John 15:1-8 – The Pruning Process

Introduction

 

            The tomato plant

 

 

Those who are united to Jesus, the Father is committed to them and to the growth of fruit in them (15:1-8)

 

God the gardener is committed to cutting off any branch that has some contact with Jesus but is not fully connected to Jesus (v2&6)

 

            What do they look like?

 

 

            Travis - Driftwood

 

 

God the gardener is committed to pruning any branch that bears fruit so that they will bear more fruit (v2,5&8)

 

• God knows what He wants us to be like

 

 

• God knows what we are like

 

 

• God knows what tool is needed

 

 

• God knows it will hurt but it is not intended to harm

 

 

• God knows when to prune for the best results

 

 

Conclusion

 

 

Questions:

1) In what ways are you actively staying connected to Jesus, the True Vine, rather than just being in contact with “Christian things”?

2) What “fruit” of Christlikeness can you point to in your life right now? Where do you see growth compared to a year ago?

3) How do you normally respond when God begins to prune something out of your life— trust, resistance, or confusion? Why do you respond this way?

4) How has God used His Word recently to expose attitudes, habits, or actions that need to be cut away?    

5) How might trials, difficulties, or hard seasons in your life actually be tools in God’s pruning process? Where and when have you experienced this?       

6) If you trusted the Gardener’s heart (His intentions) and His hands (His skill) fully, what step of obedience or surrender would you take today?