Lesson 5 - Highlighting the Vine

 

John 15: 1-17

 

 

I.  Intro Our History:

 

A.     Suggested Ice-breakers:

 

·         Tell the group about your most cherished spiritual experience with Christ.

·         Tell the group about a time when God used someone to bless you.

·         Tell the group about a time when God used you to bless someone else.

 

      B.  Read this Study: 

 

A couple of years ago, the Associated Press released a study done by an agricultural school in Iowa.  It reported that the production of 100 bushels of corn from one acre of land, in addition to the many hours of the farmer's labor, required 4,000,000 pounds of water, 6,800 pounds of oxygen, 5,200 pounds of carbon, 160 pounds of nitrogen, 125 pounds of potassium, 75 pounds of yellow sulphur, and other elements too numerous to list.  In addition to these things, rain and sunshine at the right time are critical.  It was estimated that only 5% of the produce of a farm can be attributed to the efforts of man.

 

C.    Introductory Questions:

 

·         Do you think that the same is true when it comes to living a Christian life? 

 

John 15:5:   5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

 

2 Peter 1:2-3:  2 “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;  3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”

 

·         Let’s say that God has done 95% of what we need to live a God-honoring Christian life.  What is the 5 % that we are responsible for?  

 

The answer is: “Abiding in Christ.”  Let’s look at John 15.

 

II. Into the Bible:

 

Read-John 15:1-17

           

 A.   The Necessity of Abiding:

 

i. Question:  Given the metaphor of a vine, why is it vital for us to abide in Christ?

           

By nature, branches are dependent on and subservient to the vine which sustains them.  In the same way, we are dependent on and subservient to Chris, who is our only sustainer.

 

            ii. Question:  According to John 15, what does it look like for a believer to abide in Christ?

                       

·         Abide in Word:

 

John 15:7:   "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

 

·         Abide in Christ’s Love:

 

John 15:9: “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.”

 

·         Abide in Obedience:

 

John 15:10:  "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.”

 

B.     The Fruits of Abiding.

 

i. Question:  According to this chapter, what are some of the fruits and benefits of abiding in Christ?

 

·         Pruning:[1]

 

John 15:11: "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

 

·         Answered Prayer:

 

John 15:7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

 

·         Glorifying God:

 

John 15:8: "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit.”

 

·         Assurance of Salvation:

 

John 15:8:   "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”

 

·         Joy:

 

John 15:11: “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

 

           ii. Suggestion:  You might want to pick a few of these fruits and elaborate on them.[2] 

 

C.     The Threats to Abiding:

 

i. Question:  What warnings does Jesus give to those who do not abide in him?

           

·         They will be Removed:

 

John 15:2 "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away.”

 

·         The will be Burned:

 

John 15:6  "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.”

 

            ii. Question:  What does this mean?[3]

 

III. Into Our Lives:

 

     A.  Suggested questions for application:

 

·         Rate yourself on a scale of 1-10.  How do you believe you are currently abiding in Christ?  What aspects are going well?  Where is there room for improvement?

 

·         In verse 2, how might you know whether you are being “cut away,” as opposed to being “pruned” as one of the branches in the Body of Christ?

 

·         Do the fruits in your life give you assurance of salvation? 

 

·         Of the benefits listed that come from abiding in Christ, which ones are you currently enjoying in your life?  Which ones would you like to enjoy?

 

     B.  Prayer

 


[1] In Hampton Court near London, there is a grapevine under glass; it is about 1,000 years old and has but one root which is at least two feet thick.  Some of the branches are 200 feet long. Because of skillful cutting and pruning, the vine produces several tons of grapes each year.  Even though some of the smaller branches are 200 feet from the main stem, they bear much fruit because they are joined to the vine and allow the life of the vine to flow through them.

 

[2] You might discuss how God “prunes us.”  Or, someone might have an example of answered prayer or supernatural joy. 

 

[3] These words have been interpreted in at least three ways: (1) The “burned” branches are Christians who have lost their salvation. (But this contradicts many passages, e.g.  3:16 , 36 ; 5:24 ; 10:28-29 ; Rom. 8:1) (2) The “burned” branches represent Christians who will lose rewards but not salvation at the judgment seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:15 )  (But Jesus spoke here of dead branches; such a branch is thrown away and withers) (3) The “burned” branches refer to professing Christians, who, like Judas, are not genuinely saved and therefore are judged. Like a dead branch, a person without Christ is spiritually dead and therefore will be punished in eternal fire. (cf. Matt. 25:46 ) Judas was with Jesus; he seemed like a “branch.” But he did not have God’s life in him; therefore he departed; his destiny was like that of a dead branch. (Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. 1983-c1985. The Bible knowledge commentary: An exposition of the Scriptures. Victor Books: Wheaton, IL)