Notes
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
John 15:1-11
To overflow with God’s goodness, He will need to take some things out of our lives and put some other things in our lives. If we’re going to be a people who overflow with the goodness of God, there are some things that we need to do.
1) Connect
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. ”
John 14:6
Connect with the source. Jesus is one with the Father, and He connects us to the Father. To be a person of overflow, we have to ask ourselves if we’ve truly connected with God. Jesus is the connection; it is only through Him that we can walk with God.
2) Remove
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
Hebrews 12:1
…throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.
Ephesians 4:22-23
Remove some things from your life. In order to overflow, we’ll need to make room by getting rid of things that are sinful or keep our focus away from God. Part of why we are given the Holy Spirit is to prune these things from our lives. He will challenge and enable you to purge out the things your flesh has allowed in so that the goodness of God can flow in and then out of your life.
3) Remain
Stay; be consistent and disciplined. Pray and read God’s Word; this is how we hear from God and grow in our faith. Root yourself down. Stay consistent for a period of time and see what God will do. Growing your faith is like working out–it takes discipline over time to see growth.
4) Produce
We are a conduit for God in this world. The Church has been growing ever since the time of Jesus because the vine is still producing newness, and there are branches that are producing fruit for the Kingdom all around the world. Aim to be one of those branches that produces great fruit, a branch that helps the Church grow. Let’s be a Church that is committed. To live a life that overflows with the goodness of God, submit to what God wants to do through you–connect to the source, declutter your life, and stay disciplined.
Group Questions
- In what ways can you strengthen your connection to the source in your daily life?
- What kind of “fruit” do you hope to produce in your life that reflects God’s goodness to others?
- To life a life of overflow requires removing and receiving. What do you need to add to or remove from your life that would help you serve others better or deepen your relationship with Him?
Prayer
Thank you for being the source, for connecting us to your love and giving us the opportunity to produce fruit for your kingdom. Help us to prune what needs to be removed from our lives, and help us to live lives that overflow with your goodness to bless others and bring you glory.