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Time to Prune :: Ed Baker
May 4 – CF Community Center
May 11 – Grundy Center
May 18 – CF Sanctuary
Message Summary
Jesus taught his disciples an important lesson the night before he died on the cross. Using the vine and branches as an example, Jesus told them that He was the true vine- and that the disciples must stay connected to that vine to bear fruit. Without Him, they were capable of nothing. The same is true for us today. Jesus wants us to abide in him (stay connected to the vine) so that our lives will be fruitful. If we don’t abide in him, we can do nothing and will wither away spiritually.
One way we can tell if we are abiding is by examining the Christ-like characteristics of the Fruits of the Spirit in our lives… love, joy, peace, patience, etc. Is God helping us produce more of these fruits in our lives? Are we demonstrating these fruits daily and sharing God’s love with others? In order to stay connected to the vine and bear good fruit, God calls us to read his word, obey his commands, and cooperate with his pruning. Sometimes God wants to work with us to cut off things that are keeping us from bearing good fruit in our lives. It’s a painful process, but one that is well worth it.
Scripture Focus
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 so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will 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 a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is 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 given 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. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Questions for small group discussion or personal reflection & journaling…
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On a personal level, what does abiding in Jesus mean to you? Are there times in your life when you have felt that you were really connected to the vine? Times when you felt you weren’t? What made the difference?
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What might God be calling you to do so that you can remain more closely connected to the vine?
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As you look at the list of spiritual fruit, in which areas are you strongest? In which areas do you struggle most?
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The Bible also talks about fruit in terms of bringing other people into relationship with him. Is there evidence of that kind of fruit in your life? Is there someone in your life currently who needs Jesus? How could you show God’s love to them this week?
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Often Jesus chooses to do some pruning in our lives… getting rid of the unnecessary to help us bear good fruit. Have you experienced pruning before? How did it feel? How did the pruning impact your relationship with Christ?
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Is there something in your life currently that is standing in the way of you bearing good fruit? If so, are you willing to allow God to prune that branch, even if it hurts?
Try this…
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Carry something with you this week to remind you of the Fruit of the Spirit you most need God’s help with. (love, joy, patience, etc.) You could write “Patience” on a notecard to keep in your pocket, on a rubberband to wear around your wrist, or on a post-it-note to stick to your computer screen. Use this object as a reminder every time you are in a situation that calls you to practice that fruit. When you’re in a situation that requires your chosen fruit… stop, pray, and ask God to produce good fruit in that moment.
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Seriously consider God’s pruning process. Is there something in your life standing between you and a more fruitful relationship with Christ? Something that is standing in the way of you producing good fruit for his kingdom? Spend some time in prayer each day this week asking God to prune the unnecessary. This is a scary prayer!! Be willing to listen and act on what God might tell you.
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Spend some time ‘abiding in the vine’ this week. Intentionally schedule some quiet time to get away from the busyness of life. Sneak away to a quiet place for 15 minutes, an hour, or even half a day. Spend some time in prayer thanking God for nourishing us spiritually, for providing a vine for us to connect to. Take your Bible and focus on the scripture from this teaching. (John 15:1-11, Galatians 5:22-23) Read through each verse and ask God to help you apply it to your life. Ask God to speak to you about areas in which you are flourishing, and areas in which you need nourishing.
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How Fruity Are You? A Fruits of the Spirit Self-Assessment Tool. Use this survey to help you identify which fruits of the Spirit are flourishing in your own life, and which ones need some nourishing.
Prayer for the week…
Lord Jesus, you are the vine and we are the branches. We know that we can’t live spiritually apart from you… any more than we can live without the air that we breath. We pray and ask humbly, Lord, that you would forgive us for trying to live on our own… that you would forgive us for disobeying your commands. We want you to produce fruit in us. We want to be like Jesus. And for that, we need your help so desperately. Amen.
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