Stay With Me

Sermon Notes:

1. God has always desired that His people would produce good fruit. (Isaiah 5:1-7)

The night before Jesus died, He told the disciples that:

2. God is planting a new vineyard. (John 15:1)
3. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. (John 15:2-4)
4. God desires in us fruits of righteousness and good (Philippians 1:11, Colosians1:10)
5. God desires in us the fruits of the Holy (Galatians 5:22-23)
6. God desires positive life changes (fruit) as we live in Jesus. (John 15:8)
7. We need to choose to stay close to Him. (John 15)
8. Apart from Him we accomplish nothing (John 15:5)

Follow-up Questions from Sunday’s Message:

Getting to Know You:

What is your favorite fruit to eat?

Quick Review:
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?

Digging Deeper:

1. Read John 15:1-11. Knowing what had transpired on Thursday night and that Jesus was heading to the cross, in what emotion/tone do you sense Jesus is saying these words? In what emotion or tone would you be saying these words if you were Jesus?
2. As you read John 15:1-11, what verses or words catch your attention and why?
3. Read Philippians 1:11; Colossians 1:10; Galatians 5:22-23. As a branch on Christ’s vine, how would you describe the fruit He has produced in your life?  What fruit has He produced in your life that you are most surprised about?
4. Have you ever seen a believer in Jesus enter a season in their life when they stop abiding in Him? Has this ever happened to you and if so, what did you learn from that season?
5. What do you think it means to abide/remain and how do you think we can practically do this on a daily basis?
6. If Jesus is the vine, we are the branches, and God the Father is the “vine dresser”, what do you think God uses to prune us with? After some discussion, look up Job 23:10; Hebrews 12:11; James 1:2-4.
7. As you look back on your spiritual journey, what have been some of the hardest things God has pruned in your life, but looking back now you are grateful He did?

Taking it Home:

What is one thing you can apply to your life from this message and how can this group remember you in prayer this week?