Wesley Word – March 16, 2022

Carolyn Lemaster   -   March 15, 2022

To go along with service on: Sunday, March 20, 2022 

Experiencing Grace

Exploring Truth

Famous Last Words: I Am The Vine

John 15:1-25

We are continuing our Lenten series… Famous Last Words: Jesus’ Farewell Discourse in the Gospel of John. This week, we begin chapter 15, where Jesus tells us that he is the vine.

Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit without being connected with the vine, the source of life and power, so we cannot bear spiritual fruit without remaining connected to Jesus. We connect with Jesus through the Holy Spirit, through the Word, and through the Church.

Jesus says the Father is the gardener. The Father cuts off all of the branches that do not bear fruit. The branches that do bear fruit, the Father prunes, so they can bear even more fruit. Pruning is the process of trimming unproductive shoots so they do not take up resources from the productive branch. The Father wants to trim back all of the sin and distraction in our lives that keep us from being as fruitful as we can be.

Another reason we have to stay connected to the vine is so that we can endure the persecution that Jesus warns us is to come. Jesus gives us the power we need to endure hardship and be fruitful for him.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

  1. How am I staying connected to Jesus?
  2. What does the Father need to prune from me to make me more fruitful?

New Testament in a Year: https://wesleyonline.org/biblereading/

  • March 16    Luke 2:1-35
  • March 17    Luke 2:36-52
  • March 18    Luke 3:1-22
  • March 19    Luke 3:23-38
  • March 20    Luke 4:1-30
  • March 21    Luke 4:31-5:11
  • March 22    Luke 5:12-28
  • March 23    Luke 5:29-6:11

Expressing Love: Family/Mission Activity

Have a bunch of grapes and a box of raisins. Show the box of raisins first and ask what they are, where they came from (dried grapes). How would they look if they were still connected to the grapevine? (like grapes) Why do grapes look so different from when they are connected to the vine vs. not? (They can’t get the water/nutrients they need anymore) Jesus calls himself the vine and we are the branches. If we stay connected to Jesus, through His Holy Spirit, the Bible, and Church, we can be full and healthy like the grape. If we don’t stay connected, we’ll start to shrivel up like the raisins. Jesus is our life source.

Announcements:

  • No WOW this week for Spring Break
  • Early Bird WOW, March 16, 11 am
    • Power Up with Protein (presentation and meal healthy meal to follow. Please RSVP by calling the church office, if you have not already signed up.)
  • Wesley Scholarship applications are now available on the table in front of the office. Completed applications are due April 1.