Class Lesson April 10, 2016

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THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
 

“I’m sooo busy.” We hear that a lot, don’t we? Some people say it with a sigh, but they may also betray a hint of pride. Being busy is a badge of honor in our society. It can be a way to convince ourselves we are significant and important.

It also can present a problem. Why? Because busyness does not equal productivity.


The truth is that we never find ultimate purpose in what we do. Purpose is more personal. Finding purpose is about knowing a Person and allowing Him to shape our lives. Real life—deep, meaningful, satisfying life—comes from connecting to Jesus and allowing His life to flow through ours.



On the surface, that may sound syrupy and spiritual—completely out of touch with the rough-and-tumble daily life of the real world. But Jesus made the concept very practical, and He did it by talking about a vineyard.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

John 15:1-8 (NIV)

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.

2 He 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.

3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

4 Remain in me, as I also 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 you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”


Remain (v. 4)—This term refers to existing in a specific state or condition for an extended period of time; in this case, remaining in the presence of Jesus.

Glory (v. 8)—Enhanced reputation, praise, or honor of someone or something; to achieve splendid greatness in one’s person, possessions, or circumstances in the opinion of others.

John 15:1-3

Only hours before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus made His seventh “I am” statement. By calling Himself the True Vine, Jesus established Himself as the Source of all that flows from Him to His followers. Since He is the Source of life for every branch (His followers), it is critical that the branches are vitally and solidly connected to Him.

Jesus announced the Gardener (God) would remove every branch that doesn’t produce fruit—meaning, visible evidence of a living connection to the vine. People who falsely claim to be followers of Jesus are unmasked by their lack of spiritual fruit. As a result of their counterfeit faith, God removes them from their pseudo-relationship with Christ.

It all comes down to a matter of spiritual fruit. But what kind of fruit is this?

1. Some people equate fruit with evangelistic success, meaning how many people you lead to faith in Jesus.
2. Some people connect fruit to acts of service, meaning the ministry you do in the name of Jesus.
3. Some people insist fruit is about personal growth—the character of Jesus that God shapes in you.

All of these views are correct. Life change must happen—and continue to happen—as proof of conversion. Yet, to bear fruit can mean leading people to Jesus (see John 4:36), serving them in Jesus’ name (see Matt. 7:16-20), and developing the character of Christ (see Gal. 5:22-23).

God also “prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” (v. 2). Pruning applies to those who have proven the legitimacy of their faith. God continually works to produce spiritual fruit among Jesus’ followers. God is unrelenting in shaping His people to be more and more like Jesus.

Such pruning can be painful, but it’s good. Change that brings us closer to Christ is always good. So ask yourself: Am I changing to be more like Jesus? Progress, not perfection, is the goal.



What does this “I am” statement teach us about Jesus’ nature and character? 

John 15:4-7

Jesus used one word repeatedly in this passage: “remain.” In fact, He used it 8 times throughout John 15:4-10. Jesus wanted to emphasize the mutual interweaving of His life with the lives of His followers.

To “remain” in this context carries the idea of personal, intimate residence. Jesus emphasized that His followers must abide in Him, and He in them. The intricacy and interconnectedness of the relationship between Jesus and His followers is difficult to express—and impossible to overstate!

Jesus also included a warning: “If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers” (v. 6). If half-hearted believers fail to live in Jesus and produce fruit, not only will they be removed (see v. 2), they will face destruction.

In stark contrast to the calamity awaiting false believers, true believers have fantastic privileges—including unlimited access to God in prayer.

Jesus promised, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (v. 7).

When you remain in Christ, your thoughts are saturated with the mind of Jesus, your heart beats with the compassion of Jesus, and your will bows to the Lordship of Jesus—all of which changes your prayers. Rather than praying a laundry list of self-serving demands, the believer who remains in Jesus will pray like Jesus prays:

1. Humble yourself.
2. Meditate on God’s Word.
3. Consider what Jesus would pray in your situation.
4. Then go ahead, pray boldly!

You can trust you’ll receive God’s best answer in His good time.



What does “remaining in Christ” look like in our daily lives?



How would you summarize the commands and promises in these verses?



John 15:8

Bringing glory to God is the goal for every believer. To glorify God means to make His name famous, give Him the accolades, and put Him on prominent display. We can glorify God in two ways:

1. You glorify God when you “bear much fruit.” When you lead people to faith, accomplish difficult ministry and service, or overcome ingrained personal weaknesses, people will notice. And when you humbly acknowledge your inability to generate any of these accomplishments on your own and point to God, He gets the glory.
2. You glorify God by “showing yourselves to be my disciples.” No one can generate genuine life change on their own. Therefore, changes in you will point to Someone beyond you—to God.

