PACKING LIST | Becoming Disciples
August 15, 2021
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:1-5
ABIDE
- “You have already been pruned and purified by the good news of Jesus.” (15:3, NLT).
- Discipleship is about becoming who we are already declared to be.
- “Abide in me, and I in you” (15:4)
- Two-Fold Abiding | We abide in Jesus as he abides in us.
GROWING
- Abiding produces growth in the life of a disciple
- Growth is increasingly displaying the glory of God through ongoing surrender and obedience.
- 2 Hinderances to Growth | Pretending & Performing
- “Accepting the reality of our sinfulness means accepting our authentic self. Judas could not face his shadow, Peter could. The latter befriended the imposter within; the former raged against him.” – Brennan Manning
- “The Gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in jesus Christ that we ever dared dared hope.” – Tim Keller
- Recommended Reading | The Holiness of God by RC Sproul
FRUITFUL
- Fruitfulness is the fragrance produced in our lives as we abide in Jesus.
- “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.” 2 Corinthians 2:1