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What does Jesus being "the true vine" mean?

Jesus makes this claim as He encourages and prepares His disciples for His upcoming crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. It is a continuation of His promise in John 14 that the Holy Spirit, one of the three members of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), would enter the hearts of God's children in order to lead, guide, and strengthen them as they continue the mission Jesus started. The vine is what gives strength and stability to the branches that are connected to it. We are the branches that receive life from the vine (Jesus).

How To Connect With The Source Through Sharing:

Sharing Your Gifts

God has given you specific gifts and talents for you to use to point others to Him. This process of serving people is one of the pathways God uses to form us into His image. Take some time to write down specific gifts and talents that God has given you, and identify how they can be used to meet the needs of others.

Sharing The Gospel

Even more important than sharing your gifts is the practice of sharing the gospel. When you do, consider these three factors:

His Story: Clearly communicate the journey of creation, separation, salvation, and invitation outlined in Scripture.

Your Story: Share your salvation story, and communicate ways God has changed your life since you placed your faith in Him.

Their Story: Connect what Jesus has done with the circumstances the person is facing, and show that He is the source of all they need.

Big Idea

Jesus is the only source of strength and stability. We can receive both through abiding in Him. One way to abide in the source is through serving others with our gifts and talents as we focus on sharing the gospel.