Bible Text: John 15 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: Abiding in the Lord, Transformed
Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always…
Our mission is to MAKE DISCIPLES not CONVERTS!
1 Corinthians 4:15-16 …for even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you.  So I urge you to imitate me.
Only when we are the BODY of Christ can serve the MISSION of Christ!
Ephesians 4:14-15 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
Salvation is by grace alone and not by works!
Ephesians 2:8-9 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
The only way we are able to BEAR FRUIT is when we GROW in Jesus!
Sterile believers are not reproducing Jesus in themselves or others
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser
John 15:2-3 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
John 15:4-5 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit;
Our growth will come as the direct result of ABIDING in Jesus
…bear fruit …bear more fruit …bear much more fruit
What are the barriers to fruitfulness?
Neglect
Disease
Improper Pruning
Separation from the Vine
Lack of Attention
…for without Me you can do nothing
John 15:6-8 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
What do we need to do in order to grow?
Spiritual Discipline
BE THE BRANCH!
If we ABIDE in Jesus we will bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit and the fruit of reproduction!
Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Good Deeds
1 Peter 2:11-13 Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.
Matthew 7:16 You will know them by their fruits
IF there is fruit, THEN it must be good and real and a representation of Jesus; if there is not, then it is not.
It is NOT the existence of the fruit that is the verification of Jesus, but the quality of the fruit that represents Jesus.
2 Timothy 2:2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.