FHBC Sermon Notes

Guest speaker: Shane Little. Shane brings us a word from the gospel of John. Got fruit?

What is the nature of our relationship with Christ?

• We have union with Christ. We have total and complete dependence on him. (v5) We have to give up the idea of personal glory and success. Our glory is only found in his glory. Psalm 14:2-3.
• To we really understand how freeing it is that we don't have to live on our own righteousness but on his. We are able to do good without the burden of asking is that good enough. We are changing though, being conformed to his image, yet, we are not the one conforming.

What is the purpose of our relationship with Christ?

• We as a result are created to bear fruit. We are created in Christ to produce fruit, Paul says as well.
• John here also tells us the purpose of prayer, which is to bear fruit. Do we focus on ourselves in our prayer life, or on seeking his glory by bearing fruit through his word.
• We do not simply bear fruit naturally. We are made perfect through suffering. Vines must be pruned. We must go under the knife. But we have a glorious and great vine dresser who knows how to deal with branches he's both weak and strong.
• We are being "saved" to bear fruit. Branches that do not bear fruit, ultimately are thrown in the fire. These branches bear no fruit at all. These are branches are not connected to the vine.

What is the means of maintaining our relationship with Christ?

• We are called friends of Jesus. We are friends because we have unique access to him.
• V.10 the son abides with the Father always because he does his good will, he obeys him, and so he loves him. We are called to do the exact same thing.
• V.11 obedience is not burdensome. It brings a life of joy!
• V.12 So what do we obey. The commandment he gives here is that we need to love one another.
• V. 13 how do we love? He laid down his life for us. This is rooted in giving. This is not based on how we feel. The world so often defines loves as either a feeling or of lust. The opposite of love is not hatred, but selfishness.
• Love is the determination not based on feeling to give oneself for the good of another.
• So let us ask this hard question of oursleves, are our relationships based on giving and sacrifice. This is love.
• So.... Let us be honest, we cannot do this. And so we come back to the vine. My son so often, no daddy, I cannot do it. I stand there able and willing to make him able to hold him, lift him, if only he will look to me. Am I so different? Father give me your strength, the fruit of your vine.