Red Letters : How Jesus Described Himself // The True Vine

John 15:1-4 NIV1 “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.Galatians 5:22-23 NIV22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.John 15:1-2 (NIV)1 “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.1. Pruning Must Be Continual2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NIV17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit2. Reproduction is the PurposeJohn 15:3 (NIV)3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.John 3:16-18a NIV16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemnedMatthew 28:18-20 NIV18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.3. Understand SeasonsJohn 15:4 NIV4 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.Questions:1. Sometimes there are things in our lives that must be pruned or cut away in order for us to grow. Have you experienced this process before? What did it entail?2. What does bearing good fruit mean to you? What are some different ways we can pursue this in our lives?3. Understanding your current season of life is crucial in your growth. What season do you find yourself in today? How are you feeling about it?