Week 2 - JESUS-JOINED
REVIEW
How did praying this prayer go for you last week?
GO with Jesus
Lord, how can I join You in mission to those around me?
Did anything stand out to you from last week’s follow-up Bible readings?
Our mission is to Join Jesus in making disciples of those around us by living a Prayer > Care > Share > Dare lifestyle.
JOIN JESUS
Jesus calls us to partner with Him in the mission of making disciples.
And now …
JESUS-JOINED
Only as we remain in Jesus can we bear the fruit of making disciples.
DISCOVER
Ask God to speak to you as you read His Word.
John 15:1-17 (NIV)
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
Have someone retell this passage in their own words. Just the highlights will do.
What stands out to you in this passage?
What does this passage say about God (The Father, His Son Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit)?
What does this passage say about people, including ourselves?
What does this passage say about the life God invites us to live?
Digging Deeper
Does a branch bear fruit to remain in the vine? Or does a branch remain in the vine to bear fruit? What’s the difference?
What does it mean to remain in Jesus?
What fruit is Jesus talking about?
The Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
How would you describe this fruit? How do these fruit describe the character of Jesus?
Why must we remain in Jesus to bear this fruit?
Which fruit in particular do you need the Spirit’s help (and your group’s encouragement) to mature in?
How would this fruit help your witness for Jesus?
What happens to our witness if we don’t bear the fruit of the Spirit?
The Fruit of Disciples
John 4:35-36 (NLT)
35 You know the saying, “Four months between planting and harvest.” But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. 36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!”
How would you describe this fruit?
Why must we remain in Jesus to bear this fruit?
Father-Joined
John 15:9-10 (NIV)
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
Why did Jesus need to stay joined with His Father?
How did Jesus stay joined with His Father?
Jesus-Joined
John 15:5 (NIV)
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Why is our first mission priority to stay joined with Jesus? Are you?
What has helped you most to stay joined with Jesus?
LIVE
In our follow-up Bible readings, you were introduced to the Daily Connect connection prompts.
How have they helped you to stay relationally connected to Jesus?
Keep practicing the Daily Connect for the purpose of living a missional life for Jesus. Once again, especially focus on:
GO with Jesus
Lord, how can I join You in mission to those around me?
Next Meeting
When will we meet again?
Who will facilitate that meeting?
Pray for God’s help as you seek to join Jesus in mission this coming week.
Follow-Up Bible Readings
After each group meeting, there will be 3 Bible readings to help you dig a bit deeper into what we have discussed. Here are the Bible passages you are encouraged to read this coming week: