1. Life on the Vine John 15: 1 - 8

2. Life on the Vine What is the Aim of Christian Life?  Being godly examples  Using our gifts  Making disciples  Bringing in the Kingdom  Loving one another Expression of Faith

3. Life on the Vine What is the Aim of Christian Life? “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:7-8

4. Life on the Vine Remaining In Jesus  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. (v. 4)  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. (v.5a)  apart from me, you can do nothing. (v.5b)  If you do not remain in me...you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers... (v.6)  If you remain in me and my words remain in you... you bear much fruit (v.7-8)

5. Life on the Vine Remaining In Jesus “If I speak in human or angelic tongues, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

6. Life on the Vine Remaining In Jesus  Personal relationship with a Person  The person of Jesus Christ  Second person of the Trinity  Jesus, fully God and fully human  Experienced what we experience

7. Life on the Vine Remaining In Jesus  Had relationships:  Friends  Teachers  Students  Authority  Had a vocation (or two!)  Understands us

8. Life on the Vine Remaining In Jesus “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does, the Son also does.” John 5:19

9. Life on the Vine Remaining In Jesus Rublev’s Icon of the Trinity c.1410 “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Luke 3:22 “As the Father has loved me, so have I you.” John 15:9

10. Life on the Vine HOW?? Straightforward BUT highly personal ScriptureCommunity Communion Prayer “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42

11. Life on the Vine Brother Lawrence  “The most holy and necessary practice in our spiritual life is the presence of God...”  “...speaking humbly and lovingly with Him in all seasons, at every moment, without limiting the conversation in any way.”

12. Life on the Vine  “It is only by wasting time in this way that we shall learn that it is not God who needs us but we who cannot live without him.”  “We only deliberately waste time with those we love.” Sheila Cassidy

13. Life on the Vine  “From time to time, say ‘no’ to everyone but me.”  Even when we long for it, it’s not easy or natural. Wasting Time with God

14. Life on the Vine Prayer, Scripture, Community, Communion  Essential to remain in Jesus  For everyone  Gifts of grace

15. Life on the Vine “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.”John 15:7-8 “Lord, what is it that you would have me do in this season in order to remain in you?”