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The True Vine Part 2

Read John 15:1 11

Estimated Timing: 50 minutes

Instruction:

(1) Leaders to do a RECAP and do a summary from vs 1 6

(2) Leaders to READ through vs 7 11 and go through verse by verse with the
sheeps
(3) Leaders to have them reflect what the passage truly means with the questions.
(4) Pray that we are all grafted to the true vine of Christ therefore bearing good
fruits

The True Vine (ESV)

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser

2 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.

We are by nature dry and fit for nothing but the fire because we are born into sin and our vines
are fake/fruitless vines that do not yield good fruits. Therefore, in order that we may live and be
fruitful, we must first be grafted into Christ, as it were into a vine, by the Father's hand: and then
be daily moulded with a continual meditation of the word, repentance of all our sins and the cross
so that the one that is grafted to the true vine, can so draws juice out of it.

3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.

You are clean All of you, to whom I now speak, are purged from the guilt and power of sin; by
the word - Which, applied by the Spirit, is the grand instrument of purifying the soul. It is God in
Christ who cleanses the soul, but this cleansing is effected through hearing, believing, and
obeying the Word. The Word tells us what to do that we may be cleansed and saved that is
through faith in Jesus Christ.

4 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.

Abide in me You who are now pure by living faith, producing all holiness; by which alone ye
can be in me.. The whole parable is intended to teach us Christ's relationships. (1) Toward the
Father--Husbandman (a person who cultivates the land; a farmer) and Vine. (2) Toward man--Vine
and branches (3) Toward good works--Vine, branches, and fruit. (4) The negative condition, or
"lack" of relationship--the Vine, the dissevered branches, the fire.

5 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.

I am the vine, ye are the branches Our Lord in this whole passage speaks of no branches
being able to bear any fruits except the one that is grafted to him
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6 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.

If any one abide not in me By living faith; not by Church communion only. He may thus abide
in Christ, and be withered all the time, and cast into the fire at last.

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Fathers
commandments and abide in his love. To abide in Jesus means to keep his commandments and
to keep his commandments means to love God with all our hearts and souls and minds and to
love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:3739). One way that we display our love for God is
through our trust, prayer, and devotion to him. We abide through relationship. We pursue in love.
We pray in love. We obey in love.

-----------RECAP FOR LAST WEEK -------------------

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

Question: What does it mean to truly abide in Christ and His word?

Suggested Answer: The recognition that we NEED his word to live our life. The
recognition that there is a lot of counterfeit wisdom in the world that contradicts his
word. If we truly abide in Christ, obey His word, our desires become like His and our
prayer will be in sync with Him. A true believer knows the heart of God and is able to
have the character of Christ.

Whoever rests in Christ's doctrine (teaching) abides in him, and therefore brings forth good fruit,
and the Father will not deny anything to such a person as this. The condition of this blessed
promise is that we abide in the Vine, by having Christ's words abide in us. Herein is my Father
glorified, that ye bear much fruit. If ye abide in me, ye shall ask Prayers themselves are a fruit
of faith, and they produce more fruit.

8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my
disciples.

Question: Are you bearing real fruit for Christ? Do you sense His love and presence daily
and are you living for Him?

Suggested Answer: If we claim to be true disciple of Christ, we will bear fruits through our
walk with Him. Are we become less and less like the world. We do not pursue after the
things that the world pursues. We do not give reason for sinning. Our desire truly wanting
to please God. We want to be holy. Leaders may share their testimony if any.

So shall ye be my disciples Worthy of the name. To be a disciple of Christ is both the

foundation and height of Christianity. The evidence that one is a disciple is by their fruits they
yield.

9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

The love of the Father towards the Son, and of the Son towards us, and of us toward God and
our neighbour, are joined together with an inseparable knot: and there is nothing more sweet and
pleasant than it is. Now this love shows itself by its effects, a most perfect example of which
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Christ himself exhibits to us. That is, in that love with which I love you, which love is the
responsibility of both parties.

Abide ye in my love Keep your place in my affection. See that ye do not forfeit that invaluable
blessing.

10 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.

To abide in Jesus means to keep his commandments and to keep his commandments means to
love God with all our hearts and souls and minds and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew
22:3739). One way that we display our love for God is through our trust, prayer, and devotion to
him. We abide through relationship. We pursue in love. We pray in love. We obey in love.

Questions: Do we truly abide in His love? If so do we truly keep his commandments?

Suggested answer: Leaders to share any testimony of the reality of this verse if any?

11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may
be full.

He had spoken the words of this discourse that the disciples might have a joy corresponding to
his own. By perfect obedience he enjoyed a consciousness of the Father's presence and
approval. By a like obedience the disciples might have a like sense of his presence and approval,
and hence a like joy.

Final Questions:

(1) How has the verses above impacted me?

(2) What are some of the struggles we face in abiding in Christ?
(3) How can we truly abide in Christ? And what are some of the practical things that
we can do to abide in Him?

Prayer for the kids