Introduction

Good morning, beloved congregation. As we gather here today, I am reminded of the words of the esteemed Christian author, J.I. Packer, who wrote, "Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord." Such profound words, aren't they? They call us to a deeper understanding of our purpose and our place in God's grand design.

Today, we find ourselves standing on the precipice of a profound realization. We are about to step into a beautiful truth about our relationship with God, a truth that is as ancient as it is evergreen, as simple as it is profound. We are about to immerse ourselves in a passage from the Gospel of John, Chapter 15, verses 1 to 8.

Allow me to read it for us: "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples."

What an extraordinary passage, isn't it? It paints a vivid picture of our relationship with God. We are the branches, He is the vine, and our Father in heaven is the vinedresser. We are called to bear fruit, to show the world the love, the grace, and the mercy of God through our lives. But how can we bear fruit if we are not connected to the vine?

Today, we will be looking at three main points: Bearing Fruit through Belief, Becoming Branches of the Divine Vine, and Basking in the Blessings of Connection. Each point will bring us closer to understanding our role as branches of the divine vine and the blessings that come with it.

Before we begin, let us bow our heads in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day and for Your Word that guides us. We pray for Your Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds as we seek to understand Your Word today. Help us to bear fruit that glorifies You, to become branches of the divine vine, and to bask in the blessings of connection with You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Bearing Fruit through Belief

As we consider the words of Jesus in this passage, we are immediately drawn to the imagery of the vine and branches. It's a picture of connection, of life-giving sustenance flowing from the vine to the branches. But it's more than just a picture of connection. It's also a picture of purpose. The branches are not just connected to the vine; they are bearing fruit. And this fruit-bearing is not a result of the branches' own efforts or abilities. It's a result of their connection to the vine.

We are like those branches. Our purpose is to bear fruit - to show the world the love, grace, and mercy of God through our lives. But we can't do this on our own. We can't produce this fruit through our own efforts or abilities. We can only bear fruit if we are connected to the vine - if we are connected to Jesus.

But what does it mean to be connected to Jesus? It means to believe in Him. To trust in Him. To rely on Him. To abide in Him. This is the first aspect of bearing fruit that we need to understand. Belief is not just a mental assent to a set of facts. It's a relationship and reliance. When we believe in Jesus, we are not just believing in a historical figure or a religious leader. We believe in the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the true vine.

This belief is an ongoing relationship. It's a daily trust. It's a continual reliance. It's a constant abiding. Every day, we need to choose to believe in Jesus, to trust in His love, to rely on His grace, and to abide in His presence.

This belief is a public witness. It's a visible fruit. It's a tangible demonstration of God's love, grace, and mercy. When we believe in Jesus, we are not just connecting to the vine. We are also bearing fruit for the world to see.

This fruit is not just for our own benefit. Rather, it's for the glory of God. It's for the blessing of others. It's for the advancement of God's kingdom. When we bear fruit, we are not just showing the world what we believe. We are showing the world who God is. We are showing the world His love, His grace, and His mercy.

Transition. This is what it means to bear fruit through belief. It's not just about connection. It's about purpose. It's not just about belief. So let us believe in Jesus. Let us trust in His love. Let us rely on His grace. Let us abide in His presence. And let us bear fruit for His glory.

Becoming Branches of the Divine Vine

As we immerse ourselves in the imagery of the vine and the branches, we are drawn to the realization that our existence, our very being, is intertwined with the divine ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO