LESSON SEVEN - “Abide in Him”
INTRODUCTION:
Read John 15:1-17
 Rational Approach – versus – Relational Approach
What does the concept of “abiding in Him” mean to you?
“In the metaphor of the grapevine, when a branch abides, fruit is inevitable. When it does not, fruit is impossible. The task of a branch is almost laughably simple: to stay connected to the Source of life in such a way that you are constantly receiving from Him whatever it is that you need to bear fruit – wisdom, rest, encouragement, power, love, joy.”
The author suggests that to stay connected to the Vine we must wrestle with three questions:
* Will I decide that abiding in the Vine is my number one priority as a servant?
* Will I submit to the Gardener’s pruning?
* Am I willing to feed on God’s Word?
DIG DEEPER
:
* Will I decide that abiding in the Vine is my number one priority as a servant?
1. You and I must make this decision every day. Abiding simply means to invite Jesus to walk with you through every moment of your whole life. Consider starting every morning with an abiding prayer: “Lord, I invite you to walk with me through this day as I seek to serve you. I am just a branch. Help me to cling to you as the vine.”
2. What is involved in making this the highest pursuit of your life?
3. Fruitfulness doesn’t happen in a hurry. Abiding is a slow word.
* Will I submit to the Gardener’s pruning?
1. Pruning. A fruitful branch requires it (John 15:2). How have you seen that in your own life at times – perhaps even right now?
2. Pruning wounds temporarily. But the wound heals. See Heb. 12:5-11.
3. We can rest assured that Jesus will do pruning in our life. He may convict and prune in the area of sinful behavior. He may take his shears to attitudes that need to change – pride, envy, approval seeking, discontentment.
4. Even though intellectually we know pruning is a good thing, why is it still hard when God does it? How can that lead to more effective service?
5. It would be nice if pruning could be done just once and then be over forever. But it is not so. You will have to submit to pruning again and again if you want to be a fruitful branch.
* Am I willing to feed on God’s Word?
1. Fruitful branches are nourished by the Vine-grower’s words. This means to feed on the Word of God.
2. Read Psalm 1:1-3, then paraphrase its truth.
3. What is your “delight factor” right now when it comes to God’s Word?
* Regarding the fruit that is born, I recommend you use the instrument on page 127-128.
* “Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.” (John 15:6)
CONCLUSION:
Our chief objective in serving can be summed up in one phrase: Be a good branch. What difference will it make to live your life in this way?
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