The True Vine
Brandon Huber
Part of 2024 Teaching Notes
December 29, 2024

The True Vine
December 29th, 2024
Brandon Huber


“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” —John 15:5 (NIV)

 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. —John 15:1-8 (NIV)

GO TO CHURCH

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. —Heb 10:24-25 (NIV)

  • Just Get There

And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? —Matt 26:40 (ESV)

BAPTISM

  • It is Christ’s command

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. —Matt 28:19 (NIV)

  • It is a public declaration

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. —Acts 2:38-41 (NIV)

SMALL GROUPS

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed… —James 5:16 (NIV)

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. —Prov 27:17 (NIV)

GIVING

It reflects our love for God and our desire to support His work. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. —Matt 6:21 (NIV)

  • It is a command from God

8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty. —Malachi 3:8-12 (NIV)

SERVING

  • You become a part of what God is doing in this world

  • It is what you are created for

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. —Eph 2:10 (NIV)

GET INTO GOD’S WORD

  • It teaches us who God is and who we are

  • It guides us

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness… —2 Tim 3:16 (NIV)

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. —Eph 4:14-16 (NIV)

Martin Luther’s Bible Study Method:
- Instruction: What the passage is commanding you to do.
- Praise: What the passage leads you to praise God for.
- Confession: Where you have fallen short of the passage’s instruction.
- Petition: For God’s grace in helping you live out the commands of the passage.

HAVE A PRAYER LIFE

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. —Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

  • Schedule a time

  • Just talk to Him

  • Come Clean

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. —1 John 1:9 (NIV)

  • Pray for your needs

Give us today our daily bread… —Matt 6:11 (NIV)

  • Pray for others

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. —Eph 6:18 (NIV)

  • Fasting

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” > John 15:5 NIV —John 15:5 NIV


Notes:


Discussion Questions:

1 – What is an area of your life in which you would like to see God work in the coming year?

2 – Of the three ways discussed in remaining in Christ, (Church, Word, prayer), which one is naturally easier for you?

3 – Which one is more of a challenge?

4 – Where are do you serve in at the church? If you are not serving yet, why? Talk to Pastor Kyle, Pastor Ezekiel, or Brandon to discuss opportunities!