TITLE: The Fine and Important Skill of Pruning

TEXT: John 15:1-8THEME: Pruning is an essential part of bearing fruit.

If you were the vine and you could talk I imagine what you would say, “What happened?”

Pruning is a painful, traumatic experience for a vine but left

untouched the vine will eventually produce little to no fruit and become useless to the

gardener.

How does the believer become more productive in his life?

I. By accepting the Fathers pruning in your life. (1-2)

John 15:1-3

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”

I. By accepting the Fathers pruning in your life. (1-2)

A. Jesus is the vine- the Father is the gardener.

I. By accepting the Fathers pruning in your life. (1-2)

A. Jesus is the vine- the Father is the gardener. B. He prunes unfruitful vines.

Three above kinds of pruning are required.

1. Healthy, but smaller branches, are pruned because they draw strength from the larger branches that will be more productive.

Three above kinds of pruning are required.

1. Healthy, but smaller branches, are pruned because they draw strength from the larger branches that will be more productive.2. Sick and diseased plants are pruned for much the same reason.

Three above kinds of pruning are required.

1. Healthy, but smaller branches, are pruned because they draw strength from the larger branches that will be more productive.2. Sick and diseased plants are pruned for much the same reason.3. Dead branches are removed to make room for the healthy ones.

Every believer has only so much time, energy, talent, money and

resources. Not all of them contribute equally to living

productive lives. Sometimes we need to prune away the good in

order to get the best.

Mark 8:36

“What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul.”

Distinguish between that which is hurtful and that which is harmful.

Distinguish between that which is hurtful and that which is harmful.

• Hurtful means that which may hurt but leads to something of greater value.

Distinguish between that which is hurtful and that which is harmful.

• Hurtful means that which may hurt but leads to something of greater value.

• Harmful may not hurt but keeps from moving forward to something of greater value

“Passages” Gail Sheehy

• “All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter into another!”

How does the believer become more productive in his life?

II. By (abiding) remaining in Jesus. (4-6)

John 15:4-6

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me

John 15:4-6

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”

The pruning principle applies to many areas of life

• If you are in business the fruit is making money while providing a service or product.

The pruning principle applies to many areas of life

• If you are in business the fruit is making money while providing a service or product.

• If you are a teacher the fruit may be the student and master the material.

The pruning principle applies to many areas of life

• If you are in business the fruit is making money while providing a service or product.

• If you are a teacher the fruit may be the student and master the material.

• If you are a doctor the fruit may be the patient maintains or is restored to health.

The pruning principle applies to many areas of life

• If you are in business the fruit is making money while providing a service or product.

• If you are a teacher the fruit may be the student and master the material.

• If you are a doctor the fruit may be the patient maintains or is restored to health.

• If you are a manager the fruit may be your worker is productive and efficient.

II. By (abiding) remaining in Jesus. (4-6)

A. Being in Christ vs. Abiding in Christ.

Remaining

Can also be translated abide or dwell. It has the idea of making residence in a place.

Robert Cook, “The Theology of John”

“Abiding in Christ is to be distinguished from being in Christ although ideally there should be no practical difference between the two. We may observe the difference by noting the “in me” branch of verse two from the “remain in me” branch of verse 4. To be in Christ is to be born again, to be regenerated, to have forgiveness of sin through Christ

Robert Cook, “The Theology of John”

“Thus the disciples are in Christ (v. 2) because they have been cleansed of their sins (v. 3). To abide in Christ, however, is to be an obedient follower in fellowship with Christ the Savior and Lord (v. 4-5, 9-11). Obedience is the condition for abiding… so our abiding in Christ is the maintenance of personal fellowship with Christ.”

II. By (abiding) remaining in Jesus. (4-6)

A. Being in Christ vs. Abiding in Christ. B. Apart from Abiding in Christ we can bear nor fruit.

II. By (abiding) remaining in Jesus. (4-6)

A. Being in Christ vs. Abiding in Christ. B. Apart from Abiding in Christ we can bear nor fruit.C. Unfruitful branches are destroyed.

Just as the child could do nothing without the intervention

of the father, so we can do nothing in the work of the Lord apart from God. When spiritual things happen, we can be sure

that God did it.

How does the believer become more productive in his life?

III. By asking Jesus whatever we wish. (7-8)

John 15:7-8

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

III. By asking Jesus whatever we wish. (7-8)

A. Only applies to those who remain in Christ

Galatians 5:22-23

“22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

III. By asking Jesus whatever we wish. (7-8)

A. Only applies to those who remain in Christ

III. By asking Jesus whatever we wish. (7-8)

A. Only applies to those who remain in Christ B. What we ask brings glory to the Father.

“On Guard” by William Lane Craig

One of the greatest shortcomings of atheism is that it cannot offer men meaning, value or purpose. Applied consistently it must lead to seeing life as an absurdity.

APPLICATION

• God will periodically allow us to go through a pruning process which may be hurtful but is not harmful. We become fruitful when we allow Him to do His work or when we ourselves see the need to remove some unproductive practices in our life.

APPLICATION

• We can only bear spiritual and eternal fruit when we abide in Christ. Spend time in prayer, Bible study, fellowship, praise and other acts of obedience to allow God to work.

APPLICATION

• Sometimes we need to prune in our own lives. Ask of yourself;

a. Are their good things in your life that get in the way of more important things?

APPLICATION

• Sometimes we need to prune in our own lives. Ask of yourself;

a. Are their good things in your life that get in the way of more important things?

b. Are there sick or unhealthy practices that keep you from bearing fruit?

APPLICATION

• Sometimes we need to prune in our own lives. Ask of yourself;

a. Are their good things in your life that get in the way of more important things?

b. Are there sick or unhealthy practices that keep you from bearing fruit?

c. Are there dead branches- sinful habits that get in the way of being productive”

What Good Is God? In Search of a Faith that Matters, Philip Yancey

Tell me more about this Jesus—we know of him through the Qur'an. You speak of a personal relationship with God. Can you describe it? How does your faith change you? Some asked to pray with the teenagers. Nothing like it had ever happened in Afghanistan.