Discipleship Essentials*
Wednesday, November 3, 2004
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You for Jesus promise that as I remain in Him I can bear much fruit. I pray that my life will, indeed, bear much fruit for Your Kingdom, today and throughout my life. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may maintain that intimate connection that Jesus called me into and continues to call me to maintain. Thank You for all the ways that You are at work in my life. Continue to move me to make a daily quiet time with You my first priority, and then keep me aware of Your presence throughout the day. 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?
John’s audience was two-fold. First, John wrote to anyone who would read about Jesus and thus become a follower! John wanted to make certain that everyone had the opportunity to call on the name of Jesus and be saved. He wanted to make certain that insofar as it was possible for Him to carry it out, that the Great Commission would be fulfilled. John recorded the words and wonders of Jesus so that the world could know Him and believe in Him. Tomorrow we will consider a more specific audience that John most likely had in mind as he penned his gospel. Thank God that we are part of the audience that has ultimately received his words of truth and promise about Jesus!
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 |
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Fallen short areas |
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What will I do with these insights? |
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What did God say to me today? |
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Share insights and growth points |
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Changed/transformed how? |
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Thoughts...Apart from Me...
Did you notice that Jesus didn’t say, “Apart from me you can’t do too much”? He said, “Apart from me you can do NOTHING.” We may think, “Sure I can do something apart from Jesus. In fact, I do stuff apart from Jesus all the time, not that I want to. I just do.” The reality is that Jesus was telling us the truth (as He always does!!!) when He said that apart from Him we can do nothing. That’s because He meant that we can do nothing of any lasting value—of any eternal value. Our daily quiet time with Jesus is a time when we connect heaven and earth—did you ever think of that? We pause for a moment in our vantage point here on earth, to ask God to communicate with us through His word, and through our prayers. As we pause and stay connected, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do things that matter—and matter eternally. Much of what we do as human beings is often purely worldly. When we die to this life and face Jesus, it won’t be of any benefit or impact. In fact, it’s truly sad that folks invest (actually spend!) so much of our lives in matters that won’t last—that are ultimately nothing according to Jesus. In your quiet time today, take some time to ask Jesus to give you HIS priorities, and also to draw you closer than you’ve ever been before. Ask Him to use you to help at least one other person to draw close to Him today as well. God’s blessings as you go about the important activity of remaining in Jesus!