2. Jesus: The True Vine John 15:1-17 p. 995

3. Cruising Along
Enjoying a Vancouver sunset on a boat

4. Cruising Along Cruising along in your spiritual life
A rogue wave hits and you take a tumble

5. There is more! Desiring more for our spiritual life
D.A. Carson states:
… Christians have long been attracted to these verses, both because they are profound and because they are perplexing. They are profound in that they deal with certain deep realities in the Christian faith. … But the passage is as perplexing as it is profound. Exactly what kind of fruit are we expected to bear? Does any believer really enjoy the extravagant prayer promises in verses 7 and 8? Exactly what does ‘remaining in Christ’ really mean? Above all, how is it that branches are said to be in this vine, yet fruitless? And how can these branches be cut off and destroyed?

6. There is more!
The “more” is just not the tangible fruit but the intangible relationship with Christ
John 15 is Jesus’ final “I am” statement before he makes his way to the cross
Jesus uses simple objects to make profound statements

7. Israel – The vine Psalm 80 : 7 – 9
Restore us God almighty; make your face shine upon us that we may be saved , you transplanted a vine from Egypt, you drove out the nations and planted it, you cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land.
Jesus the true vine – desires more from us

8. Borderlands ‘Your God is too safe’ by Mark Buchanan
Busia – A border town between Kenya and Uganda
Busia is a place of crossing, actually double crossing
Are you in Spiritual Borderlands?

9. Bearing Fruit
John 15: 2, He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit..
John 3: 16, says For God so loved the world he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life
If you are a believer you want to be bearing fruit.

10. Bearing Fruit
Titus 3:14, says one must devote themselves to doing what is good in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives
Galatians 5:22 Life in the spirit promises fruits of the spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control
John 15:5, I am the vine you are the branches If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit..

11. Abide To remain, to stay, to dwell, to reside
1 John 2: 6 , 10, 17
John Piper: ‘ Desiring God’
“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him”
Is our relationship with Christ the most satisfying thing in our lives?

12. Love one another Two fold relationship
Vertical and horizontal relationship
Help each other grow
John 15:12 Jesus commands us this “Love each other as I have loved you!”

13. Reflection John 15:5 .. apart from me you can do nothing
Jesus wants to be with you 100% in this journey
Are you willing for ‘more’?
Are you willing to be pruned?
John15:11 ‘I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete’