June 2, 2024 "Are We Connected To The Vine?"

ReNew Ames Messages

In several different places in the gospels, Jesus shares what his purpose is. Here's one from John 10 - he says, "I have come so that you may have life and have it abundantly." Then a little later on - in John 15 - he tells his followers that if we want to have abundant life, we need to stay connected to the vine. Problem is, that's not always that easy. That picture of abundance isn't the only one offered to us. Our world gives us plenty of ideas for living an abundant life. Most of it has to do with the accumulation of stuff and status. But those things don't last. So Jesus gives us a different view of abundance. He says, "I am the vine and you are the branches - remain in me and you will bear fruit - fruit that will last." In a sense, what Jesus is saying is that if we stay connected to him and allow God to work in us and through us, we will bear fruit. The fruit we bear looks a lot like the list that Paul gives in his letter to the Galatians. Most of us have this sense that our lives are only characterized as abundant when we display and create that kind of fruit. Are we connected to the vine? What are the ways we can stay connected to the divine? How else do we create fruit that will last? We ask God to do a little pruning. In a world of addition, what might God be asking us to cut out? Let go? What might God be pruning in our lives so that we can become fruit-bearing branches - so that our lives can truly be abundant? Speaker: Aaron Vis Scripture: John 15:1-8 https://www.bible.com/events/49268391