WHEN YOUR WAY ISN’T WORKING: THE PURPOSE OF PRUNING
John 15:1-8
This Sunday will be the fourth lesson in our sermon series and small group study: WHEN YOUR WAY ISN’T WORKING. The text we have been using is John 15 where Jesus says, “I am the vine, and you are the branches.”
Jesus stresses throughout this chapter the importance of remaining in Him and as a result, we will bear fruit. But God knows when there are things in our lives that may be stifling our growth in Him, so He will begin to pruning process of removing those things that stifle our fruit production. The pruning process may be painful, but it is not punishment. It’s always done in love as a means to remove that which is unhealthy in our lives so that we can grow and flourish as we produce more fruit for God.
Come join us Sunday as we delve more deeply into this passage to help us better understand THE PURPOSE OF PRUNING in our lives.
JOHN 15:1-8
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
