Homily                                                                              Pastor Dan Neary

Jesus: The Vine

 

John 15:1-17

 

This is a turning point

 

Vines & Fruit

 

We had the Beals’ read v. 5-8… but the passage really starts with v.1 and goes through v.17

 

Points of the Passage:

 

  1. Jesus is the Vine
  2. We are the Branches
  3. He Loves Us
  4. We are Commanded to Love Each Other

 

 

  1. Jesus is the Vine
    1. My Father is the Gardener

                                                               i.      Cuts off every branch that bears no fruit

                                                             ii.      Every branch that does bear fruit He prunes

    1. What is this pruning and why – ask the expert (Ted Lindbeck)
  1. We are the Branches
    1. Remaining in Jesus – otherwise there is no life
    2. A living union
  2. He Loves Us
    1. Obey His commands… just as He obeyed the commands of the Father
    2. Promise of Joy v.11
    3. Promise of Friendship v.15
    4. Upside down

                                                               i.      The students didn’t choose the rabbi

1.      Neither did we choose Christ without Him choosing us first

                                                             ii.      It is His choosing, what Christ has done, that makes our prayers fruitful

1.      It isn’t the fervency of our prayer that makes us fruitful… it is the Vine

  1. We are Commanded to Love Each Other
    1. In case there was any doubt what it takes to remain in His love, He makes his command very clear
    2. Love each other

 

So What?

 

  1. Pruning
    1. Methods

                                                               i.      Life Experience

                                                             ii.      Devotion & Discipline

1.      Bible Study

2.      Prayer

3.      Fasting

                                                            iii.      Education

                                                           iv.      Godly Correction

    1. Examples
    2. Results

 

Do we have the courage… do I have the courage… to really say

Father God, Jesus in the Vine… and I want to be a fruitful branch

Do not cut me off for lack of fruitfulness

But… I am truly open to your careful pruning