TLG Session Outline and Discussion Question

TMG Tuesday Men’s Gathering Jesus…The True Vine Basil Marotta Jericho Ministries 719-487-9500

Session Outline: As we continue to see and hear about of anti-God sentiment and teaching, it is good and proper that believers go back and review the basics of our faith, especially the teaching of Jesus.

John 15:1-17 (NIV) John 15 The Vine and the Branches 1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is my command: Love each other. Life Implication: This is the last of Jesus “I Am” statements in John. In that agrarian society one of the key crops was grapes so they could relate to Jesus statement that He was the true vine and His Father was the gardener or vine dresser. Note that Jesus first miracle was turning the water into wine at Cana (John 2). So, Christ is the vine and the Father is the gardener who cares for the branches to make them fruitful. The branches are all those who claim to be followers of Christ. The fruitful branches are true believers who through Christ produce much fruit. Those who turn back from following Christ, after making a superficial commitment, and become unproductive will be separated from the vine….so there are two kinds of pruning…separating the unfruitful, and pruning the fruitful to promote more growth. It is important to note that it takes about three years for a vine to bear fruit, so once we branches are connected to the vine (Jesus), there is a learning and developing time. Don’t be too disappointed if you don’t see great fruit right away. Jesus compressed that time at Cana, but sometimes we must not get discouraged and diligent to press on so that we will see the fruit of our efforts. (Verses 1-9) 5, 6, Remaining in Christ means… 1, believing that He is God’s son (1 Jn 4:15)… 2, receiving Him as Savior and Lord,(Jn 1:12)… 3, doing what God says (1Jn 2:24)… 4, continuing to believe in the Gospel, and 5, relating in love to the community of believers, Christ’s body (Jn 15:12). Note that “fruit” is not limited to soul winning….also in this chapter answered prayer, joy, and love are also mentioned as fruit. Gal 5: 22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 2 Peter 1: 5-8 For this reason make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness knowledge; 6 and to knowledge self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection , love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep from being ineffective and unproductive in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. When a vine bears “much fruit” God is glorified. 1 John 2:24 As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you will also remain in the Son and in the Father. 1 John 4:15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. John 1:12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. John 15:12 Love each other, as I have loved you. Note: While we are justified by faith apart from works, we are justified by works unto works. James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Romans 10:9-12 (NIV) Paul writing….That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile-the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

For Discussion: What do we have to do as believers to be “fruitful” branches?