“PRUNING IS A PART OF GROWING”
YEAH! CHURCH - APRIL 24, 2022
"Doing Life with Jesus”
Today’s Lesson - “Pruning is a Part of Growing”
Video Story/Resource:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0yu1qyevwE (Bible Animations – The True Vine)
https://www.worshiphousekids.com/kids.../40791/the-vine (Worship House Kids)
Jesus is the Vine, We are the Branches
John 15:1-17, NLT
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.”
Jesus tells us that he wants us to grow Jesus-fruit; but, the only way we can do so is by staying connected to him. However, knowing about Jesus is not the same thing as being connected. We must not only know Jesus, we must also obey him. Someone who goes to church, owns a Bible and even says grace before meals may only know about God if the rest of the week is spent living only for themselves. Jesus tells us that we must show his love to others. If we don’t we aren’t growing his fruit and God may choose to ‘prune’ us (cut us off) because thinking we’re connected to Jesus without growing his fruit is hypocritical…it’s not enough to know the right thing, but not do it.
But God also prunes those who are connected to Jesus and growing Jesus-fruit because he knows that old habits and ways of thinking can get in the way. If we have something in our lives that isn’t good for us, God will prune us because he loves us. He prunes us by ‘cutting off’ the extra bits that tempt us not to rely on Jesus or that are preventing us from growing the best Jesus-fruit.
Pruning is rarely easy and sometimes we have to go through some painful lessons, but we can always trust that it is for our best.
Engage:
• Jesus said that he was the vine and we are branches. What did he mean?
• When we spend time with Jesus, we become more like him. What is the Jesus-fruit he wants us to grow?
• Sometimes God needs to prune some things out of our lives in order that we can grow Jesus-fruit. What things do you think God may want to prune from your life?
• Pruning can be painful, but when God does it, it is so that we can grow more Jesus-fruit. Which fruit do you need more of…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness or self-control? Ask God to help you!
Weekly verse:
Galatians 5:22-23, NLT – “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
2022 Theme verses:
Colossians 2:6-7, NLT – “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
Prayer – Dear God, thank you that you want the best for us and you know what that best is. Help us to trust you and cooperate with the work you want to do in our lives.
~ Pastor Jane