May 12, 1999

FAMILY BIBLE SERIES:
Jesus enables his disciples
to be useful Christians
___ John 15:1-17
___By Thomas Lea
___Southwestern Seminary
___I was almost out of gas, but I hoped to get to my destination and back home before needing to fill my gas tank. As I drove along a busy highway about two miles from my destination, I pressed the accelerator of the car. Nothing happened! I was out of gas. Fortunately, I coasted into a service station and filled my tank with energy-providing gasoline. The gas provided energy to keep my car running.
___Christians need a source of power in living the Christian life. Our lesson this week reminds us that Jesus enables his disciples to become useful Christians.
___ The source: Jesus (John 15:1-3). Jesus saw an analogy between the production of grapes and living the Christian life. He identified himself as the vine. Believers must be vitally linked to him in order to bear good quality fruit.
___Jesus designated God the Father as the gardener. God exercises care in dealing with human beings. He uses incidents in our lives to remove useless practices from his people and to discipline the lives of believers for fruitful actions.
___Jesus' disciples were already "clean" through their connection with him. Because their cleanliness was not perfection, Jesus pointed out that God's word, properly applied, removed evil from the lives of Christians and prepared them for useful service.
___ The method: Abide (John 15:4-8). Christians become fruitful for Jesus by abiding in him. This act of abiding demands a constant union with Jesus for guidance and strength. Those who abide in Jesus can produce some of the spiritual fruit outlined as the "fruit of the Spirit" in Galatians 5:22-23. Failure to abide in him leads to a rejection from useful service. Jesus' words in verse 6 do not describe Christians who become lost but believers who become fruitless disciples.
___How do we abide in Jesus? This action demands commitment to him expressed in Bible study, prayer, ministry to others and the sharing of our faith.
___ The ethic: Love (John 15:9-17). Jesus linked love with three actions. First, he pointed out that love for him was the key to relating to him (v. 10). Those who remained in his love would experience a fullness of joy (v. 11).
___Second, love provided the key for relationships among the disciples. This love would produce unity, trust and care for one another instead of rivalry, suspicion and self-centered living (vv. 12-13).
___Third, he stated that love for him was the motivating force behind obeying him (v. 14). Those who loved him would experience joy. That love for him prompted the obedience which produced the joy.
___Following Jesus will produce people who love God supremely and who show this compassion by loving their neighbors more than they love themselves (Matthew 22:37-39). Living this abundant life demands a power which only Jesus can provide. How can you use Jesus' power to become a more productive Christian?

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