His Best Gift

John 15:1-8

Scripture.  Choose the passage.  Have a plan, don’t make it a random passage in the Bible.

Observation.  What does the passage say?  What is difficult to understand?  What does it say to me?

Application.  How do I apply these verses?  Is there something to give God thanks for?  Is there is a sin to avoid?

Prayer.  Simply end your time with God talking with Him.

 

SCRIPTURE .  John 15:1-8.  Look it up in your Bible, on a Bible app or on Biblegateway.com or Biblehub.com.

(Taken from Knowing Him/live26.org)

Jesus compares following Him to a vineyard.  The Father is the vinedresser, Jesus is the vine and we are the branches to bear fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  God’s job is to wash and prune, Jesus provides life-giving nourishment and the Holy Spirit is to produce fruit.  Your job and mine is to abide.

 

God wants you and I to spend time with Him, to abide, to hang out, to trust and constantly talk to.  It is about a relationship not empty religion or tradition.

 

OBSERVATION. Think about what the verse says.  What instruction does it give?   If you have a journal or notebook, write down some thoughts.

The person who does not bear fruit, is not a believer, what happens to that person?

Reread verse 4.  You abide in Christ and He abides in you.  Same thoughts as we saw yesterday.

How might you abide in Jesus practically today?

What can you and I do apart from Jesus?  vs. 5

Again, what is the evidence of loving Jesus, being His disciple?

 

APPLICATION

S  Is there a sin for me to confess?

P. is there a promise for me to claim?

A.  Is there an attitude for me to change?

C.  Is there a command for me to obey?

E. Is there an example for me to follow?

His best gift is always Himself.  Always.

We always want to spend time and be with those who love us. 

Abiding is talking to, singing to, reading your Bible, praying intimately, sitting quietly and listening for God’s voice and obeying Him.

Take time aside 30 seconds, 30 minutes, 30 hours…to really spend with God.

 

PRAYER. Take a few moments to really talk to God.  Use CHAT to help you guide your prayer time.  But most of all, be real with God.  Talk to Him.

 

Confess

True confession is agreeing with God about your sin.  It includes repentance, doing a 180 from your sin.  Repentance is not just being sorry for being caught, but sorry for breaking the heart of God.  Examine your heart. Admit your faults.  Be teachable.

Honor

Honor God by praising Him for who He is.  You can do this by reading verse of praise or singing a song to God.

Ask

Ask God for your needs.  Praying for your own needs, both daily and crisis needs.  Also, pray for the needs of others.  Be specific!

Thank

Express gratitude for God has done!  Write it down so you can remember how God has answered your prayers!

 

 

Pray.  Remember, just talk to God.  Look at the ingredients above.  Not every prayer has to include all the ingredients.  Just remember, be honest.  Don’t try to sound religious or churchy.  Just be real as you talk to God.