February 23, 2025

I AM The True Vine – John 15:1

Ice Breaker

1. Group activity: Regardless of your artistic ability, each group member draws a picture that illustrates what Jesus is saying in verses 1–6 and share it with the rest of the group.

2. Read John 15:1-17

Loving God Unreservedly

3. Why does Jesus call himself the vine and his followers the branches?

4. God the Father is the overseer and caretaker of the relationship between Jesus and his followers. How does He tend to the branches that bear fruit and to the branches that do not? (v. 2)

Loving People Sacrificially

5. What form does spiritual fruit take in the life of a believer? What fruit is evident in your life?

6. What did Jesus say the branches must do in order to bear fruit? (15:4)

7. In what way has God been removing “dead” or useless pieces from your character?

8. If the branch of a grapevine is cut off from the main vine, it quickly dries, crumbles, and turns into dust that blows away. How does that help us understand what Jesus said in verse 5, “Apart from me you can do nothing”? What do you think “do nothing” means?

9. During the sermon, the last point addressed the following question. How does intra-ecclesial parallel intra-Trinitarian love? (15:12-17)

Making Disciples Purposefully

10. In verses 9–11 Jesus said that he kept his Father’s commandments and remained in his love, and that his joy was complete. What is the connection between obedience, abiding, bearing fruit, and joy?

11. How does the question above help us share the good news through our lives to those who don’t believe in Jesus?

Dig Deeper (optional/personal study)

12. Research: Take time to study the following passages.

• Jesus linked himself to Israel’s traditional claim to be a vine or a vineyard (see Ps. 80:8–18; Is. 5:1–7; Jer. 2:21; Ezek. 15:1–5; 17:1–21; 19:10–14; Hos. 10:1–2;).
• Most of the other “I am” sayings in John’s Gospel are accompanied by an invitation to “come” to Jesus or “believe” in him (e.g., Jn. 6:35; 8:12; 10:9; 11:25–26; 14:6), but I am the vine is focused on those who have already come along with its corollary command to “abide in” him in whom they have believed. Take time to reflect on how this shapes your devotional life with the Lord.