Vines & Branches: Are You Ripe or Sour?

Text: John 15:1-6

Thesis: To show the meaning of being a branch connected to the vine.

Introduction:

1. We have heard some great lessons about service and about using our talents for God; I

want to follow up with some lessons to highlight and to emphasize the same areas for

they are important. All of us need to perform frequent checkups from time to time and to

ensure that we are doing what God wants us to do.

2. What do you know about vines & branches?

A. During this the course of this lesson, you will hear several properties and

characteristics about vines and branches to consider.

B. Jesus gives final teaching to his disciples before dying on the cross.

C. Jesus teaches a lesson about faith, about community, about commitment, about

service, about responsibility and about life.

Discussion:

Jesus said…

I. “I am the vine” (v. 1).

A. Jesus is the source of authority (Mt. 28:18; Eph. 1:22).

B. All truth comes from him (Jn. 14:6).

II. “You are the branches” (v. 5).

A. There are four results from being a branch.

1. You are connected to the vine.

2. The nutrients that you receive come directly from the vine.

3. You are less important than the vine. It’s not about me or you; it’s about Jesus and

his church.

4. You are indispensible. There is a purpose greater than you and a calling higher

than yours; the church is greater than you, and his will is nobler than yours.

B. What does a branch do?

1. Puts his/her talents in service for Jesus (not me, not elders, not other members;

but for Jesus) because it’s all about Jesus.

2. Engages himself/herself in the worship services of the church.

a. Can you imagine a branch telling the tree, “I’m not going to do anything but

be here and wave in the wind?”

b. Yet we have branches sitting in the pews who…

1) Don’t sing (don’t even open a songbook),

2) Don’t pray (you can tell because of the level of service),

3) Don’t examine self during communion (there would be more repentance)

4) Don’t give like they should (Could you live on ten times what you give?)

5) Don’t listen to the preaching (don’t even open the Bible or take notes;

instead, look out the window or make faces at babies)

3. Participates actively in the programs and ministries of the local church.

4. Encourages members to grow.

5. Provides good, positive, constructive feedback about ministries AND commits

themselves to ensure that growth takes place.

6. Provide spiritual stability for the church – as much stability as you provide your

employer.

III. “Fruit bearing branches are pruned” (vv. 2, 5).

A. There are five signs you are bearing fruit.

1. You are connected to the vine.

2. You have leaves. You look healthy, balanced, have-it-together and are

dependable.

3. You have ripe fruit.

4. You fruit is visible.

a. When you work, people will see.

b. Jesus didn’t say “Hide your works”; rather, he said, “Don’t flaunt your works.”

5. You are pruned because fruit bearing branches are pruned.

B. There are at least six methods of pruning:

1. Study – learning God’s word; correction

2. Prayer – talk through problems; communicate & commit

3. Trials & difficulties (Jam. 1:2)

4. Confronting error (1 Jn. 4:1)

5. Mental challenges (Rom. 7:13-20)

6. Persecutions (Acts 8:3-4)

C. There are three results of pruning.

1. Will become cleansed

2. Will become healthy

3. Will bear more fruit

IV. “Dead branches are cut off” (vv. 2, 6).

A. Dead branches that are cut off are eventually “burned.” Hell is the reward of dead

branches (Rev. 21:8).

B. There are eight signs you are dangerously close to being dead on the vine:

I want to caution you to listen carefully to these signs and to consider them

collectively. It’s like reviewing a list “Eight signs that your mate is unfaithful.” Each

sign individually doesn’t prove anything.

1. Repeatedly, habitually miss any of the worship services for little or no excuse

whatsoever (Heb. 10:25);

a. Would you miss ball games arbitrarily?

2. Are repeatedly, habitually late for services;

3. or, are repeatedly, habitually early to leave services;

4. Repeatedly, habitually show up for Bible class with your lessons unprepared;

5. Seldom or never speak about your faith to others;

6. Always sit in the back of the auditorium;

a. This statement neither implies that individuals in the back pews are bad

Christians, nor does it imply that individuals in the front pews are good

Christians.

b. A perfect illustration is to look at the elders. Do any elders sit in the back of

the auditorium.

c. Great thing in ministry is to watch people grow. As people grow in the faith,

they sit closer and dress better.

d. You sit in the best seats where you can see, hear, and participate better (my

experience watching the Toronto Blue Jays live was sitting in the furthest

away from the players); why would you choose to sit in

a place Sunday after Sunday where there are many distractions?

7. Engage in worship minimally;

8. Are seldom or never dependable for anything productive in the church.

How does Jesus feel about your level of commitment? Are you a good

branch?

“Hat-Rack” Apps:

1. Fill out an involvement form.

2. Ask for things that need to be done.

a. Ask God to help you prune your life to be free from needless worries and worldly

entanglements.

b. Ask your Care & Share Group leader about some needs that are in your group.

There are people in your group that need encouragement, sympathy and love.

c. Ask a deacon or a ministry leader what you can do to help them. Cedar Grove

has at least thirteen ministries that you can involve yourself: audio & video,

benevolence, care & share groups, education, evangelism, library,

maintenance & grounds, missions, publicity, seniors, website, worship, youth

d. Ask an elder what they think you should do to improve your relationship with God.

The shepherds know what it takes, and they will give an account for your soul.

3. Look around to see the needs. Don’t think that it is someone else’s job. It’s not there

job; it’s your job.

4. Keep a positive attitude. If there’s a problem, be a part of the solution and not a part

of the problem.

5. Work with heaven in mind. What we do on this side of heaven will determine eternal

on the other side of heaven.

Conclusion:

1. Jesus is the vine that nourishes.

2. We are blessed to be a branch on his vine.

3. We should bear much fruit in his name and for his glory.