Source SM Recap: Volume #20

Current Series: “I AM: changes who I am”Title: Week 6 – “The Vine” Main Thought: Apart from Jesus we can do nothing. Scripture: John 15:1-7, 12-13, Psalm 119:111.

Message explanation: What you connect to in life matters! We have to come to a place in our lives where we realize that apart from Jesus we can do nothing.

 John 15:1. “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.” In today’s passage in John 15, Jesus uses the grapevine to describe the relationship that we have with God.

Let’s break it down:

Who's the vine? (Jesus) Who are the branches? (Christians) Who's the Gardener? (God)

• Review of series: Week 1 - Bread of Life – He is the only thing that can satisfy us Week 2 -  Light of the World – The light of Jesus promises you will never have to walk in darkness. Week 3 - Good Shepherd - Security comes through a relationship with Jesus. Week 4 -  Resurrection and Life - Jesus’ resurrection reveals hope eternally and in everyday pain. Week 5 - Way, Truth and Life – Jesus is the only way to God.

Action-Steps to be connected to Christ

  1. Allow yourself to be CONFRONTED (15:2-3)

The Gardner has two main jobs:

-      Cut off branches that have no fruit. They tend to sap the energy from the fruit-bearing branches. Dead branches might have diseases and it could spread to the healthy ones. People who are no fruit are people who attend church, but their commitment is not real and they never surrender to a relationship with Jesus.

-      Prunes the branches who bear fruit so they will grow MORE fruit. In the first 3-5 years of life, vines are pruned back in order to “train” them. This is to help the vine develop strength and energy to produce fruit. God disciplines those He loves. Proverbs 3:12: For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28. 

When God “prunes” us, He is helping us become more like Jesus so we need too…

2.  Remain with GOD John 15:4: “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.”

The Word of God takes root. It changes how you THINK, FEEL, and ACT. Head – Changes how I think. Heart – Changes how I feel Feet. – Changes how I live my life

Memorize God’s Word so that we can…

 3. Produce good FRUIT

John 15:5: “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.”

 We have to stay connected to the power source. Who will bear much fruit? (Those who remain in the vine.) How do you know that? (v.5) The question is not what can we do FOR Him, but what can He do THROUGH us.

 Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Take the Word In. Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Live the Word Out. John 15:12-13: “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

 John 15:7 “But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!”

Element of Fun: We played a “minute to win it” game with the Middle school students called, “Christmas Cliffhanger” It was hard and none of the students finished the game!

We showed a promo video for Dodgeball! (The video was not our original resource, we borrowed it from a friend).

 Music: We are the Free, Search My Heart, None Like You (Cassidy wrote this song), One Thing Remains (closing).

 Favorite Moment: One middle school girl receiving Christ was a highlight! Also, seeing students taking notes and asking questions on how to grow spiritually was a huge encouragement that students are hungry for God's Word.

What’s Next: We are having a one night Christmas Story with the students next week!

3 Minute Devotional | 1 John 3:16-17

¹⁶ We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

(3:16). This verse lays out the perfect example by what love is be measured. John states that we know the love of God because of his demonstration of that love at the cross. So the love of God is in direct correlation with the cross. How do we know that God loved us? His action at the cross is proof of His love. The word for love is “agape” is the highest form of love. The Greek language has different forms of the word love, each with different meanings and levels of importance. In this verse he simply says in order for us to follow in Christ’s example of love we must follow His actions - lay down our lives for one another.

(3:17). John transitions from theological truth to application in this verse. The Greek phrase is “shut up his bowels”. Bowels are descriptive of the inner heart or feelings. In other words, those who reject and don't help with basic needs of life are strangers to God.

Action Steps:  -  What can you give up today to show love to others? -  What is a practical way you can share and help someone today?

3 Minute Devotional | 1 John 3:14-15

If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them. 1 John 3:14-15

(3:14). In this first verse John lays out the first test of spiritual growth. This test is if we love others.  John uses a statement that reveals a total contrast for being a Christ follower. The phrase is, “passing from death to life”. This is a total and absolute change from separation from God to eternal life. The perfect tense is used here to signify that we remain in life once we have passed from death. In other words, there is not a constant movement from one to the other.  John goes on further to say that he who does not love his brother still abides in death.

(3:15). John further elaborates on what the neglect of the command in verse one actually is. He equates hate with murder. Why is this? The scriptures tell us that God desires truth in the inward parts. At the time of the writing of this letter, there were those who taught that one could live in sin and still be a believer. Others taught that one only had to keep the letter of the law and not the spirit. In other words, it was wrong for you to kill someone but hating that person within your own heart and mind was permissible. This is why John says that one who hates and one who kills are equally guilty in the eyes of God.

Action steps: 

 - Find a way today to encourage other friends in their faith. - Ask God to reveal any hate that is in your heart. Ask Him to help you release the hate and replace it with love.