“Supply Lines and Grape Vines”
LIFE TEAM DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
August 16-17, 2008
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
John 15:8
OPEN IT:
Q: What does a tree need in order to be healthy and fruitful? What are some characteristics of a healthy tree?
EXPLORE IT:
Q: Read John 6:35, 8:12, 10:7, 10:11, 11:25, 14:6, 15:1. List the seven I AM statements of Jesus as recorded by John.
Q: Many times in the Old Testament God used the image of a vine or vineyard to describe the nation of Israel. Read Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15; 19:10-14; and Isaiah 5:1-7. What was the condition of the vineyards?
Q: Read John 15:2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Jesus used the vine and branches allegory to emphasize that there is no spiritual life outside of abiding in Jesus. What is experienced by those who abide in Jesus according to these verses?
Q: Define of the word "abide" ("remain" in NIV) that is repeated ten times in verses 4 – 11?
Q: What is the connection between the chastening of the Lord in Hebrews 12:11 and the pruning of the Lord in John 15:2?
GET IT:
Q: Define the life that is “dead.” The life that is “half dead”? The life that is a “wild branch”? A life that is “alive and fruitful”?
Q: What should others see in us if we are abiding in Jesus? What is the difference between inward and outward fruit?
Q: How have you been "pruned"? How did this pruning produce more fruit in your life?
Q: How does a person stay connected and produce fruit?
APPLY IT: (review last week’s application for accountability purposes)
Q: Are you “abiding” or “remaining” in Christ? Are there areas of your life that need to be “cut off” or “pruned”?
Q: What kind of branch are you?
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In order to remain alive and fruitful, a branch must remain connected to a life giving tree. If we are to be alive and fruitful Christians, we must remain connected to our life giving Savior, Jesus Christ. We are told in John 15 to abide in Christ and bear fruit. We are to develop the inward fruit of the Spirit as well as outward fruit that comes from being Christlike. Are you a dead branch…separated from God? Are you a half dead branch…just barely alive and spiritually empty? Or are you a fully alive and fruit bearing branch…bearing fruit and overflowing Christ’s love into others? No matter where you are at, Christ wants a deep and abiding relationship with you. He wants to love you and see you experience the joy of loving others.