Sermons

THE CONNECTION December 11, 2011
John 15:1-10
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 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. You are already clean
because of the word I have spoken to you. 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. "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. 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. f you remain in me and my words
remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is
to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my
disciples. "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in
my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I
have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love.

1. Recognize the NEED to be connected.                             John 15:1-2
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 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.

2. The BENEFITS of staying connected.                              John 15:4
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.

3. A clear DIRECTION to the source.                                    John 15:7
If you remain in me and my words
remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

4. A sense of SATISFACTION.                                              John 15:9-10
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept
my Father's commands and remain in his love.