"I AM THE TRUE VINE"

Speaker: Fred Sigle

SUNDAY LESSON, 4/23/23
 
“I AM . . . THE TRUE VINE
John 15:1-11
 
Sunday we will conclude the “I AM” sermon series.  With each of the “I AM” statements, Jesus revealed who He is and what He provides His followers.  This is also true of the final statement: “I AM THE TRUE VINE”
Jesus is our “true vine” as opposed to the nation of Israel that God had planted and cultivated but did not bear “good fruit”.  Jesus came to do what Israel could not do, provide all that we need to be strengthened in the faith to His glory.  Separated from the vine, we wither and die.  God the Father lifted up Jesus, so that in Him we may live and be fruitful.   He prunes away the which hinders our growth and fruitfulness, so that we can produce even more fruit.  As long as we abide in Christ “the true vine”, we will bear much fruit.
Come join us Sunday as we study what it means to us as followers of Christ to branches connected to The True Vine.
JOHN 15:1-11

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 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.

“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. 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. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”