Connect

Choose today, and every day, to stay connected to Jesus.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.”
—John 15:1

“Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.”
—John 15:2-3

What’s the Gardner Doing?
He’s removing branches that aren’t fruitful.
“If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.”
—John 15:6

He’s pruning branches that are fruitful.
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”
—John 15:4

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
—John 15:5

The Pattern of Abiding

We Abide in His Word (v.7)
Our ability to produce fruit is directly connected to our willingness to abide in His Word.

We take the Word in so we can live the Word out.

We abide in Prayer (v.7)
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
—John 15:7

The Condition: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you…”

The Result: “…ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

We Abide in His Love (v.9)

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”
—John 15:8-9

Abiding in His love is not about what you do for Him; it’s about what He has done for you in Christ.

When we take His love in and we give His love out.

Staying connected to Jesus is necessary for spiritual growth.

It’s time to join in on the mission of God through His church!

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”
—John 15:7-17