This past Sunday was a powerful and emotional Sunday.  As we study the Bible, we have to pay attention to the context of what is happening around us and in our church.  All too often we reduce God in relation to our life.  We see him as small, insignificant, or uninvolved.  But when we open the Bible, we will begin to see him as perfect, awesome, holy, powerful, and greatly involved.  We will see Him as Big!  We will see Him as Divine! 

Last week as we talked about salvation and discipleship we shared:

1. Salvation is not an event or a place – it’s a relationship
2. Salvation and Discipleship are connected

Read John 15:4-11  What word repeats? 

Remain [meno] = abide, connect, continue, endure (11x’s) [ongoing]

What is fruit? Outward sign of spiritual life Gal. 5:22-23; Col. 2:6-7

Let me give you a picture of what I am talking about:

Remember the joy of meeting your spouse

1.       In the beginning:

• Spending time together
• Talking to each other (Love Letters)
• Putting the other first

2.       How do you continue loving when: Things are great, hard, or ordinary

 What gives a relationship JOY is connecting and remaining in a growing relationship so how can we REMAIN in a growing relationship with Jesus? 

Remain in His Word  v.7

• And God said,…Genesis 1:3
• In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was… John1:1
• The message is heard through the Word of Christ. Rom. 10:17

Are you committed to the Word? (Reading, studying, memorizing)

Remain in His love  v.9

• “but  look also the interests to others. Phil.2:2-5
• “Love must be sincere…”Romans 12:9-16

God has given me a few snapshots of love in community over the past few weeks from the context of Mount Ararat.  One was two weeks ago while at camp we were worshipping and sharing the Lord’s supper with over 800 people.  Our group was sitting up in the bleachers near the top.  I was focused in on the worship.  I had my head bowed as I sung.  Then I felt a nugde against me.  I looked up and it was Logan a new kid we had brought with us.  He was inviting me to join hands with he and his friends.  It blessed my heart to have a physical reminder of how I am connected to the body of Christ.  I am so thankful I went to camp this year.

The second picture was the next week I was with our children’s ministry.  The Bible Studies, the worship services, the activity schedule was very different from the week before.  But on Wednesday night worship, the kids were singing “Glory to God”, and I was standing in the back of the room singing and watching.  All of sudden our guys pulled out of their row and began to form a line where they all grasped hands to continue singing.  It was beautiful.  Though younger God was giving me a picture of our children’s environment being so focused on Jesus that they were willing to love one another despite their differences. 

The third picture was with our adults.  I have shared from the pulpit about the struggle of Tom Holmes.  His last weeks were some of the hardest weeks to watch a healthy man decline in health.  But I can also say, that his last weeks were also some of the most beautiful weeks I have ever experienced.  Watching the church be the church was an amazing sight.  People who loved and knew Tom well to neighbors who knew Tom casually to people who had never met him rally around his family to demonstrate love during a dark hour.  I have never been more encouraged to be a part of such a beautiful family. 

Remain in His commands  v.10

1. If you are experiencing conviction about a sin(s) then repent & believe.
2. You cannot hold onto sin and Jesus.

Remain in His joy  v.11

Conclusion

Are you attached to the true vine – Jesus?  Are you bearing fruit?

 Are you growing in your relationship?

Are you committed to the Word? (Reading, studying, memorizing)

Are you committed to loving like Jesus? (Marriage, church, work)

Are you obeying His commands? (God cannot bless disobedience)

Are you experiencing His joy? (What he wants for you)

Divine is a teaching Jesus gives to his disciples before the cross.  John records the flow of the narrative in this way:

• John 12 – Jesus enters Jerusalem with people cheering
• John 13 – Jesus washes his disciples feet, and then shares the last supper with his disciples.  Judas leaves after dinner.
• John 14 – Jesus comforts the disciples with his words to them, ” I am the way, the truth, and the life…you will do even greater things than these.”
• John 15 – I am (last of seven I am statements) the true vine

Spiritual growth can only happen in a relationship with Jesus

1. Are you attached to Jesus? (Savior)

2. Are you growing in your relationship with Jesus (Discipleship)

*In our theology, we have separated these teachings to understand the dimension of our commitment.  The problem is when we keep them separated.  Salvation and discipleship were never meant to separate.  They are connected.

• Salvation is not an event (Pray the prayer or walk the aisle)
• Salvation is not a place (Pray this prayer to go to heaven)
• Salvation is a relationship –> growing relationship!!!

WHAT BRANCH ARE YOU?

Branch without fruit

1. The Gardener cuts [airei = take away, to separate, or remove] (Matthew 22:33-45)

2. The Branch must return  (Romans 11:17-24)

Branch with fruit

1. The Gardener prunes [kathairei = prunes, cleansed, purged]

• Pruning is removing bad parts (lack of nourishment, disease, immature growth, innattention)
• Pruning is also sometimes removing good parts (discipline, correction, trial, circumstance) like a job, a relationship, house, another material possession, or an achievement.  Proverbs 3:11-12

2. The Branch must endure   2Peter 1:5-8

WHAT BRANCH ARE YOU?

1. Is anything hindering your attachment (communion with God)?

• What needs attention?
• How are your priorities?
• Does your life produce the kind of results of those in the Bible?
• What is destroying growth or connection in your life?

2. What is the gardener doing?  Are you growing or is it time to return?

Experience the elements of communion – Bread and Cup