Bearing More Fruit

Introduction. (John 15:1-8). This text come sin the midst of what is sometimes called Jesus’ farewell or departure sermon. I was recently asked to put together a study to do this summer in Alabama looking at this entire lesson that runs from John 14-17. This lesson begins as Jesus is in the upper room with the disciples on the evening before His death. He has already observed the Passover, instituted the Lord’ Supper, and washed the disciples feet. This discourse begins in the upper room, and then after chapter 14, the remainder seems to have been offered as they make their way to Gethsemane. Note three things from our reading:

•         “He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (vs. 2).

•         “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit” (vs. 5).

•         My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit” (vs. 8).

I.      Understanding Pruning.

A.    Often God is pictured as the owner of the vineyard. Here God is the vinedresser who prunes to produce more fruit (cf. Mark 12:1-2).

B.     Pruning is clearing away unproductive and unhealthy growth to allow fruitful growth.

C.     Pruning is future oriented: It involves cutting now to produce gains later.

II.      How Does God Prune?

A.    “Prune” (vs. 2) – Gr. verb kathairo “to cleanse, of filth impurity” (Thayer).

B.     “Clean” (vs. 3) – Gr. adjective kathairos “clean, pure” (Thayer), i.e. those cleansed.

1.      “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you” (vs. 3).

C.     God prunes through His word.

III.  The Word Cleanses.

A.    This involves removal of unhealthy growth in our lives (Ps. 19:12-13; 119:9-11).

B.     It is difficult to cut some things out of our lives (Ps. 119:65-68; Prov. 20:30).

C.     It requires the new growth of a change of heart and mind (Matt. 23:25-26; Rom. 12:1-2).

IV.  God Prunes To Produce.

A.    To produce the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-25).

B.     To produce proper behavior (2 Tim. 3:14-17).

C.     To produce godly attitudes (Heb. 4:12-13).

D.    To produce more disciples (2 Tim. 2:2).

V.   God’s Pruning Reminds Us...

A.    Not to rest on past successes.

B.     To be thankful for His care and desire to see us grow.

C.     To examine our fruitfulness.

1.      Am I producing the fruit a branch should? Am I abiding In Jesus?

D.    Is there something in our lives God would prune?