Purpose is found when you step off the ugly treadmill of duty-bound religious busyness and get on the slow-but-sure track toward bearing fruit for Christ. Commit yourself to Jesus for strength to tackle day-to-day living. Allow His grace to flow through you. Revel in His love. When you do these things, your efforts to serve and grow will flow freely, and you will bear much fruit for Him.


A life in Christ is a productive life. It’s a life with purpose.




How can we work together to produce fruit?

"Give me a man who says, 'This one thing I do,' and not, 'These 50 things I dabble in.'"

—D.L. MOODY

LIVE IT OUT


What steps will you take this week to remain in Jesus, the Vine?

Consider the following options:

• Double down. Each day this week, spend twice as much time praying and reading God’s Word as you usually do. Take an active step to remain in Christ. 

• Say thanks. Consider one way God has changed you or used you in recent months. Write a “thank you” letter to God giving Him the glory for the fruit in your life. Consider sharing your letter with those close to you.

• Plan ahead. Review your monthly calendar and eliminate any activities that won’t bring glory to God. Modify or replace other activities so they can be done in Christ’s power and bring glory to Him.

Even on your busiest day, remember that Jesus alone is your Source for purpose in this life. Choose to remain in Him and allow His power to produce fruit for His glory.



Our Lesson Today:

Billy Jack

When have you had a moment of epiphany?

 

A moment of epiphany for me was when I read Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life, and he said, “It’s not about you. The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by His purpose and for His purpose.” 

 



When you think about it, each of Jesus' "I AM" statements should have been epiphany moments for the disciples. Only hours before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus made His seventh “I am” statement.  He said, I am the vine – every branch depends on Me. I am the Source of all that flows from God, the Father to His followers. If you abide in Me then you will know why you are here and what you must do – I am your purpose for being here.


The Point: Jesus is the Vine who empowers us to live productive lives for God. 

I. God Prunes Our Lives to Make Us Productive for Him - John 15:1-3
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He 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. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 

 



Jesus announced that God is the Gardener who would remove every branch that doesn’t produce fruit. He takes care of the vine.

a. He removes unproductive branches.

b. He prunes branches to make them even more productive.

What is spiritual fruit?

• Visible evidence of a living connection to the vine

What does it mean to bear fruit?

1. Works that indicate true repentance (Matt. 3:8).
2. Good works as a result of following Christ (Matt. 7:20).
3. The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Jesus went on to remove any misunderstanding about what He meant (John 15:4). He said that no branch can even live, let alone produce leaves and fruit, by itself. Cut off from the trunk, a branch is dead. Just as a vine’s branches rely on being connected to the trunk from which they receive their energy to bear fruit, Jesus’ disciples depend on being connected to Him for their spiritual life and the ability to serve Him effectively. The fruit we produce is that of the Holy Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). Our source of life and spiritual fruit is not in ourselves; it is outside us, in Christ Jesus. We can live, live rightly, and serve Him effectively only if we are rightly connected to Him in a faith/love relationship.


What is the fruit proof of? (A follower of Jesus)

• Life change must happen—and continue to happen—as proof of conversion. Yet, to bear fruit can mean leading people to Jesus (see John 4:36), serving them in Jesus’ name (see Matt. 7:16-20), and developing the character of Christ (see Gal. 5:22-23).

What is God’s purpose in pruning?

• God “prunes so that it will be even more fruitful”. Pruning applies to those who have proven the legitimacy of their faith. God continually works to produce spiritual fruit among Jesus’ followers. God is unrelenting in shaping His people to be more and more like Jesus.

• Such pruning can be painful, but it’s good. Change that brings us closer to Christ is always good. So ask yourself: Am I changing to be more like Jesus? Progress, not perfection, is the goal.

All true branches bear fruit. Just as we know a healthy, living tree by the good fruit it produces, so do we recognize fruitless branches as having no connection to the True Vine. This is why Jesus tells us, “By their fruit you will know them” (Matthew 7:16–20). Those who do not produce good fruit are cut away and burned. The reference here is to apostates, those who profess to know Christ but whose relationship to Him is insincere. He neither called them nor elected them nor saved them nor sustains them. Eventually, the fruitless branches are identified as not belonging to the Vine and are removed for the sake of truth and the benefit of the other branches.

 

II. We Bear Spiritual Fruit When We Remain in Him - John 15:4-7 4 Remain in me, as I also 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 you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Jesus used one word repeatedly in this passage: “remain.”

Why did Jesus repeat this word so many times?

• Jesus wanted to emphasize the mutual interweaving of His life with the lives of His followers. To “remain” in this context carries the idea of personal, intimate residence. Jesus emphasized that His followers must abide in Him, and He in them. The intricacy and interconnectedness of the relationship between Jesus and His followers is difficult to express—and impossible to overstate!

How was this word used as a warning?

• Jesus included a warning: “If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers”. False believers fail to live in Jesus and produce fruit, not only will they be removed, they will face destruction. Those who only pretend to be His will be cut off.

How was this word used as a blessing?

