GodSpeak: “Connected to the True Vine”

GodSpeak for the Week of April 29

 “Connected to the True Vine”

 

This week, we take a short break from our “What’s In [His] Name?” sermon series, as Pastor Fofana preaches on this week’s Lectionary readings.

 

Day 1…

Read John 15:1-3

  • Answer this – what does Jesus mean by saying He is the “true vine” and the Father is the “gardener”?
  • What’s the difference between the two?
  • Why is that important to us?

Day 2…

Read John 15:1-3, again.

  • Consider this – the practice of “pruning” is a bit violent; it involves cutting away dead, damaged or unproductive parts of a plant in order that the main plant may thrive.
  • What does Jesus mean that the Father “prunes” every “branch that does bear fruit”?
  • How is this something actually healthy for those of us who are joined to Christ, the “true vine”?

Day 3…

Read John 15:3

  • Answer this – what does Jesus mean that we are “already clean” because of the “Word” He has spoken?
  • What does “cleanliness” have to do with being part of the “true vine”?

Day 4…

Read John 15:5

  • Consider this – in this verse, our NIV text reads: “IF you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit…”
  • That word “if” sets up a conditional statement – e.g., “If you do this, that will happen.”
  • But, in the original Greek, the word “if” isn’t present! A clearer way to translate this phrase would be: “AS you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit…”
  • Answer this – by translating this verse differently, what does that do to our faith?
  • Consider this – the branch of a vine can’t separate itself from the vine itself (i.e., the “if” of a conditional statement).
  • So, how does that affect our faith, by reading the verse: “As you remain in me…”?

Day 5…

Read 1 John 4:1

  • Consider this – John counsels us to “test the spirits” to see if they truly come from God.
  • Answer this – how can we “test the spirits”?
  • By what means, through what tools are we able to do this?

Day 6…

Read 1 John 4:10

  • Consider this – this is one of the great lines of Scripture; a wonderful summary of true faith.
  • Answer this – how does this one verse accurately capture both Law and Gospel?

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