I. EXORDIUM:
Have you eaten a delicious fruit, wanted to eat it again and again and wants to know the name of the tree?
II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:
Believers with no fruits
III. OBJECTIVES:
To encourage them to bear fruits
IV. TEXT:
John 15:4 (NLT)
4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
Pray: Oh, Father-heart GOD, enable us to bear fruit as we abide in You.
V. THESIS:
Remain in the LORD to bear much fruit.
VI. TITLE:
Remain In the Lord = Fruitfulness
VII. EXPLICATION:
A. Author: John, the Beloved, 1 of the 12 Apostles, written book of Revelation
B. Key verse: John 20:31
John 20:31 (NLT)
31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.
C. Key Thoughts: Faith, and eternal life
D. Main Theme: Chapter 15: CHRIST, the True Vine, we are the branches
VIII. MAIN BODY:
A. Remain in the LORD and He will remain in us:
1. Secret of bearing fruit: CHRIST (John 15:4-10)
John 15:4-10 (NLT)
4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.
7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!
8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.
10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
2. Walk like JESUS did (1 John 2:6)
1 John 2:6 (NLT)
6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
3. Continue in HIM (1 John 2:28)
1 John 2:28 (NLT)
28 And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.
4. Continue in His Teachings (2 John 1:9)
2 John 1:9 (NLT)
9 Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.
5. Stop sinning: (1 John 3:6)
1 John 3:6 (NLT)
6 Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.
B. What are fruits?
1. Souls (Proverbs 11:30)
Proverbs 11:30 (NLT)
30 The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends.
2. Good things (Proverbs 12:14)
Proverbs 12:14 (NLT)
14 Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards.
3. Our godly children (Isaiah 11:1, Isaiah 27:6)
Isaiah 11:1 (NLT)
1 Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
Isaiah 27:6 (NLT)
6 The time is coming when Jacob’s descendants will take root. Israel will bud and blossom and fill the whole earth with fruit!
4. Unfailing love (Hosea 10:12)
Hosea 10:12 (NLT)
12 I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’
5. Good works (Colossians 1:10)
Colossians 1:10 (NLT)
10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
6. Our praises (Hebrews 13:15)
Hebrews 13:15 (NLT)
15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.
IX. CONCLUSION:
Remain in the LORD (John 15:4-10)
John 15:4-10 (NLT)
4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.
7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!
8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.
10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.