Message Notes

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 25 September 2022
Text: John 15:1-4
Subject: “Abide in Me” John 15:4

INTRODUCTION

1. Another important Teaching of the Lord Jesus

Bearing fruit

2. This has to be taught

3. An essential earlier word

a) “You will know them by their fruits” Matthew 7:16a

b) “Every good tree bears good fruit” Matthew 7:17a

c) “But a bad tree bears bad fruit” Matthew 7:17b

THE VINE AND ITS BRANCHES

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

2 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.

3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

4 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.

John 15:1-4

1. The illustration of the Vine

a) I am the true vine (John 15:1a)

b) The Father is the vinedresser (John 15:1b)

2. This is the last of the “I am” statements

3. The Focus of this teaching is on how a branch can bear fruit

4. The branch that does not bear fruit

a) Perpetually unfruitful

b) This “branch” will be taken away

5. The branch that does bear fruit

a) The Vinedresser prunes

b) That the branch may bear even more fruit

6. The pruning and the cleansing

a) It uses the same word

b) To prune is to clean up (John 15:2,3)

7. The cleansing word of the Lord Jesus

a) The word of the Lord Jesus has cleansing power

i) Correction

ii) Cleansing

iii) Change

b) The disciples were clean

i) Because of the word the Lord Jesus taught

ii) They were now poised to bear fruit

8. The need to abide in the Lord Jesus

a) The need to abide is obvious

b) No branch can survive without being attached to the Vine

c) The Disciples cannot do without abiding in the Lord Jesus

9. The challenge to apply what is taught

a) To abide in the Lord

b) As He abides in them

CONCLUSION

1. Candidly review our Faith-life

a) With particular reference to abiding in the Lord

b) With further reference to bearing fruit

2. Cleansing/ Pruning work

a) This needs to be done

b) The Vinedresser will attend to us

i) Tenderly

ii) Skilfully

c) The focus is to become more fruitful