The Gospel of John: John 15.1-8

Read and meditate on John 15.6.
True branches bear fruit, because they abide in the Vine. They who will not abide in the Vine will not bear fruit. They are not true branches, and they will be cast out.

                                               ⁶“He
who does not trust in and abide in Me,
he is a cast out branch, is withered, and
is gathered for the burning.”

- John 15.6

Reflect
1.  We have been looking at what it means to abide or continue in Christ, as Jesus commanded. Summarize your understanding of what it means to abide or continue in Christ our Vine. Complete the following prayer: Abide in me, Lord, and help me to abide in You by…

2.  The evidence that we are abiding or continuing in Christ is that we bear “much fruit” (v. 5). Summarize the kind of fruit our heavenly Vinedresser is seeking from those who abide in His Vine. Today I will have opportunities to bear fruit for You, Father, since…

3.  Connected to the Vine, but not abiding in it, are branches that do not bear fruit. Meditate on Hebrews 6.1-9. Here were people who confessed all the right things, had “tasted” of eternal life and the Spirit, but had “fallen away” so severely they could not be recovered. Such people, the writer insists, unlike those to whom he was writing, never really had salvation (v. 9). Should we expect to see such “branches” in our churches today? How can we recognize them? Lord Jesus, let the fruit of Your life and power flow to and through me, so that I…

4.  Non-abiding branches “wither.” How can you tell when someone associated with a church is “withering”? What can such non-abiding branches expect from their non-abiding, unfruitful “connection” to Jesus? What does that mean? Lord, when I see signs of withering in my own life, help me to…

5.  Jesus appears to have been warning His disciples here about the consequences of not abiding in Him. Should pastors and church leaders speak such words of warning to church members who are connected to the Vine, but clearly not abiding? Should you? Bring together your prayers from questions 1-4 into one prayer.

Summary
“The Father is like the vinedresser, for, if he sees some who do not love me [Christ], he cuts them off like fruitless branches and sends them off to the fire, but if he sees the opposite, he takes care of them so that they may bring forth even more fruit through the spiritual gifts he gives.” Theodore of Mopsuestia (350-428 AD)

We do not abide in Christ and bear fruit to earn salvation, but because we have freely received it. Fruit confirms abiding. Lack of fruit confirms not abiding. Meditate on Hebrews 10.24. Why is this so important? How should you practice this?

Closing Prayer
Show me Your ways, O LORD;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day.
Remember, O LORD, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses,
For they are from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions;
According to Your mercy remember me,
For Your goodness’ sake, O LORD.
Good and upright is the LORD;
Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.
The humble He guides in justice,
And the humble He teaches His way.
All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth,
To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.

Psalm 25.4-10

Psalm 25.4-10 (Festal Song: Revive Thy Work, O Lord)
Make me to know Your ways, teach me Your paths, O Lord!
My Savior, all day long I wait and seek You in Your Word.

Remember mercy, Lord, and steadfast love to me!
And all my sins before You let them not remembered be!

My sins have been of old, Your love is new each day;
According to Your goodness, Lord, regard my sinful way.

Upright and good are You, You lead us in Your way;
The humble You instruct in truth and guide him day by day.

The paths of God are all of love and faithfulness;
All they who keep His covenant the Lord will surely bless.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.