WARM-UP
“‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener…’ ‘Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.’” — John 15:1;4
Do you remember the last time you were without cell phone service with no access to calls, text, emails or social media? Going from 24/7 constant connection with the digital world to no connection is a unique and lonely experience of isolation. While Jesus and His audience had never heard of 5G or Gmail, they understood the importance of connection. In our passage, Jesus utilizes the metaphor of a vineyard: a vine, its branches and the role of the vine dresser to explain His teaching. Just as grapes depend on the branch which in turn depends on the vine as its source of life and growth, Jesus declares that He is the source of life, growth and fruitfulness for His disciples.
Q. Have you ever been disconnected from your administration or your coaching staff? Describe the consequences of that disconnection.
Q. If you were able to get reconnected, how did that reconnection change your circumstances and outlook?
WORKOUT
Are you Connected to Jesus?
In John 15:4 Jesus says, “Remain in me, and I in you.” The branch must remain connected to the vine in order to live. However, this statement begs an important question: how do we get connected to Jesus? In this passage, Jesus is talking directly to His closest followers; however, as we enter in this study, you may find yourself asking,
“Am I a disciple of Jesus?”
“Am I connected to Him?”
The New Testament clearly teaches that becoming a disciple of Jesus begins with three things: (1) faith in the (2) Good News (the Gospel) about Jesus working itself out through (3) repentance.
The Good News
Jesus and the New Testament writers used the terms we translate as Gospel or Good News to encapsulate Jesus’ work and ministry. This Good News is about Jesus: He lived a perfect life of love for God and neighbor, died for our sins and then was raised from the dead in victory over sin and death. He ascended to His kingly throne at the right hand of the Father and sent the gift of the Holy Spirit back to His followers. Finally, He has promised to return and bring the Kingdom in fullness. (1 Corinthians 15:1-5, 23-26; Romans 5:8; John 3:16)
Faith and Repentance
When the Good News about Jesus is proclaimed there are only two responses: rejection or acceptance. In Acts 2, after Peter preached the Good News, some in the crowd believed (had faith), and they asked, “What should we do?” (Acts 2:37). They realized that if what Peter was proclaiming were true then reality itself has changed and they needed to align themselves with this new reality. This realignment is what the New Testament calls repentance: a 180° change in direction.
Connected to Jesus
Believing that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead and then reorienting (repenting) our lives around His rule and reign (Romans 10:9) by becoming obedient to what He has commanded is the entrance into life with Jesus. He gives us a new heart, the gift of the Holy Spirit and a new family, the Church. However, this entrance is the starting line not the finish. As we further explore John 15, Jesus will teach us how to continue in Him.
WRAP-UP
We can be connected to God through Jesus and be proven as a disciple.
Connection to Jesus starts with faith in the Gospel and repentance.
The Gospel is the truth about Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and promised return.
True connection with Jesus involves remaining in Him through the Holy Spirit and ongoing obedience.
Key Action Find time and space to meditate on the following:
Read Acts 2:14-36 and 1 Corinthians 15:1-27
Read Romans 10:9
Think deeply about your relationship with Jesus Christ. Are you truly connected to Him?