• True believers have fantastic privileges—including unlimited access to God in prayer. Jesus promised, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you”. Those who are truly His will be cleansed and disciplined so they will be able to accomplish that which pleases and glorifies God.

• When you remain in Christ, your thoughts are saturated with the mind of Jesus, your heart beats with the compassion of Jesus, and your will bows to the Lordship of Jesus—all of which changes your prayers. You can trust you’ll receive God’s best answer in His good time.

What does “remaining in Christ” look like in our daily lives?

• True believers are those who live in right relationship with Jesus, abiding in Him and allowing Him to abide in them.
• We have no ability or power to do anything of eternal significance apart from being in an abiding relationship with Christ.
• Those who are not true believers are subject to the judgment and punishment of God.
• Those who are true believers will seek the Lord’s will and ask Him for that which fulfills His purpose and brings Him glory; they will not ask for purely selfish motives and for selfish ends.

I. An illustration of abiding in Christ. - Jesus used the illustration of a vine.

1. The Old Testament sometimes used a vine as an illustration of Israel. Psalm 80:8-16 compares Israel to a vine that was taken out of Egypt, planted in Israel, and then destroyed by God. The prophet Isaiah compared Israel to a vineyard that yielded nothing but bad grapes (Isaiah 5:1-7).

2. Jesus, by contrast, is the “true vine”. Unlike Israel, He is without sin. He bears fruit for God, and enables us to do the same.

II. The necessity of abiding in Christ. - We must abide in Christ just as a branch abides in the vine.

1. A branch cannot bear fruit in itself. If you cut a branch away from a vine, the vine may continue to bear fruit, but the branch will wither and die. Just as a branch literally draws life and strength from the vine, we draw spiritual life and strength through Christ.

2. What exactly does it mean to abide in Christ? The first step is trusting in Him as your Lord and Savior. It means to seek His guidance and strength day by day. It means obeying Him.

B. What happens to those that do not abide in Christ? - Branches that do not bear fruit are cut away from the vine. Those who fail to bear fruit do not lose their salvation because they never really had it in the first place. We can only bear fruit by trusting in Christ. Our security depends not on us, but on Him.

Jesus wanted His friends, not only those eleven, but those of all time, to know that He was not going to desert them, even though they would no longer enjoy His physical presence. His living energy—His spiritual reality—would continue to nourish and sustain them just as the roots and trunk of a grape vine produce the energy that nourishes and sustains its branches while they develop their fruit. Jesus wanted us to know that, even though we cannot see Him, we are as closely connected to Him as the branches of a vine are connected to its stem. Our desire to know and love Him and the energy to serve Him will keep flowing into and through us as long as we “abide” in Him.

Then Jesus underscored His point even more strongly by saying, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). This illustration of the vine and branches is no thoughtless generality or careless simile. It is absolute, stark reality. No believer can achieve anything of spiritual value independently of Christ Jesus. He also reminds us that there are some who are “in” Him who bear no fruit. But these are not, as some would suppose, true branches that just happen to be fruitless.




III. God Is Glorified When We Bear Fruit for Him - John 15:8
8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

What is the purpose of every life?

• Bringing glory to God is the goal for every believer. To glorify God means to make His name famous, give Him the accolades, and put Him on prominent display.

How do we bring glory to God? 2 Ways: 
 


1. You glorify God when you “bear much fruit.” When you lead people to faith, accomplish a difficult ministry and service, or overcome a personal weakness, people will notice. And when you humbly acknowledge your inability to accomplish any of this on your own and point to God, He gets the glory. 
 

2. You glorify God by “showing yourselves to be my disciples.” No one can generate genuine life change on their own. Therefore, changes in you will point to Someone beyond you—to God. 
 


A life in Christ is a productive life. It’s a life with purpose. Even on your busiest day, remember that Jesus alone is your Source for purpose in this life. Choose to remain in Him and allow His power to produce fruit for His glory.

So, what’s the result of abiding in Christ?

A. Our prayers are answered. Why do some prayers go unanswered? - Sin in our hearts, wrong attitudes, or God has a better plan. When we abide in Christ, we seek God’s glory above all else. This enables us to pray according to God’s will. It enables us to accept God’s will when we don’t get what we want.
B. The Father is glorified. People see our good works and glorify God. People are drawn to faith in Christ.


Conclusion: So, we depend on Jesus for everything, starting with our very life—“For in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28)—and including our reconciliation with God through Him (Romans 5:10). No one can serve God effectively until he is connected with Jesus Christ by faith. Jesus is our only connection with the God who gave life and who produces in us a fruitful life of righteousness and service.

Prayer of Commitment

Dear Lord Jesus, I am grateful for my salvation, but help me not to live passively in that assurance. May I demonstrate to You and others that I am a true child of God who is connected through Christ by living in ways that bring You glory. Amen.




Hope to see you on Sunday!



In His Love,



David & Susan