John 15:1-8
I. The vine and the vinedresser
- A. Jesus is the “true vine” (John 15:1a; Psalm 80:8; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21)
B. The Father is the vinedresser (John 15:1b-2)
II. The branches are individual Christians
- A. The responsibility to bear fruit (John 15:2)
B. The apostles’ current state (John 15:3)
C. The command to abide in Jesus and to allow Him to abide in you (John 15:4a; Ephesians 1:3, 7; 2 Timothy 2:10)
D. Apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:4b-5; 2 Corinthians 3:5; Philippians 4:13)
III. A warning and a promise
- A. Warning against apostasy (John 15:6; Matthew 13:41, 49-50)
B. The promise of prayer (John 15:7)
IV. Bearing fruit
- A. Soul-winning (John 15:8; Matthew 13:22-23; 1 Corinthians 3:5-8; Matthew 28:19-20)
B. Brings glory to the Father (John 15:8)
C. “So you will be My disciples” (John 15:8)
