The I AM Statements of Jesus

The “I AM” Statements of Jesus Lesson 7 I AM the True Vine

Day One: Read John 15:1–11

1. According to Isaiah 5:1–7, who is God’s vine in the Old Testament?

2. How did Israel forfeit God’s blessing? What did the nation experience as a result?

3. Who is the true vine?

4. Who is the vinedresser?

Day Two: The Vine and the Branches

1. What kind of branches do you find in verses 2a and 6, and who do they represent?

2. What kind of branches do you find in verses 2b and 8, and who do they represent?

3. What was the vinedresser responsible to do? Why?

4. According to verse 3, what is the Father’s divine pruning instrument?

5. What two foundational principles for living the Christian life are recorded in verse 5?

Day Three: Abiding in the Vine

1. Define “abide.”

2. What does “abide” mean in the context of John 15, and what is abiding in Christ evidence of?

3. From John 17:21, how is Jesus the perfect example of abiding?

4. According to Galatians 1:6, how can a Christian fail to abide? Day Four: The Fruit of the Branches

1.According to verse 4, what does Jesus want His superficial followers to do?

2. From verse 7, what two conditions are attached to God’s promise of answered prayer?

3. Match the reference to the corresponding fruit in the life of a believer: a. John 4:39 _____ Believers give to the needy b. Romans 15:26, 28 _____ Believers offer praise to God c. Colossians 1:10 _____ Believers lead others to Christ d. Hebrews 13:15 _____ Believers do good works 4. In verse 8, how does bearing fruit glorify the Father?

Day Five: Abiding in the Vine

1.What do the following verses tell about love, obedience and abiding? Deuteronomy 30:19b–20

John 14:15

John 15:9

John 15:10

1 John 2:5

Jude 21

2. According to verse 11, what type of joy did Jesus want His disciples to experience? (See also 1 Peter 1:8.)

3. What kind of branch are you? Do you bear fruit? What types of activities in your life can you change or increase to have a closer abiding relationship with Christ?

______JoAnne Layland Spring 2008