Fruit Bearers
January 29, 2012 Speaker: Series: Tales of the Vine
Topic: Tales Verse: John 15:1–15:17
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TALES OF THE VINE
“Fruit Bearers”
Pastor Duane Cross | 01.29.2012
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will 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. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:1-17(NIV)
“Your attitude must be like my own, for I did not come to be served, but to serve.” Matthew 20:28(LB)
#1: SERVING LIKE JESUS MEANS BEING AVAILABLE.
“Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now.” Proverbs 3:28(TEV)
1st Barrier: SELF CENTEREDNESS
“Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.” Philippians 2:4(MSG)
2nd Barrier: PERFECTIONISM
3rd Barrier: MATERIALISM
“No servant can serve two masters...you cannot serve both God and money.” Luke 16:13(NIV)
#2: SERVING LIKE JESUS MEANS BEING GRATEFUL.
“Serve the Lord with gladness.” Psalms 100:2(KJV)
“It is he who saved as and chose us for His holy work not because we deserved it but because that was his plan...” 2 Timothy 1:9(LB)
#3: SERVING LIKE JESUS MEANS BEING FAITHFUL.
“The one thing required of servants is that they be faithful...” 1Corinthians 4:2(TEV)
“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”
Matthew 25:21(NIV)
More in Tales of the Vine
January 22, 2012
Pruning is PainfulJanuary 15, 2012
Connecting is CriticalJanuary 8, 2012
The Purpose is to Produce