CURRENT SERIES: RED LETTERS

This year, we are taking a journey through the New Testament. It begins with 4 accounts of Jesus called the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. We are looking at the words of Jesus found in the first four books of the New Testament. He has words of life, hope, peace, and guidance.  You can watch messages from this series here.

RECAP

Today, we examined two parables that Jesus shared to illustrate our relationship with God. He shared the parable of the sower and then explained how He is the vine and we are the branches (think of a grapevine). We looked at maintaining the soil of our hearts to produce fruit and growth. It’s about following Jesus and His ways even when it’s not easy or popular. We need to remain consistent with Him.

QUESTIONS: JOHN 15

1. Abiding in Christ Jesus says, “Abide in me, and I in you” (v.4).
In what practical ways am I staying connected to Christ daily—through prayer, Scripture, obedience, and dependence? What habits or distractions might be pulling me away from abiding?

2. Pruning for Fruitfulness “Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (v.2).
Where might God be pruning me right now—through challenges, discipline, or conviction? How am I responding: with resistance, or with trust that He is shaping me for greater fruitfulness?

3. Love as the Evidence of Abiding “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love” (v.9).
How is the love of Christ being expressed through me toward others—family, friends, coworkers, even enemies? If love is the “fruit,” where do I see growth, and where do I need God’s grace to grow more

JOURNALING 

Step 1 – List the Branches Write down areas of your life like branches: Family & relationships, Work / studies, Personal habits / inner life, Community / neighbors, etc.

Step 2 – Notice the Fruit Under each “branch,” ask:

• Where do I see fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control – Gal. 5:22–23)?
• Where do I see little or no fruit?

Step 3 – Identify the Pruning For each area, ask:

• Is God cutting something away right now (a habit, comfort, pride, distraction)?
• How might this pruning, though uncomfortable, actually lead to deeper fruitfulness?

Step 4 – Pray into Abiding Finish by writing a short prayer:

• Thank God for His pruning love.
• Surrender areas where you resist His hand.
• Ask Him to help you abide in Christ’s love and bear fruit that blesses others.

BIBLE READING PLANS

Join us in reading through the New Testament this year. Here’s a plan through the Gospels:

https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/16-the-gospels

HOW TO UNDERSTAND THE PARABLES OF JESUS

Video from the Bible Project here.