The Vine and the Branches

John 15: 1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

• What does Jesus command us to do in this passage?
• Why would God cut off branches that are not fruitful? What does this mean?

5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

• By calling us branches, what kind of relationship does Jesus show us He wants to have with us?
• What is the one thing we have to do to bear much fruit?
• What does it mean to remain in Jesus? What do you have to do to obey this command?
• What happens to people who don’t remain in Jesus?
• Under what conditions does Jesus say we will see answered prayer?
• Who is glorified when we bear much fruit?

9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

• What does it mean to remain in Jesus’ love?
• What do we have to do to have Jesus’ joy?