SESSION 6 OUR NEED FOR PURPOSE When have you felt like a hamster on a wheel? QUESTION #1 #BSFLenough BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 53
THE POINT Jesus is the Vine who empowers us to live productive lives for God. THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE I m sooo busy. We hear that a lot, don t we? Some people say it with a sigh, but they may also betray a hint of pride. Being busy is a badge of honor in our society. It can be a way to convince ourselves we are significant and important. It also can present a problem. Why? Because busyness does not equal productivity. The truth is that we never find ultimate purpose in what we do. Purpose is more personal. Finding purpose is about knowing a Person and allowing Him to shape our lives. Real life deep, meaningful, satisfying life comes from connecting to Jesus and allowing His life to flow through ours. On the surface, that may sound syrupy and spiritual completely out of touch with the rough-and-tumble daily life of the real world. But Jesus made the concept very practical, and He did it by talking about a vineyard. 54 SESSION 6
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? John 15:1-8 1 I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. 2 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. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. 6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples. Remain (v. 4) This term refers to existing in a specific state or condition for an extended period of time; in this case, remaining in the presence of Jesus. Glorified (v. 8) Enhanced reputation, praise, or honor of someone or something; to achieve splendid greatness in one s person, possessions, or circumstances in the opinion of others. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 55
THE POINT Jesus is the Vine who empowers us to live productive lives for God. What does this I am statement teach us about Jesus nature and character? QUESTION #2 John 15:1-3 Only hours before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus made His seventh I am statement. By calling Himself the True Vine, Jesus established Himself as the Source of all that flows from Him to His followers. Since He is the Source of life for every branch (His followers), it is critical that the branches are vitally and solidly connected to Him. Jesus announced the Vineyard Keeper (God) would remove every branch that doesn t produce fruit meaning, visible evidence of a living connection to the vine. People who falsely claim to be followers of Jesus are unmasked by their lack of spiritual fruit. As a result of their counterfeit faith, God removes them from their pseudo-relationship with Christ. It all comes down to a matter of spiritual fruit. But what kind of fruit is this? 1. Some people equate fruit with evangelistic success, meaning how many people you lead to faith in Jesus. 2. Some people connect fruit to acts of service, meaning the ministry you do in the name of Jesus. 3. Some people insist fruit is about personal growth the character of Jesus that God shapes in you. All of these views are correct. Life change must happen and continue to happen as proof of conversion. Yet, to bear fruit can mean leading people to Jesus (see John 4:36), serving them in Jesus name (see Matt. 7:16-20), and developing the character of Christ (see Gal. 5:22-23). God also prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit (v. 2). Pruning applies to those who have proven the legitimacy of their faith. God continually works to produce spiritual fruit among Jesus followers. God is unrelenting in shaping His people to be more and more like Jesus. Such pruning can be painful, but it s good. Change that brings us closer to Christ is always good. So ask yourself: Am I changing to be more like Jesus? Progress, not perfection, is the goal. 56 SESSION 6
ABIDE IN CHRIST What steps will you take to remain in Christ this week? Use the following acrostic to help identify specific ways you can focus on your relationship with Him. (An example is provided to get you started.) A Read the B ible each day. I D E BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 57
THE POINT Jesus is the Vine who empowers us to live productive lives for God. John 15:4-7 What does remaining in Christ look like in our daily lives? QUESTION #3 Jesus used one word repeatedly in this passage: remain. In fact, He used it 10 times throughout John 15:4-10. Jesus wanted to emphasize the mutual interweaving of His life with the lives of His followers. To remain in this context carries the idea of personal, intimate residence. Jesus emphasized that His followers must abide in Him, and He in them. The intricacy and interconnectedness of the relationship between Jesus and His followers is difficult to express and impossible to overstate! Jesus also included a warning: If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers (v. 6). If half-hearted believers fail to live in Jesus and produce fruit, not only will they be removed (see v. 2), they will face destruction. In stark contrast to the calamity awaiting false believers, true believers have fantastic privileges including unlimited access to God in prayer. Jesus promised, If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you (v. 7). How would you summarize the commands and promises in these verses? QUESTION #4 When you remain in Christ, your thoughts are saturated with the mind of Jesus, your heart beats with the compassion of Jesus, and your will bows to the Lordship of Jesus all of which changes your prayers. Rather than praying a laundry list of self-serving demands, the believer who remains in Jesus will pray like Jesus prays: 1. Humble yourself. 2. Meditate on God s Word. 3. Consider what Jesus would pray in your situation. 4. Then go ahead, pray boldly! You can trust you ll receive God s best answer in His good time. 58 SESSION 6
How can we work together to produce fruit? John 15:8 QUESTION #5 Bringing glory to God is the goal for every believer. To glorify God means to make His name famous, give Him the accolades, and put Him on prominent display. We can glorify God in two ways: 1. You glorify God when you produce much fruit. When you lead people to faith, accomplish difficult ministry and service, or overcome ingrained personal weaknesses, people will notice. And when you humbly acknowledge your inability to generate any of these accomplishments on your own and point to God, He gets the glory. 2. You glorify God when you prove to be My disciples. No one can generate genuine life change on their own. Therefore, changes in you will point to Someone beyond you to God. Purpose is found when you step off the ugly treadmill of duty-bound religious busyness and get on the slow-but-sure track toward bearing fruit for Christ. Commit yourself to Jesus for strength to tackle day-to-day living. Allow His grace to flow through you. Revel in His love. When you do these things, your efforts to serve and grow will flow freely, and you will bear much fruit for Him. A life in Christ is a productive life. It s a life with purpose. "Give me a man who says, 'This one thing I do,' and not, 'These 50 things I dabble in.' " D.L. MOODY BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 59
THE POINT Jesus is the Vine who empowers us to live productive lives for God. LIVE IT OUT What steps will you take this week to remain in Jesus, the Vine? Consider the following options: Double down. Each day this week, spend twice as much time praying and reading God s Word as you usually do. Take an active step to remain in Christ. Say thanks. Consider one way God has changed you or used you in recent months. Write a thank you letter to God giving Him the glory for the fruit in your life. Consider sharing your letter with those close to you. Plan ahead. Review your monthly calendar and eliminate any activities that won t bring glory to God. Modify or replace other activities so they can be done in Christ s power and bring glory to Him. Even on your busiest day, remember that Jesus alone is your Source for purpose in this life. Choose to remain in Him and allow His power to produce fruit for His glory. My thoughts 60 SESSION 6