The Upper Room – Week 6 – Home In Jesus
This week in our series we look at John 15: 1-17. We see that Upper Room Disciples are fruitful in their lives by making their home in Jesus! The closer we are to Jesus, the better our lives will. The further we are from Jesus the worse our lives will be. Can we change our lives? Yes, but being at home in Jesus is the only way we can!
Date: October 30, 2022
Series: The Upper Room
Sermon Extras
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Pastor’s Comment
SERMON NOTES
The Upper Room- HOME IN JESUS- John 15:1-17
REVIEW> “What are the marks of an Upper Room Disciple” Review Points.
INTRO> Close to 14 years ago, I was a student pastor and took a group of students to Student Life Camp in Roach MO. I was nervous because before we went, I saw that the Camp speakers name was Dr. Ed Newton… didn’t sound to cool. He walked out on stage in Jordan shorts, beats by Dre and said, “We will be walking through the Minor Prophets during the day and Jesus I AM statements in the evening.” One night he preached on John 15 and that message changed my life forever. Ed and I have anded up becoming good friends. I want to share that message that changed my life with you, he ended up telling me the book that inspired his message “Secrets of the Vine.”
CONTEXT> the Apostle John uses the word ABIDE 50x in his writings and in his gospel account he uses is 34x. If you see it there in the text, it’s the word ABIDE. The word itself means to “remain in something, to rest or…. to be at home in, to reside in.”
APP> Basically, If I was to summarize Jesus’ entire teaching here today, I would say this. The closer you are to Jesus, the better your life will be. The further you are from Jesus, the worse your life will be.
Big Idea > Upper Room Disciples are fruitful in their lives by making their home in Jesus.
APP> Why is this such a big deal? Well… because being at home in Jesus is the only way we change. I mean.. that’s the question right, “Can I change?”
CONTEXT> I believe in this passage Jesus shows us and tells us what the result of being at home in him looks like. Before we start we have to lay some things out:
- God The Father = The Vinedresser
- Jesus, God the Son = The Vine
- Disciples = The Branches
- The “fruit” of the Christian life is the observable evidence of being formed into the image of Jesus Christ.
CONTEXT> Now, there is a progression in our text today and It’s really important for you to see.
- “does not bear fruit” v2a = No Fruit
- “does bear fruit” v2b = Some Fruit
- “bear more fruit” v2c = More Fruit
- “much fruit” v8 = Much Fruit
Basket #1- No Fruit = Repent.
- “does not bear fruit he takes away” There is a lot of confusion about this verse. The word that Jesus uses can translate either, take away OR lift up. Im fine with either, Judas is in the room and so is Peter.
APP> Do you have a decisive moment in your life, when you surrendered to Jesus for the first time?
Basket #2 – Some Fruit = Reorganize
- “does bear fruit he prunes” This is a fantastic metaphor that Jesus is using. One that we do not think off. A Vinedresser would cut away excess branches and stuff that would hinder growth of the fruit.
*ILL> Iphone home page, reorganizing apps….. Talked with a friend this week who spoke to a VERY famous pastor and asked him what the greatest threat to the church in the US was… his answer… soccer… WOW!
APP> What would it look like for you to make Jesus first in your life?
Basket #3- More Fruit = Release
- “he prunes that it may bear more fruit” keeping with the same idea of pruning and discipline Jesus tells us that there is a result, more fruit,
APP> Interesting that studies teach us that one of the ways that vinedressers would prune a vine is that they would pinch it. If one cluster was growing faster than the other, to keep it symmetrical. *ILL> Do you know the tallest man that ever lived? Robert Wadlow of Alton ILL. He measured in at a whopping 8ft 11in. When he was 8 years old he was 6ft tall! When he passed away they found a tumor on his pituitary gland, causing growth hormones to release rapidly.
APP> What do you need to let go of that is holding you back?
Basket #4 – Much Fruit = Rest
- “by this my Father is glorified that you bear much fruit” I love this truth. Jesus tells us that this is what God wants for you in your life, for your life to be filled with the joy and love of knowing that he is working in your life!
APP> Do you really believe that this is the life that God wants for you?
RECAP:
- Basket 1 “No Fruit” = Repentance
- Basket 2 “Some Fruit” = Reorganize
- Basket 3 “More Fruit” = Release
- Basket 4 “Much Fruit” = Rest
APP> Which one are you? What is your next step up the stairs to become an upper room disciple?