This video is submitted to honor a fallen soldier. Sgt Dillon Baldridge
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Sunday June 11th 2017
I had forget to upload these videos so they are a week late.
This sermon "The Great Feast" was the first in line of a series called, "The Point of the Parable".
WBC Choir
Miss Peggy Ashley
Monday, June 19, 2017
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Sunday June 4th 2017
I AM the Door John 15:5
Sermon Notes
I AM the VINE WBC 6/4/17
Intro:
Connection
[ I
read a devotion from “Our Daily Bread” that told of a man who had lost his
internet connection. When he found out that it would be a whole day before it
was restored he panicked. Then, he thought, “What if I lost my connection to
God for a whole day”? Would I panic in the same magnitude?”
[ It
is so important to be connected, In fact
[ If
I have learned anything, it is the fact that I must be connected.
o
Families need to be connected.
o
Churches need to be connected,
o
But
more importantly than all of that, we need to be connected to the True Vine!
Read Scripture- John 15:1-6
We find in these verses another claim made by Christ
in where He says, “I AM”. This week we are studying when He said I am the True
Vine. Let’s get started because this is some good
stuff.
I. The Participants of the
Connection V. 1& 2 & 5
A. God the Father is the Vinedresser/Gardner- V. 1b
a)
It is He who plants
and cultivates the garden.
b)
It is He who decides
what to plant and where to plant it…
a.
One of the things I remember
about TC’s Mom and Dad was their garden. They worked so hard and planted
everything in its rightful place… They toiled and pruned and made a perfect
garden.
b.
They made a huge
investment and reaped veggies!
c)
It is God that does
this for you and I…
d)
It is He who invests
the time and treasure into this process.
e)
What I’m saying here
is this; It’s All about God!
f)
God the Father as
the Vine Dresser!
B. Jesus is the
True Vine and the source of life. V. 1a
a)
True means….that which has not only the name and
resemblance, but the real nature corresponding to the name, in every respect
corresponding to the idea signified by the name, real, true genuine
b)
It is literally the
opposite of a something counterfeit.
c)
The Claim made here
makes all the difference in the world. – Remember, He said, “I AM the Way, Truth & Life
d)
Jesus is saying, I
am not a substitute vine, not a fake vine, not a vine like any other. “I AM the
True Vine”!
Jesus said the Holy
Spirit was sent to comfort and guide. 5 "If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 "And I will pray
the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever -
17 "the Spirit of truth, whom the
world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know
Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
C. God’s People are the branches who are to bear fruit.
V. 2
a)
The Promise here is
that we will bear fruit if we abide in Him.
b)
The Possibility
exists that if we don’t abide in him, we will not bear fruit, and what happens
to branches that does not bear fruit? It is taken away, burnt or discarded…
c)
Another action given
in Preparation is this; Even when you are producing fruit, the Vinedresser may
purge and trim that branch so that it might produce even more fruit.
a.
Scary thought: We
are living right, doing what is commanded us….and in the midst of victories, we
are purged and tasked with an even bigger purpose.
b.
Most of us might
say, Hey, I’m producing fruit, so leave me alone and let me live in my comfort.
c.
But God says no….I want
more from you, out of you and for you!!! OUCH
d.
Let me say this: Pastor’s Point- In
love I will pass this along- some of you here today is in this field/place in
life. God expects more of you and today is the day to allow the purge to take
affect and be more, do more, give more, say more and get to the task!
So, you see the
participants in this process of connection that includes God as the
Vinedresser, Jesus as the true vine and we as the branches.
II. The Purpose of the Connection.
V. 4 & 5
A. Life on the Vine
(called many things-like the Christian walk, or journey and many others) BUT,
for our purpose today Life on the Vine----
produces a God-Glorifying spiritual life which produces fruit. How?
a)
Through Abiding. V.
4a (Abide is a root word meaning to remain, not to depart.)
b)
So the question then
is this; How do we abide in Christ?
1)
Connection- A
branch is connected to the vine, and a vine to the branch. This is what
theologians frequently describe as “union with Christ.” Notice that this
connection, this union, is mutual. We abide in him and he abides in us (v. 4). If there is no connection, there is no life, no fruit.
2)
Dependence- Abiding also implies dependence. This aspect of
abiding, unlike connection, is not reciprocal. The branch is dependent on the
vine, but the vine is not dependent on the branch. The branch derives its life
and power from the vine. Without the vine, the branch is useless, lifeless,
powerless. Sap flows from the vine to the branch, supplying it with water,
minerals, and nutrients that make it grow. As believers we receive the “sap” of
Christ’s grace through our life-giving connection to him. We are completely dependent upon Jesus for everything that counts
as spiritual fruit (v. 4). Apart from him, we can do nothing (v. 5). Connection-
Dependence
3)
Continuance- This shows us that another aspect of abiding in Jesus is remaining in Jesus. This simply
means that we go on trusting, that we keep on depending, that we never stop
believing. To abide in Jesus is to persevere in Jesus and his teaching. This is
what Jesus is talking about in John 8:31-32, when he says, “If you abide in my
word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth
will set you free.
4)
In summary, to abide in the vine means to be united to Jesus (connection), to rely on Jesus (dependence), and to remain in Jesus (continuance). Brian
Hedges/Christianity.com
5)
Keep in mind that
this is not a step by step but rather all three done at once..This is the purpose of the Connection!
III. The Promise of the
Connection V. 7-8
A.
The
Requirements- Abiding in Him and He in us!
B. The Results (Because we are abiding)
a. V.
2 Purged to bear more fruit.(we’ve already mentioned that)
b. V.
3 Cleansing
c. V.
6 Saved
d. V.
7 Intersession
e. V.
8 Glorifying God
f. Honestly,
the list can go on and on!!!!!!
C.
Relationship-
a. Abiding will be
fruitful: Your life takes on the character of the vine.
b. Abiding means
loving like Christ loves.
c. Abiding results in obedience.
d. Abiding brings JOY.- Verse 11 These
things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
e. JOY can only be found in Abiding with Christ!
Conclusion:
V We’ve looked at the participants
found in the connection
o
The Father- Vinedresser or gardener
o
Jesus is the Vine
o
We are the Branches.
V We’ve looked at the Purpose
o
To abide and connect
V We’ve looked at the Promise
o
That is found in the results and through
our relationship.
1. Abiding in Christ will cause us to bear fruit.
2. Abiding in Christ will cause us to be successful.
3. Abiding in Christ will cause us to have joy.
The Last Thing! You can be three things in life:
V Fruitful
V Just hanging on
V Dead
The Question this morning is this; Which one are you?
Monday, June 5, 2017
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