06-12-2011 the church is like a vine

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Experiencing God

In The Church

Pastor John Isaacs

Kingsway Community Church

June 12, 2011

³It¶s Like Being

Part of A Vine´



Meaning of Church

Dictionary

1. A building used for

Christian worship.2. A religious service.

3. A Christian denomination.



The Church Doesn¶t

Have A Name

Ekklesia (Greek)Translated church and

used 115 times in NewTestament.



Meaning of Ekklesia

A Gathering of the

Called Out



Metaphors Used To

Describe The Church

1. Body2. Bride

3. Army4.Vine

5. Sheep Fold6. Family

7. Temple



Being Connected

To Gods People Is

Like Being Part of

A Vine



Isaiah 5:1-21 Now I will sing for the one I lovea song about his vineyard: My

beloved had a vineyard on a richand fertile hill.2

He plowed the land, cleared itsstones, and planted it with the

best vines.



In the middle he built a

watchtower and carved awinepress in the nearby rocks.

Then he waited for a harvest ofsweet grapes, but the grapes

that grew were bitter.



Jeremiah 2:21But I was the one who plantedyou, choosing a vine of the

purest stockthe very best.How did you grow into this

corrupt wild vine?



Ezekiel 19:10-1410 Your mother was like a vineplanted by the waters edge. It

had lush, green foliage becauseof the abundant water.11

Its branches became strong -strong enough to be a rulers

scepter. It grew very tall,



towering above all others. It

stood out because of its heightand its many lush branches.12 B

ut the vine was uprooted infury and thrown down to the

ground. The desert wind dried up

its fruit and tore off its strongbranches, so that it withered and

was destroyed by fire.



Hosea 10:1How prosperous Israel is a luxuriant vine loaded with fruit.

But the richer the people get, themore pagan altars they build.

The more bountiful their harvests, the more beautiful

their sacred pillars.



Psalm 80:8-138 You brought us from Egypt likea grapevine; you drove away the

pagan nations and transplantedus into your land.9 Y

ou cleared the ground for us,and we took root and filled the

land.



10 Our shade covered the

mountains; our branchescovered the mighty cedars.11

We spread our branches westto the Mediterranean Sea; our

shoots spread east to the

Euphrates River.12 But now, why have you broken



down our walls so that all who

pass by may steal our fruit?13 The wild boar from the forest

devours it, and the wild animalsfeed on it.



John 15:1-171 I am the true grapevine, and myFather is the gardener.

2 He cuts off every branch ofmine that doesnt produce fruit,

and he prunes the branches thatdo bear fruit so they will produce

even more.



3 You have already been pruned

and purified by the message Ihave given you.4

Remain in me, and I will remainin 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 inme, and I in them, will produce

much fruit. For apart from meyou can do nothing.6 Anyone who does not remain in

me is thrown away like a useless

branch and withers. Such

branches are athered into a



pile to be burned.

7 But if you remain in me and mywords remain in you, you may

ask for anything you want, and itwill 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 inmy love.10

When you obey mycommandments, you remain in

my love, just as I obey my

Fathers commandments and

remain in his love.



11 I have told you these things so

that you will be filled with myjoy. Yes, your joy will overflow!12

This is my commandment: Loveeach other in the same way I

have loved you.13 There is no greater love than to

lay down ones life for ones

friends.



14You are my friends if you do

what I command.15 I no longer call you slaves,

because a master doesntconfide in his slaves. Now you

are my friends, since I have told

you everything the Father told

me.



16 You didnt choose me. I chose

you. I appointed you to go andproduce lasting fruit, so that the

Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.17 This is my command: Love each

other.



The Vine Metaphor

Reveals «

1. Jesus is the True Vine

2. Father is Gardener

3. Believers are Branches4. Purpose is Fruit



Four Degrees of

Fruit Bearing

1. No Fruit

John 15:2

He cuts off every branch of

mine that doesnt produce

fruit.



Four Degrees of

Fruit Bearing

2. Bears Fruit

John 15:2

He prunes the branches that

do bear fruit.



Four Degrees of

Fruit Bearing

3. Bears More Fruit

John 15:2

He prunes the branches that

do bear fruit so they will

produce even more fruit.



Four Degrees of

Fruit Bearing

4. Bears Much Fruit

John 15:5

Those who remain in me,

and I in them, will produce

much fruit.



Four Degrees of

Fruit Bearing

4. Bears Much Fruit

John 15:8

When you produce much fruit,

you are my true disciples. This

brings great glory to my Father.



Four Degrees of

Fruit Bearing

1. No Fruit

2. Bears Fruit

3. Bears More Fruit4.Bears Much Fruit



What Is The Fruit We

Are To Produce?

1. Numeric Growth?

2. New Converts?

3. Fruit of the Spirit?4. Agape Love



What Is The Process To

Bearing Much Fruit?

1. Pruning?

2. Abiding



John 15:4-54 Remain in me, and I will remainin you. For a branch cannot

produce fruit if it is severed fromthe 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 meyou can do nothing.



What Does It Mean To

Abide In Jesus?

1. Active PartW e are to work at remaining

in Him. This is something we

do.




Abide In Jesus?

1. Active Part� Study The Bible

� Prayer

� Fellowship

� Obedience




Abide In Jesus?

2. Passive PartW e are to allow Him to

remain in us. This is

something He does.




Abide In Jesus?

2. Passive Part� Y ielded

� Submissive

� Surrendered

� Resting In Him

06-12-2011 the church is like a vine

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