How Well-connected Are You?

John 15:1-12

Teaching of John 15
A. Jesus says: “I am the true vine.”
B. God the Father (Jesus’ Father) is the gardener.

• He cuts off every branch that does not bear fruit;
• He prunes the fruitful branches so that they will bear even more fruit;
• You are clean because of the word Jesus spoke to you.

C. Messages to all those who believe in and follow Jesus
 
Interpretation
As a branch must remain in the vine to bear fruit, so we must remain in Jesus and remain in his love in order to bear fruit…. The life he came to give us requires a living, loving relationship with God, marked by faith, trust, obedience, and love. When we have this kind of relationship with God, we will be abiding in Christ, and our lives will be fruitful.

Application
How well-connected are you?
• What kind of connection do you have to Jesus?
• Is it a strong connection?
• Is it a fruitful connection?
• Is your connection characterized by obedience and love—love for God, love for Jesus, and love for one another?
• What could you do to abide more fully and deeply to be fruitful in life?

Group 1. Those who are confident that they have a lot to contribute to this world (the over-confident and self-reliant), but we cannot do anything to bear lasting fruit unless we abide in Christ.
Group 2. Those who lack confidence in their ability to make a contribution to the world (the under-confident, fearful and hesitant), and
Group 3. Those who are not yet connected to Jesus.

Conclusion
Only by being well-connected to God the Father and to Jesus Christ can you experience the fullness of God’s love, joy, and fruitfulness. And the only way you can remain in Christ and Christ’s love is by believing in him, trusting him, obeying him, loving him and extending the love he gives you to others. Then, your life will bear fruit and you will experience eternal life, starting in this life and extending into eternity. This is Jesus’ message and invitation to you: “Abide in me.”


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