Fruit bearing: a measure of productive spirituality Day 4 Youth Camp notes

Fruit bearing: a measure of productive spirituality 

John 15:1-17

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Jesus Is the Vine—Followers Are Branches

15 “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 [a]prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already [b]clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit [c]of itself unless it abides in the vine, so 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, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you,ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so [d]prove to be My disciples. 9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

Disciples’ Relation to Each Other

12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. 17 This I command you, that you love one another.

Personification and objectification in John 15

• The Father is the gardener 

• The Lord Jesus is the true vine

• The believers are the branches

Clarifying: John 15 is not soteriological (salvation) but relational (spiritual intimacy), testamental testimony of our faith and ministerial (service) 

1. Interpreting the fruits

This is to my father's glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples

2. Classifying the frits and the branches. 

Branch fearing fruit

Branch bearing more friet   

Branch bearing much fruit

Branche brearing fruit that lasts

3. Producing the fruit

A. The principle of mutual abiding - 4-5. How?

Through the word. V7

Though obedience v10

Trough increasing experience of the Lord's love v10

B. the principle of progressive learning - 15 

Not about study habit but closeness with God. Learn the message of the holy spirit through the Bible. 

C. The principle of spiritual cleansing- v3

D. The principle of relational excellence -12 and 17

Fruit bearing through: relational bind with the Lord through his Word.

Relational bond with others through love (sacrificial) and friendship (transparency)

Relational purity through cleansing. 

Discipler as a model of integrity

1. Serve to please God and not men

2. He/she does not desires to seek personal recognition 

3. Seen in the way we worship