Text: John 15:1-17<\/p>\n
I. Jesus uses a metaphor so his disciples will understand their relationship to him<\/p>\n A. Some have used this to justify denominations. Each denomination being a branch off\nof the vine (Jesus). \n
1. However, notice the pronouns. The branches are individuals<\/p>\n
2. Much like I Corinthians 12:12-14, 27<\/p>\n B. In this metaphor, the branches are individual Christians, the vine is Christ, and the\nvinedresser is the Father.\n 1. A vinedresser prunes the vine, removing the dead and sickly growth so the\nvine remains productive\n
2. Can a branch produce fruit or even survive if it is removed from the vine?<\/p>\n
a. Apart from Christ we can do nothing – John 15:5<\/p>\n
b. Colossians 3:17 – Do everything in the name of Jesus<\/p>\n
3. What is meant by being attached to the vine?<\/p>\n a. It is equated to having Jesus and his words abiding in us – Romans\n10:8\n
b. It is equated to abiding – living nearly, dwelling closely<\/p>\n
c. Abiding in Jesus is to love him – John 14:9<\/p>\n
d. Loving Jesus is to obey him – John 14:15; 15:14<\/p>\n
C. What is done with unproductive branches?<\/p>\n
D. What is meant by bearing fruit?<\/p>\n
1. Matthew 3:8 – deeds (Galatians 5:22-23)<\/p>\n
2. Colossians 1:10 – fruit in every good work and increasing knowledge<\/p>\n
E. What are the benefits of staying with the vine?<\/p>\n
1. Prayers are answered – John 15:7<\/p>\n
2. God is glorified – John 15:8<\/p>\n
3. We show we are Christ’s disciples – John 15:8; 17:19-21<\/p>\n
4. We have the love of God – John 15:9-10<\/p>\n
5. We will have joy – John 15:11<\/p>\n
II. We are commanded to love each other.<\/p>\n
A. To what extent?<\/p>\n
B. How is love shown<\/p>\n
1. A willingness to sacrifice self for others<\/p>\n
2. A willingness to obey<\/p>\n
C. What is our relationship to Jesus if we truly love him and others?<\/p>\n
1. What is the difference between a slave and a friend?<\/p>\n
2. Who picked us as friends? <\/p>\n
a. Notice that the one selecting places the criteria.<\/p>\n
b. We do not tell God what we will accept, God tells us who is accepted.<\/p>\n
D. What is God’s desire for us?<\/p>\n
1. Bear fruit<\/p>\n
2. Bear lasting fruit<\/p>\n
3. Ask and it will be answered<\/p>\n
4. Love each other.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrior Lesson\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA Study of John\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNext Lesson\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Vine and Branches Text: John 15:1-17 I. Jesus uses a metaphor so his disciples will understand their relationship to him A. Some have used this to justify denominations. Each denomination being a branch off of the vine (Jesus). 1. However, notice the pronouns. The branches are individuals 2. Much like I Corinthians 12:12-14, 27 B. In this metaphor, the branches…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":21925,"menu_order":34,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-65064","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":66415,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/the-gospel-accounts-a-chronological-harmony\/relationships\/","url_meta":{"origin":65064,"position":0},"title":"Relationships (Gospel Accounts)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Relationships Reading Assignment: John 15:1-16:4 \u00a0 Did you understand what you read? Who or what is The true vine? The vinedresser? The branches? The fruit? How were the disciples made clean? What does it mean to \"abide?\" Who must abide in whom? How do we abide in Christ's love? What\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":64812,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-ezekiel\/lament-for-the-kings-of-israel\/","url_meta":{"origin":65064,"position":1},"title":"Lament for the Kings of Israel","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 19, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Lament for the Kings of Israel Text: Ezekiel 19 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A lioness rears a young lion - Ezekiel 19:1-4 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This a lamentation \u2013 a subject of sorrow \u2013 concerning the ruling family of Israel. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The kingdom of Judah, and David\u2019s house in particular, is compared to a lioness who gives\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":21925,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-john\/","url_meta":{"origin":65064,"position":2},"title":"A Study of John","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 29, 2001","format":false,"excerpt":"A Study of John by Jeffrey W. Hamilton, 2001 The Gospel of John An Overview of John An Introduction to the Christ\u00a0(John 1:1-18) The Witness of John the Baptist\u00a0(John 1:19-34) The First Followers of Jesus\u00a0(John 1:35-51) Miracle at Cana\u00a0(John 2:1-12) Cleansing of the Temple\u00a0(John 2:13-25) Nicodemus Visits Jesus\u00a0(John 3:1-21) The\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":64761,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-ezekiel\/the-parable-of-the-eagles\/","url_meta":{"origin":65064,"position":3},"title":"The Parable of the Eagles","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 18, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The Parable of the Eagles Text: Ezekiel 17 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0God now turns his attention to the king of Israel, Zedekiah. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0He offers a riddle and a parable - Ezekiel 17:1-2 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This is not to obscure, but to help fix the point in their minds. II.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Parable - Ezekiel 17:3-10 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7583,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/mens-training-class\/the-lords-supper\/","url_meta":{"origin":65064,"position":4},"title":"The Lord’s Supper (Men’s Training)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 17, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"The Lord's Supper Introduction While no more or no less important than any other part of our public worship, the Lord's Supper should be considered as a solemn occasion that deserves careful preparation and proper execution. Everything possible should be done to allow the worshipers to partake without distraction. Read\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":65270,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/fundamentals-of-christianity\/the-lords-supper\/","url_meta":{"origin":65064,"position":5},"title":"The Lord\u2019s Supper (Fundamentals)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 1, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The Lord's Supper Text: I Corinthians 11:17-34 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It is a covenant meal \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Luke 22:19-20 - The cup is the new covenant \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A covenant that is taken with us in the kingdom - Matthew 26:28-29 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Covenants were often sealed with a meal shared between the two parties. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jacob and Laban\u2019s\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/65064","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65064"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/65064\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65064"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}