“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
(Jesus in John 15:5-8closeJohn 15:5-8 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. 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. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (ESV) closeJohn 15:5-8closeJohn 15:5-8 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. 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. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (ESV) 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. 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. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (ESV) ; from the Gospel reading for 5.6.12)
“Fruit Filled Faith”
Get To Know Your “Neighbor”
+ When you see false modesty; how do you respond? _______
+ What are some of the real reasons for false modesty? _______
God’s Blueprint
+ Jesus said it was to His “Father’s glory” that we bear much fruit. If we aren’t concerned about bearing fruit; we are actually taking God’s glory for ourselves. What was Jesus’ leadership lesson for people with a “poor me” attitude (see Matthew 25:24-30closeMatthew 25:24-30 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (ESV) closeMatthew 25:24-30closeMatthew 25:24-30 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (ESV) 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (ESV) )? __________________________________
+ Psalm 1:1-3closePsalm 1:1-3
Book One
The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked
1:1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers. (ESV)
closePsalm 1:1-3closePsalm 1:1-3
Book One
The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked
1:1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers. (ESV)
Book One
The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked
1:1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers. (ESV)
has one of the keys to a “Fruit Filled Faith”; God tells us in His word that the believer who meditates day & night on His instructions will be fruitful. Why do people think they can honor God, if they are not humbling themselves to His word? _________
God’s Best
+ Jesus said, “Don’t believe Me unless I do what My Father does.” (John 10:37closeJohn 10:37 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; (ESV) closeJohn 10:37closeJohn 10:37 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; (ESV) 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; (ESV) ) Jesus’ fruit was not of this world; but it was for this world. What are some things that Jesus did which were “Heavenly”? __________________
+ The tree which Jesus bore His greatest fruit from was of course, the cross (Acts 5:30closeActs 5:30 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. (ESV) closeActs 5:30closeActs 5:30 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. (ESV) 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. (ESV) ). Do you think Jesus ever smiled on Good Friday? _________
+ Ephesians 2:10closeEphesians 2:10 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV) closeEphesians 2:10closeEphesians 2:10 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV) 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV) says that God has already prepared good works for us. The truth is, we have to work to avoid being fruitful for Him; God does not exasperate His children. How does God reveal His works for us? _____________________________
God’s Blessed
+ What part of your faith brings you the most joy? __________
Jim Buckman
