葡萄樹與枝子 Vine and Branches

葡萄樹與枝子 Vine and Branches
約翰福音 John 15:1-17

Warm up

1) When is your last time you really felt that you had glorified God? What did you do?

2) "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34) Which is easier? And Why?

a) Making your friends believe you're a Christian without telling them you're a Christian.

or

b) Making your friends believe you're not a Christian.


Discussion

1) According to the parable, what are the roles/duties/responsibilities of Jesus, Heavenly Father and us? If one of the branches does not bear any fruit, would you blame the vine/trunk/root or the gardener?

2) According to the parable, is a healthy branch going to bear more and more fruits, or just same amount of fruits all the time?

3) What are the main purposes of being fruitful?

4) How can we make sure that we abide/remain in Jesus and His love all the time?

5) What are the differences between being a servant of the LORD and a friend of the LORD? How significant of being a friend of the LORD?

6) What are the criteria for "ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you (15:7)" and "the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name (15:16)"?


Application

1) How often do you bear fruit? Do you bear the same amount of fruits over the last few years? Are you bearing more and more fruit gradually? Are you satisfied the amount of fruits you have been bearing recently? What will be your action plan if you want to bear more and more fruits?

2) If the two main purposes of bearing fruits are glorifying God and showing we are Jesus' disciples, do you think you have done a decent/an acceptable job in fulfilling these two purposes? How can you make any improvement in these?

3) Jesus has already done his parts to make us ready to bear fruits and love each other [You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you (15:3); for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you (15:15)]. He has also done his parts to be the example/model for us [just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love (15:10); as I have loved you (15:12)]. So, why do we fail to bear fruits and love each other occasionally/sometimes? How can you make any improvement in these?