Message Notes

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 2 October 2022
Text: John 15:5-8
Subject: “Bears much fruit” John 15:5

INTRODUCTION

1. Fruit-bearing

a) Every farmer looks forward to a fruitful harvest

b) Every believer should look forward to bearing much fruit too

2. The sad reality

a) Not every believer bears fruit

b) Few believers bear much fruit

THE CHALLENGE OF BEARING MUCH FRUIT

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

6 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.

7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

John 15:5-8

1. Is it possible to bear much fruit?

a) The simple answer is “Yes!”

b) The idea of bearing much fruit was mentioned twice (John 15:5, 8)

c) This confirms and strengthens the idea of being able to do this

2. How may a believer bear much fruit?

a) Understanding the analogy of The Vine and the Branches

i) The Vine is the Source of life and nutrition to the Branches

ii) The Branches must be sure that they are well-connected to the Vine

iii) If the branches are not connected, no fruit would be possible

b) Applying the concept of this analogy

i) The key word is “abiding”
The need is to abide in the Lord Jesus and He in us (John 15:5a)

ii) Total dependence on the Lord Jesus
“Without Me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5b)

iii) Abiding in the word of the Lord Jesus
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you” (John 15:7a)

iv) Prayer
“You will ask what you desire,
and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7b)

(This is a conditional sentence. Much depends on what we ask for and how we ask)

3. What purpose does bearing much fruit serve?

a) It will mean blessing to all who partake of the fruit!

b) It will prove that Discipleship would not be in vain

i) The well-trained disciple would prove his worth

ii) He will be able to bear much fruit

iii) He would bring joy to the heart of the Teacher

c) It would bring glory to God the Father

i) He would be well-pleased

ii) He would manifest His pleasure

THE PROBLEM OF FRUITLESSNESS

1. If the branch does not abide in the Vine

a) To be expected, it will not bear fruit

b) How is this possible?

i) Mistaken faith

ii) False faith

2. The withering of the branch

a) The branch cannot sustain itself

b) It will wither with the passing of time

i) These branches will be cast out

ii) They will be gathered as dry and dead branches

iii) They are cast into the fire and burned

CONCLUSION

1. Let us be challenged to:

a) Abide in the Lord

b) Abide in His Word

2. Let us pray:

a) About bearing fruit

b) About bearing much fruit and glorifying God