Are We Connected Or Cut Off?

“ARE WE CONNECTED OR CUT OFF?”

John 15:1-14

Greenmount and O’Leary Churches of Christ

September 26, 2021

Video Link: https://youtu.be/FN39VUxBCAk

INTRODUCTION:

1) When we look at the Gospels, we find that Jesus was particularly gifted at pointing out aspects of daily life to bring about spiritual truths.

A) He would use images from the water, and from agriculture, people’s lives, and just everyday life.

B) Today we come to John 15 and as Jesus taught his disciples, he presented a simple scene from the agricultural community to present some powerful truths on our walk with Christ.

C) The image was that of a farmer, or the owner of a vineyard as he cared for his crop.

ba.) In the care of the vines sometimes the gardener would have to cut out some of the dead wood and branches that were not producing crops.

bb.) This man would also do some pruning so that the parts of the plant that were producing would produce an even better crop.

2) It was just an everyday scene these men had witnessed more times than they could remember.

A) Yet as simple and common as this was, Jesus used this occasion to reveal the need for his disciples to abide in Christ, and to produce fruit for the kingdom of God.

B) With this, let us get into out text:

I) THE CHRISTIAN MUST BE CONNECTED TO CHRIST TO HAVE LIFE.

1) Jesus is the true vine. (1a.)

A) He is the starting point and for that matter the entirety of our faith.

B) He is the focus of our spiritual walk with Almighty God.

C) For there to be a walk of faith Jesus must be at the centre of our hearts and our lives.

2) God the Father is the vinedresser. (1b.)

A) In many ways, God is being described as the gardener, or the one who oversees those who desire that spiritual walk.

3) We are the branches.

A) In every part of our spiritual walk, we must remember that we are the branches, and are connected to |Jesus Christ who is the vine.

aa.) This passage of Scripture reminds us of two things:

aaa.) The first is that it is not about us.

.01) Sometimes I feel that the modern church has gotten this backwards.

.02) Sometimes, the modern church believes everything of the faith, and our walk with Christ is about us, rather than about Christ.

.03) Much of the music in many churches is emotional excitement and feel-good music and worship.

.031) It is to build us up more than to honour and bring glory to God.

.031) Anything which brings us to contrition, or experiencing guilt, or thinking of the need for a personal and Biblical relationship with Christ disappears because it does not positively hit our emotions.

.032) Even in churches who still use the hymns, the words have changed to give us more of an emotional high.

.033) I think of one old hymn of the faith that used to have the words “for such a worm as I.”

.034) Newer hymnals have changed those words to “for such a sinner as I”, and the newest hymn books have even changed that further to “such a one as I.”

.035) These might seem like innocent and insignificant changes, but they are the kind of changes that happen, and lead to more significant changes that focus on us instead of on Christ.

aab.) Secondly, it is about our connection to Christ.

.01) Because our faith is in Christ, and not ourselves, it will only be of value if we maintain a connection with Christ.

.02) We must abide in Him, and He must abide in us.

.021) It is not enough for us to merely say that we are Christians and belong to Christ.

.022) There are many who claim to belong to Christ, and call themselves Christians, and in reality, their faith means nothing more than the utterance of those words.

.023) The bigger, and more important question is does God abide in you?

.0231) Is God welcomed to abide with you and I by regular meditation and study of His Word.

.0232) In our times of prayer is it merely for us to speak to God, or do we allow God to speak to us?

.0233) Does God abide in us in a manner that meaningfully changes who we are, the values we have, the life we live, the worship we give, and a full surrender to Jesus Christ.

B) It is expected that the branches will bear fruit.

ba.) Jesus was still talking one on one with his apostles at this time.

baa.) It was expected of Jesus that his closest disciples, the apostles would bear fruit for the kingdom of God.

bab.) It is also expected that today’s disciples, the Church of Jesus Christ will also bear fruit for the kingdom of God.