Yass Community Baptist Church
This week week we take another deep dive into John 15. This time we are looking at what Jesus has to say about what fruitfulness looks like.
Today we will once again be exploring John 15:1-17. Since we have had the same passage as our reading for the past 2 weeks, we will read another passage in which Jesus spoke about fruitfulness.
Matthew 13:1-9 NIV
What does fruitfulness look like?
In John 15:5, Jesus told his disciples that "If you abide in me, you will bear much fruit." How do we bear fruit? What does the kind fo fruit is Jesus talking about? What does the kind of fruitfulness Jesus was talking about look like?
We are Called to be Fruitful
John 15:1-17 is all about fruitfulness. The Father prunes to increase the fruitfulness of Jesus disciples, abiding leads to bearing much fruit, bearing fruit brings the Father glory and we have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit. As followers of Jesus we are called to be fruitful.
Just as the purpose of the grapevine is to produce grapes, our purpose is to be fruitful.
John 15:1-2 NIV
John 15:8 NIV
John 15:16 NIV
The Pruning of the Father
Jesus said the Father prunes the grapevines to make them more fruitful. Left to there own grapevines try to produce too many branches, leaves and even grape clusters. The result is less good fruit is produced than if they are pruned of excess growth. The same is true for us. We strive to be fruitful in all kinds of ways that we were never called to be. The result is less good fruit and lasting fruit.
Will you let the Father prune and shape you for increased fruitfulness?
John 15:1-2 NIV
What Kind of Fruit are We Called to Produce?
Before planting a vineyard the winemaker will research what kind of vines they should plant so that they are producing the right kind of fruit. We should do the same. There is no point being abundantly fruitful if all along we are producing the wrong kind of fruit.
What kind of fruit is Jesus talking about?
The litmus test of whether we are producing the right kind of fruit is this: does it bring the Father glory?
John 15:8 NIV
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
Matthew 13:23 NIV
If We Abide in Jesus, We Will Bear Much Fruit
We need to constantly come back to this truth. Otherwise in our enthusiasm for fruitfulness we will end up like an unpruned vine. Our fruitfulness is a product of our abiding in Jesus, not our striving to be fruitful. That doesn't mean we do nothing though.
John 15:5 NIV
Ephesians 2:10 NIV
John 15:7 NIV
John 15:16 NIV
Planted and Never Failing to Bear Fruit
Jesus hope was that the fullness of his joy would dwell within his disciples and that their joy may be complete.
Abiding is about dwelling in the joy that comes from knowing Jesus.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV
As our life groups gather this week, we have attached our reference verse and some questions to prompt a deeper discussion and search into this week's topic.
If you are not currently part of a life group, and would like to join a small group of like minded people in fellowship and connection during the week, please contact Nick on 0417472474 to register your interest.
Matthew 13:1-23 NIV
Life Group Discussion - Read Matthew 13:1-23 above
1. What does Jesus has to say about fruitfulness in this passage?
2. What is the key factor that determines the fruitfulness of the seed that is sown? What might this have to say about abiding in Jesus?
Read John 15:1-17
3. In what ways do people sometimes try to be fruitful that maybe isn't the kind of fruit that Jesus is talking about?
4. What kind of fruitfulness do you think brings the Father glory?
5. In what ways would you love for your life to bear fruit that brings God glory?
6. What do you think Jesus means in John 15:7 when he says, "ask whatever you wish and it will be done"?
Take some time to pray for one another
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