Love God Greatly - Abiding in Jesus: Bearing Fruit That LastsSample

Week 1: Abiding in Jesus: Trusting the Gardener’s Work

Jesus is the True Vine, and God Is Our Gardener

Read: John 15:1

SOAP***: John 15:1

"I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener." (NET)

Into the Text

I'll be honest. I'm not much of a gardener. I wish I were! But I can tell the difference right away between a garden that's lovingly tended and one that's been left to itself. Without a gardener, plants either wither and die or grow wild and unruly. In both cases, they fail to thrive and fulfill the purpose they were planted for. However, when a gardener steps in, the garden is transformed. With the right mix of love, care, and wise cultivation, the garden becomes a place of life and purpose, offering nourishment and beauty.

The same is true for us. God, our Ultimate Gardener, is the One who tends to our lives with love and care. In Genesis, we see this beautifully displayed as He places Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden—a place overflowing with life, beauty, and abundance. Before sin entered the world, we were given a glimpse of a life of perfect abiding. It was a life where all they needed, every joy and source of strength, came from their relationship with God.

Just as with plants, where we draw our nourishment matters. Who or what we're connected to will either bring us life or drain it away. Jesus tells us He is the True Vine, with God as the Gardener of our lives. God lovingly tends to us, shaping us for Fruitfulness. He prunes, waters, and provides all we need for Spiritual Growth, but we must stay connected to the Vine, Jesus.

As we abide in Him, we find everything we need for a Fruitful life that brings Glory to God.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank You for being the True Vine. Help me to stay connected to You to receive the nourishment I need to produce spiritual fruit that blesses others and glorifies You. Amen.

***SOAP Method

S – SCRIPTURE
Physically write out the Bible verse
You’ll be amazed at what God will reveal to you when you slow down to write or meditate on what you are reading!

O – OBSERVATION
What do you see in the verses you’re reading?
Who is the audience? Is there a repetition of words? What words stand out to you? What is the main lesson or theme?

A – APPLICATION
When God’s Word becomes personal
What is God saying to me today? How can I apply what I just read to my life? Are there any changes I need to make?

P – PRAYER
Pray God’s Word back to Him
If He has revealed something to you during this time in His Word, pray about it. Confess if He has revealed some sin that is in your life. Take time to thank Him for His goodness in your life.