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The grapevine is a prolific plant. A single vine bears grapes in many clusters. In the Old Testament, grapes symbolized Israel's fruitfulness in doing God's work on the earth (Psalm 80:8-11;Isaiah 5:1-7; Ezekiel 19:10-14). Jesus appropriated and expanded on this already familiar imagery.

John 15:1-8

1. In this parable, identify the gardener, the vine (trunk), and the branches.
2. What characterizes the branches that are cut off (vv. 2, 6-7)?
3. So what characterizes those that are retained but pruned (vv. 3, 7-8)?
4. The fruit (v. 5) has sometimes been identified as soul winning. But what forms of fruitfulness are mentioned here (v. 7) and in the following paragraph (vv. 11-12)?
5. What fruits of the Spirit are mentioned elsewhere? (See Galatians 5:22-24 and 2 Peter 1:5-8.)
6. What is the basic requirement for fruitfulness (v. 4)?
7. What additional factor is cited in verse 7?
8. What pruning may be needed in your life to make you more fruitful?
9. How might this bring glory to the divine Gardener?

Ask God to make you willing to have pruned from your life those things that may be inhibiting your fruitfulness as a disciple.

1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch 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 for greater fruitfulness 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 apart from 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 parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! 8 My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father."

Copyright © 2006 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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