Today, we continue looking at the Gospel passages for recent Sundays. Today, we’ll look at the passage for this coming Sunday, John 15: 1-8. This is a well-known passage where Jesus tells us that He is the vine, and we are branches. He is our life; apart from Him, we can do nothing. How do we remain in Him? Jesus tells us that we must abide in Him. We have tools that God has given us, such as prayer, scripture, communion, worship, and other things. When we do such things, we remain deeply rooted in the love of Jesus. When we abide in Him, we find our very life and bear much fruit!

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Good morning! It’s wonderful to start our Tuesday together. Andy Stoddard here from St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church, and today we’re diving into the gospel lesson for this upcoming Sunday: John 15:1-8.

This passage is rich with symbolism, as Jesus declares himself to be the true vine and his Father the vinegrower. He paints a vivid picture of the relationship between himself and his followers, likening them to branches connected to him, the source of life.

One striking aspect of this passage is the mention of pruning. Just as a vinegrower prunes branches to promote growth and fruitfulness, God prunes us to enable us to bear more fruit. While pruning can be painful and challenging, it ultimately leads to greater productivity and vitality. It’s a reminder that God’s pruning work in our lives is for our benefit, even if it doesn’t always feel comfortable.

Jesus emphasizes the importance of abiding in him, just as branches abide in the vine. He stresses that apart from him, we can do nothing. This highlights the centrality of our connection to Christ in bearing fruit and living out our faith. It’s a powerful reminder that our strength and effectiveness come from our union with Jesus, the true vine.

So, how do we abide in Christ? Andy suggests that prayer and scripture are essential means of staying rooted in Jesus. Through prayer, we align our will with God’s and allow him to transform our hearts and desires. Scripture provides nourishment for our souls and guides us in understanding God’s will for our lives.

Andy encourages us to cultivate a life of prayer, engagement with scripture, and participation in worship and Christian community. These practices help us remain deeply connected to Christ, enabling us to bear fruit that glorifies God and draws others to him.

As we reflect on this passage, let’s consider how we can deepen our abiding relationship with Jesus. Let’s allow God to prune and shape us, trusting that his work in our lives will ultimately lead to greater fruitfulness and spiritual growth.

Thank you for joining us today. Tomorrow, we’ll continue our exploration of what it means to be rooted in Christ. Until then, may you remain firmly connected to the true vine, drawing strength and vitality from your union with Jesus. Have a blessed day!