The answer is both!
Both PERSONAL fruit (the Fruit of the Spirit) AND PUBLIC fruit (Disciples).
Is it Galatians 5 fruit...Fruit of the Spirit?
Is it Matthew 28 fruit...Disciples?
The answer is both!
Both PERSONAL fruit (the Fruit of the Spirit) AND PUBLIC fruit (Disciples).
1. PERSONAL FRUIT
Galatians 5:16-17, 22-24
The Fruit of the Spirit = Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control
Galatians 5:16-17, 22-24
The Fruit of the Spirit = Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control
The Father will prune the branches connected to the True Vine so that it will bear His fruit. His love, His joy...etc.
When we remain in Him we have a desire to know Him. To communicate with Him in prayer. To hear from Him as we study His Word.
Psalm 27:8
We should be seeking Him.
We should be studying Him.
We should be serving Him.
This is the life of fruit bearing.
When we remain in Him we have a desire to know Him. To communicate with Him in prayer. To hear from Him as we study His Word.
Psalm 27:8
We should be seeking Him.
We should be studying Him.
We should be serving Him.
This is the life of fruit bearing.
2. PUBLIC FRUIT
Matthew 28:19-20
When we are living with His fruit in our personal life, it's inevitable that we will desire to help others do the same.
Matthew 28:19-20
When we are living with His fruit in our personal life, it's inevitable that we will desire to help others do the same.
We are told to go and make disciples. We are even told what to do...to teach them to observe all that I have commanded you.
Before we can teach others, we must know Him! When we know Him and remain in Him, we will be more and more like Him. As we remain in Him, our life will be molded and pruned to be more and more like His. We will be a branch that looks like the vine we are remaining on. This isn't just one harvest of fruit. A healthy branch will produce much fruit its whole life.
Before we can teach others, we must know Him! When we know Him and remain in Him, we will be more and more like Him. As we remain in Him, our life will be molded and pruned to be more and more like His. We will be a branch that looks like the vine we are remaining on. This isn't just one harvest of fruit. A healthy branch will produce much fruit its whole life.
How can we be a healthy branch that produces fruit its whole life?
COMPLETE dependence
Dependence on Him for the Way (Salvation)
Dependence on Him for the Truth (Scripture)
Dependence on Him for Life (His Life's Example)
COMPLETE dependence
Dependence on Him for the Way (Salvation)
Dependence on Him for the Truth (Scripture)
Dependence on Him for Life (His Life's Example)
CONSTANT connection
A branch is not a "come and go" fruit bearer. If we intend to bear fruit we must constantly remain in Him. We must know Him, love Him, and obey Him.
A branch is not a "come and go" fruit bearer. If we intend to bear fruit we must constantly remain in Him. We must know Him, love Him, and obey Him.
COMMISSION lifestyle
It's not just about us. The purpose of fruit is consumption. We are remaining in Christ and we are sharing His fruit. Serving others and sharing Him!
It's not just about us. The purpose of fruit is consumption. We are remaining in Christ and we are sharing His fruit. Serving others and sharing Him!
Pray for one of these areas that you can be working on this week.
Pray for opportunities to grow in this area of bearing fruit.
Pray for Him to prune you so that you might continue to bear fruit, more fruit, much fruit.
Pray for opportunities to grow in this area of bearing fruit.
Pray for Him to prune you so that you might continue to bear fruit, more fruit, much fruit.
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 today 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).
Wednesdays at Grace
To check out all of the Wednesdays @ Grace activities, visit the "Events" link at the website. We hope you'll join in on the fun!
https://gc3.org/events/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.
Grace Church Work Days
Grace Church provides an opportunity for everyone to come together during the month of May to help prepare the church grounds for the summer months. We hope you'll pick a Saturday to help out!
Church work days will take place on Saturday mornings 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on:
May 4th - prepare for mulch (need wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, work gloves)
May 11th - spread mulch (need wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, work gloves)
May 18th - spread mulch (need wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, work gloves)
May 25th - plant annuals (need garden spade and work gloves)
If you have questions or want to let us know when you can be there, reach out to Ryan Hickey (ryan@gc3.org).
Church work days will take place on Saturday mornings 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on:
May 4th - prepare for mulch (need wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, work gloves)
May 11th - spread mulch (need wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, work gloves)
May 18th - spread mulch (need wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, work gloves)
May 25th - plant annuals (need garden spade and work gloves)
If you have questions or want to let us know when you can be there, reach out to Ryan Hickey (ryan@gc3.org).
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 the link below.
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!
Saturday, April 27th - Tracy Hickey
Tuesday, April 30th - Veronica Crawford
Wednesday, May 1st - Samantha Myers, Gary & Tracy Nelson
Friday, May 3rd - Claude Snider
Tuesday, April 30th - Veronica Crawford
Wednesday, May 1st - Samantha Myers, Gary & Tracy Nelson
Friday, May 3rd - Claude Snider