Discipleship Essentials*
Tuesday, November 2, 2004
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You for offering the gift of salvation and “connection” to Your Son, Jesus, in my life! I praise You for being a God whose love and grace know no bounds. Thank You for all the blessings of life You give, but most of all for the gift of eternal life, through the sacrificial death of Jesus! Fill me today with Your Holy Spirit that I may indeed, “remain” in Jesus, that I may draw my every thought, word and deed from Him. I pray that You will use me and glorify Yourself in me that Your Kingdom may draw closer as a result of my life. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God’s Word Today
John 15:1-11
“1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me.
5“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! 8My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father.
9“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
Background on the Text – Who Wrote It? Why Was It Written? Who Was the Audience?
Another reason the Gospel of John was to take the Good News of Jesus to those who had not heard it. In other words, John’s Gospel is evangelistic. His stated purpose makes that clear. He wrote that others may believe in Jesus Christ, and in believing might receive eternal life through Him. John and all the apostles understood that it was Jesus’ deepest desire, intention and command that His salvation be shared and offered to the ends of the earth. Writing a gospel would be one important means that John could use to make certain that these goals were passed on to following generations. Even after John’s death the good news would continue to be shared. Thank God for us that good news is still be shared nearly 2,000 years later!
Observation – What Does the Text Say?
(Specifically look at the bold verses, if any, to answer these questions.)
Interpretation – What Does the Text Mean?
Application – How Can I Respond to the Text’s Insights and Teachings?
Each Week’s Check List
After reading and studying this text, reflect on the following discipleship growth points:
Growth Point |
How |
Encouraged and strengthened me by |
|
Fallen short areas |
|
What will I do with these insights? |
|
What did God say to me today? |
|
Share insights and growth points |
|
Changed/transformed how? |
|
Thoughts...Remain in Me...
While the truth is simple, it is profound: unless we REMAIN in Jesus (stay CONNECTED to Jesus) we will die. That statement is true both physically and spiritually. You might say, “Well, all of us are going to die physically, Chris. What does our being connected to Him have to do with physical life?” We can’t separate the physical and spiritual life as believers. When we “remain” in Jesus, He fills us with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not just impact our spirits, but our bodies and souls as well. Over recent decades the medical community has “discovered” that those who have folks praying for them heal faster after illness and surgery than those who don’t—even when the person doesn’t know that someone is praying for them. The spiritual IMPACTS the physical. Jesus told us that if we remain in Him, He will remain in us, that He will produce fruit in our lives. That means that as we allow Jesus to have control of ALL of us—body, spirit and soul—He will bring productivity for His Kingdom in us that we can’t even imagine. If we want to make a difference, an impact, a lasting mark in the world, then the best way to do that is to REMAIN or stay connected to Jesus! As we do that He will make certain that our lives matter—that they bear fruit that will last in our lives and in the lives of those around us. What could be better than that!