Rob Faucette led us through John 15:4-8 outlining what it means to bear fruit and to abide in Jesus. Fruit is the accumulation of our character, conduct, attitudes and actions. We are reminded of what it looks like to abide with King Jesus and are invited to allow him to reconnect any disconnected parts of us back to the Himself.

Read

4 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.

Some key statements and questions put forward that are important for us to talk about…‍

Examine

"Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you..."

• Take a moment to look at what your life is producing right now. What fruit can you identify?

• How are you remaining on the vine during this season?

• What "fake fruit" are you most tempted to try to produce on your own?

‍"The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit..."

• What words in the Bible have been producing much fruit in you this season?

• Why do you think Jesus chose to use the phrase "remains in me" instead of "runs with me" or "works like me", or "does like me"?

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you."

• What kind of things do you ask Jesus for?

• Do these requests come from abiding with Jesus or from abiding in something else?

• What is something you've asked for recently that God said yes to?

Apply

"Fake fruit looks good on the outside but is dead on the inside." Why do you think fake fruit, (appearances, lip service, popularity, likes) is so attractive to the human heart? Do you think real fruit is less obvious?

‍"The works that we did outside of the Holy Spirit will be burned up." Have you ever seen something you worked really hard on go up in smoke? Have you ever seen God divinely multiply something you weren't trying to achieve? Share a story.

‍"Allow God to have access to you." Take some time to ask God to shine areas on your heart that need to be cut back, pruned, or thrown away. Be willing to give him access to withering branches in your life.

Act

Character. Say this out loud: Lord, reveal to me something in my character that you desire to make more fruitful.

Conduct. Say this out loud: Jesus, reveal to be an errant area of conduct I can submit to you.

Appetite. Say this out loud: Lord, search my heart. Is there anything I need to fast or abstain from in order to be more self-controlled?

Attitude. Say this out loud: Jesus, adjust my attitude. Help me respond and love as you do.

Amen.

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