John 15:1-8 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you…”

John 15:1-8 “… As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered…”

John 15:1-8 “… and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples...”

John 15:1-8 “… By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (NKJV).

John 15:1-8 “He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (vs. 2). “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit” (vs. 5). My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit” (vs. 8).

Bearing More Fruit

Understanding Pruning Often God is pictured as the owner of the vineyard. Here God is the vinedresser who prunes to produce more fruit (cf. Mark 12:1-2). Pruning is clearing away unproductive and unhealthy growth to allow fruitful growth. Pruning is future oriented: It involves cutting now to produce gains later.

How Does God Prune? “Prune” (vs. 2) – Gr. verb kathairo “to cleanse, of filth impurity” (Thayer). “Clean” (vs. 3) – Gr. adjective kathairos “clean, pure” (Thayer), i.e. those cleansed. “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you” (vs. 3). God prunes through His word.

The Word Cleanses This involves removal of unhealthy growth in our lives (Ps. 19:12-13; 119:9-11). It is difficult to cut some things out of our lives (Ps. 119:65-68; Prov. 20:30). It requires the new growth of a change of heart and mind (Matt. 23:25-26; Rom. 12:1-2).

God Prunes To Produce To produce the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22- 25). To produce proper behavior (2 Tim. 3:14-17). To produce godly attitudes (Heb. 4:12-13). To produce more disciples (2 Tim. 2:2).

God’s Pruning Reminds Us… Not to rest on past successes. To be thankful for His care and desire to see us grow. To examine our fruitfulness. Am I producing the fruit a branch should? Am I abiding In Jesus? Is there something in our lives God would prune?

Bearing More Fruit