1. Christ The Sower Sunday April 28th

2. Sun 14 th - Christ The Sower ① Among fruitful Christians, some are more fruitful than others; some 30-fold, some 60- fold, some 100-fold. ① We should aim high, to bring forth 100-fold, as Isaac's ground did (Gen. 26:12), abounding in the work of the Lord (John 15:8). ② If the ground is good, the seed right, and the heart honest, those who bring forth 30-fold shall be graciously accepted of God, for we are under Grace, and not under the law.

3. Sun 21 st - Christ The Redeemer ① Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” Num 21:8 NKJV

4. Sun 28 th - Christ, The True Vine

5. 1. I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2. 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. 4. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5. “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.

6. 6. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:1-8 NKJV

7. Christ, the True Vine 1)Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, compares Himself to a vine. “ For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him” Isa 53:2 NKJV

8. 2)Jesus used the grapevine as a word picture The grapevine was a symbol of the nation of Israel, and was featured on Israeli coins Grapevines were plentiful in Israel and important for her economy

9. 3)The grapevine was a spiritual symbol: Of Israel as an unproductive vine that produced wild grapes (Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes? Isa 5:4) Of Jesus as the true vine…I am the Vine (John 15:1) Of the earth in the last days, being judged by God (the grapes of wrath in Rev 14:17)

10. 4)The vine is a spreading plant. Christ spreads salvation to the ends of the earth. 5)Believers are branches of this vine. The nourishment of each branch and tendril passes through the main stalk, or the vine, that springs from the earth. The root is unseen, and our life is hid with Christ in God. Col 2:6-7.

11. 6)Believers, like the branches of the vine, are weak, and unable to stand by themselves…”without me you can do nothing” John 15:5 7)The vine has many branches, which all have one root. Christians, with our diversity, are one in Jesus Christ. Gal 3:28 8)The Father is the vinedresser…”every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” John 15:2. 9)We may plant or water, but God gives the increase. 1 Cor 3:6

12. 10) We must be fruitful. From a vine we look for grapes (Isa. 5:2), and from a Christian we look for the fruit of the Spirit…”love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” Gal 5:22-23 NKJV 11) Those who are fruitful will be pruned, that they may bring forth more fruit. The unfruitful are pruned & discarded. John 15:2 NKJV

13. Michelangelo was asked how he sculpted the beautiful statue of David. He replied that he started with a block of marble and simply chipped away anything that wasn’t David! In the same way our Heavenly Father prunes us for His Glory and for our benefit. He is sculpting us into the image of Jesus Christ.

14. 10) By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit. 10) Bearing fruit…. goodness, self-control” Gal 5:22-23 NKJV

15. Goodness- a fruit of the Spirit “Jesus went about doing good…” Acts 10:38 “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” Gal 6:10 Look for opportunities to be a blessing. God gave us two hands: one to help ourselves, and the other to help others

16. Goodness- a fruit of the Spirit Not what can I get, but what can I give- Joel Osteen “If you make someone else’s day, God will make your day- Joel Osteen Are you willing to be a blessing, a river instead of a dam, a giver and not a taker?

17. Goodness- a fruit of the Spirit “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart”. Gal 6:9 “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” Heb 10:24

18. Be Generous and Do Good If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap If you want happiness for a day, go fishing If you want happiness for a month, get married If you want happiness for a year, win the lottery If you want happiness for a lifetime, be good to people

19. The Four Forces of Flight

20. Four types of people Lifters = people who lift and encourage you Thrusters = inspire and motivate, open doors, and make you achieve your dreams Weights = pull you down, retard your progress, discourage and condemn Drag = always complaining and whining about bad husband, terrible boss, messed up kids To be fruitful, spend time with lifters and thrusters

21. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit