On Sundays we have one service at 10:00 AM in the main sanctuary. Additionally, you can watch our ONLINE LIVE-STREAM https://www.youtube.com/@newcovfresno beginning at 10 AM and anytime thereafter if you prefer to watch from home on your TV or streaming device.

The Purpose of The Christian Life
Pastor Jared Carl – Week 5
John 15:1-8

The purpose of the Christian life is to glorify God.

What is necessary to glorify God?

1. Pruning (v1-2)
2. Abiding (v3-6)

How do we abide?

1. Scripture (v7)
2. Prayer (v7)

Outcome of Abiding

1. Repentance that leads to fruit.(Mt. 3:8)


“Vinedressers in the time of Christ didn’t have metal stakes supporting the vine and hardened steel clippers as we have today, but otherwise the process has changed very little. To the untrained eye, vinedressing (the act of pruning) looks like someone stripping a full vine back to a bare stub incapable of coming back. To the left of the pruning vinedresser are bushy vines covered in canes, in front of him is a vine undergoing transformation, and to the right are slightly prickly but otherwise bare cordons branching out from the knobby trunk of each vine. It is these remaining cordons and trunks that are the true vine, where all of the ultimate life and vibrancy of the plant awaits the onset of Spring. The canes that now lay at the vinedresser’s feet bore fruit the year before, not because they were full of life but because they were connected to the source of life found in the vine. Some are removed entirely; others are left as small spurs containing two buds that will form the canes for next season. It looks like drastic carnage but in reality, is an artful exercise in balance and foresight.

Any misconception about the vines’ fate, however, is quickly dispelled in Spring as the seemingly bare vines rapidly sprout new canes. In contrast, if the vines had been left without pruning, Spring would bring fresh leaves and even a few flower clusters destined to become grapes, but the transformation would be minor and largely ineffective. Pruned vines produce not only more fruit but better fruit. To make things worse, it would be harder yet to efficiently prune the following year."

Always check www.newcov.com

* Monday - Women in Prayer 5-6 PM | conference room
* Tuesday - Celebrate Recovery | 5:30 dinner | 6:30 class | SMC
* Tuesday - Grief Share | CR House | 6:30 PM
* Tuesday - Summer evening Book Club 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM- Brown House
* Wednesday - Rise n’ Shine Women’s Bible Study | 6:00-7:00 AM | library
* Thursday - Morning Bible Study 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM - Chapel
* Thursday - Young Adults | 6:30 PM | Lobby
* Friday - Men’s Bible Study 5:30 prayer, 6:00 AM study - SMC
* Sunday - Summit 55+ at 9:00AM in the upstairs Chapel.
* ALL YOUTH EVENTS, please go to newcov.com


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