Discipleship Essentials*
Friday, November 5, 2004
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Jesus promised that if I stay connected to Him that I may ask for anything in prayer and it will be granted. I pray right now that I may stay connected to Him forever, that my life will always abide, remain, be part of Him. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may life boldly and confidently as Your child today and always. Let me be so connected to You that all my prayers reflect Your will and not my own. These things I pray in the strong name of Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord. 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?
Several years ago Bruce Wilkerson wrote a short book titled “The Prayer of Jabez.” In that book he expanded on the even briefer story of a man named Jabez, whose prayer is included in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. The book sold like “hot cakes,” because the prayer touches people deeply as it reaches into all areas of our lives. The following year Wilkerson wrote another brief book titled “The Vine Life,” which is about John 15:1-11. If you want to find out additional information about the meaning of John 15:1-11, I would heartily recommend that you read Wilkerson’s book. His attention to detail as well as his consideration of the practical application of this text make the book extremely helpful!
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...Producing Much Fruit...
In the end, the goal of the Christian’s life is to “produce much fruit.” Salvation is a gift from Jesus to each of us that once received is to be shared with others. While salvation is first and last a GIFT, Jesus often uses people to share the gift with other people. The fruit that Jesus speaks of in today’s Scripture may be the fruit of the Spirit –love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. In fact, it is most certainly that, but it is MORE! The fruit Jesus is talking about is additional lives saved and added to His Kingdom. After all, in Matthew 6, Jesus pointed out that we are not to store up treasure here on earth, but in heaven. How do we “store treasure” in heaven? The only treasure that goes to heaven is PEOPLE. Therefore, storing treasure or bearing fruit is always about adding folks to the Kingdom. Our lives and our resources are to be invested in adding folks to the Kingdom every day of our lives. The primary—and ONLY—resource for doing this is our connection with Jesus, our salvation in and through His blood. The wonderful reality of the Gospel is this: Jesus saves us—period. There is nothing we have to do or can do, but once we are saved Jesus uses us to bring others to salvation. The joy of leading another person to response to Jesus’ gracious offer of salvation is unmatched by any other earthly joy. May we experience that joy regularly as we remain connected to Jesus, and let Him use us to His Father’s glory!