WARM-UP
“‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.’
‘My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.’” —John 15:1-3; 8
If you have ever had the pleasure of coaching a player through multiple seasons you know the joy of witnessing improvement. Watching a player accept coaching, prune bad skills and then become a productive competitor is one of the best parts of coaching.
Q: What are some things you have had to prune? A plant? Your schedule? A player’s skill set?
Q: Was it difficult? Time consuming? What were the results?
WORKOUT
Cutting Back
In the previous session, we discussed Jesus’ statement on removing unfruitful branches. He goes on to say that God “prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.” To most cutting back a fruit-bearing branch sounds counterproductive. However, the exact opposite is true. When done carefully and correctly, pruning a branch that bears fruit will result in even more fruit. A vinedresser uses a sharp blade at the correct angle in the appropriate season to prune a branch. What about God’s pruning?
We get a clue in verse 3 when Jesus tells His disciples, “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” In the original language, the words prune in verse 2 and clean in verse 3 come from the same root and are closely related. The disciples have accepted Jesus’ teachings, and His word has cleaned or pruned them. Later in John 17:17, as Jesus is praying to the Father, He says, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” Sanctify means to set apart and it also carries a sense of cleansing and purification. Obeying Jesus commands are the initial pruning we need to produce fruit.
Hardships and trials are another agent of pruning and purification in the lives of believers. In John 15, Jesus is heading for Jerusalem and the cross. As we discussed in our first session, these events will be extremely difficult for the disciples; however, if they persevere through hardships, those hardships will help them produce fruit (James 1:2-4).
The Fruit
Pruning is not an end in itself; it is a necessary means to an end: more fruit. Fruitfulness is the result of God’s careful cultivation of His vineyard. The remaining, the pruning, the cutting away of dead branches: these things are pointed toward the end goal of fruitful disciples. Jesus brings significance to our fruit-bearing when He says our fruitfulness is the proof of our belonging to Him. In proving our belonging through fruitfulness, we bring fame and honor, glory, to the Father. The proof that we follow Jesus is our fruitfulness.
What kind of fruit is Jesus talking about? Jesus summarized His teaching with the two-part commandment to love God and love people (Matt. 22:37-40), so when we chose to love God with the entirety of our being and when we chose to love our neighbors, including our enemies, as we love ourselves, that’s some of the fruit Jesus is talking about. Words, thoughts, attitudes and actions that demonstrate love = fruit.
WRAP-UP
We are proven through our fruitfulness and obedience to Jesus’ commands.
Hardships and trials are used to prune the life of believers.
Obeying Jesus’ commands produces fruit.
Loving God and others produces fruit.
Key Action
Discuss together or reflect on your own:
How have hardships and trials produced more fruit in your life? What was pruned through them?
In what ways are you demonstrating love to others? Do your players and your coaching staff know that you love them? How so?