Crossing Huddle Week3 - Fall 2008

Week 3 Crossings Huddle Group Growing to be Like Jesus Why do you go to church? Have you ever know anyone who went to church for a while and then stopped attending? Why do you think that happened? Spiritual Growth – working together with God to develop a relationship w/ Him – getting to know God through Bible study, scripture, worship and serving others. Why does spiritual growth matter? What is something you have done lately that has helped you grow spiritually? • How did it help? Could you do it everyday”? Remember last week when we talked about someone we know who we thought has a close relationship with God… • Do you know how long they have been a follower of Christ? • How much effort do you think they have put into their spiritual growth? John 15: 1-8 - The Vine and the Branches 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. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4-Remain in me, and I will 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 a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6-If anyone does not remain in me, he is 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 given you. 8-This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. • • •

Why does Jesus call himself the vine? What does Jesus mean to tell us to live in Him (verse4)? What does it mean to bear fruit? Do you have any examples of this in your own life?

Why is John 15 “The Vine and the Branches” such a great parable? • By nature, we are barren and dry, except in so far as we draw near to Christ • As the branch draws nourishment from the vine, so should we draw spiritual nourishment from Christ • Having taken root in Christ, we are dressed & pruned by the Father AND all who have a living root in Christ are fruit-bearing • Christ removes the unfruitful branches, that they may be thrown in the fire & burned. • Without Christ, we CANNOT bear fruit. Apart from Him (the vine) , the branch withers. • There are NO Christ FOLLOWERS (disciples) who DO NOT bear fruit. How does spiritual growth help us to serve others? What is the connection? Daily Bible Readings Luke 6: 43-45 1 Peter 2: 2-3

Luke 6: 46-49 Psalm 119: 165

Mathew 5: 6