Reset | Water into Wine – Mark Pedrin

RESET | Water into Wine
John 15:1-14

Mark Pedrin, Connections and Communications Pastor

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ²Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. ⁹ As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

¹² “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you.  –John 15:1-14

1. The Picture: A Vine and its Branches

• John 15:1, 5

2. The Purpose: A Life of Fruitfulness

• John 15:1-2, 8

3. The Process: A Call to Abide

• John 15:4, 9-14

The Vinedresser’s Pruning

• John 15:2, 6
• Fruitfulness Principle #1: God will intervene with unfruitful branches, because branches are meant to bear fruit.
• Fruitfulness Principle #2: For branches that are bearing some fruit, God will prune them to produce even more.

Discussion Questions:

• What parts of this message connected with you, and what parts didn’t?
• Do any of the ‘alternate’ places we go to find our identity fit into your life story?
• When you hear that “loving one another” is central to our spiritual life, how does that fit with your own experience?
• What next steps do you feel led to take today?