I AM the Vine – Study Questions

I AM the Vine – Study Questions
–John 15:1-17
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Introduction: Jesus uses the metaphor of a vine and its branches to explain the relationship between Himself (the true vine), His disciples (the branches), and His Father (the vineyard keeper). He emphasizes the necessity of abiding in Him to bear fruit.
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I AM the True Vine. –John 15:1-3

• What is the “true” vine in comparison to? Who or what is the “other” vine?
  * Israel is the “vine” in the OT –Isa 5:1-7; Ps 80:8-16
  * This is similar to Jesus as the “true” shepherd vs the false leaders of Israel(**see Good Shepherd study below)
• v1: How does Jesus being the True Vine shift the focus of the OT idea of Israel being the “vine”?
  EnduringWord: Jesus is the true vine. We must be rooted in Him (not in Israel) if we will bear fruit for God. In the New Covenant community, our first identification is in Jesus Christ Himself, not in Israel or even in the church as such.
  * Of the many pictures of the relationship between God and His people, the vine and branch picture emphasizes complete dependence and the need for constant connection. The branch depends on the vine even more than the sheep depends on the shepherd or the child depends on the father. As Jesus was about to depart from His disciples, this was important encouragement. He would remain united to them and they to Him as truly as branches are connected to the main vine.
• v1: How is the Father as the vinedresser encouraging?
  EnduringWord:  In the OT use of the vine as a picture of Israel, God the Father was also presented as the One who cultivated and managed the vine. God fulfills this role also for the believer under the New Covenant.
  *The New Covenant participant has relationship with both the Father and the Son; with both the vine itself and the vinedresser.
• v2: What 2 duties of the vinedresser are seen here?
  Taking away/cutting[142] off fruitless branches and pruning/cleansing[2508] fruitful branches.
• v3: What does You are clean already bring to mind? Why is pruning needed if you are clean already?
  =>Same reason Peter needs only his feet washed –John 13:1-17
  *Take Off Your Shoes

I AM the Vine and You are the Branches. –John 15:4-8

• v4-5: Abide in Me, and I in you: what does this say about your relationship with Christ?
  * It’s a mutual relationship
  * It’s a choice to abide in Christ and do things His way
  * Apart from Christ you can do nothing= no fruit
• v6-8: What is the price of not abiding? What is the reward of abiding?
  * Not abiding=death
  * Abiding=life, fruit, evidence of disciple bringing honor to the Father –Gal 2:20;Jn 14:23-24

Love and Joy Perfected. –John 15:9-17

• v9-11: What is the link between love and obedience?
  EnduringWord: Abide in My love: When the disciple stays connected to the love of Jesus the relationship stays strong.
  * It is when a one keeps Christ’s commandments that they abide in Christ’s love.
  * Those who abide in the love of Christ and obedience experience the fullness of joy that Jesus promised here, those who do not miss out on this joy.
• v12-15: How are we to love one another?
  * As Jesus loved us = lay down your life
  * His love is the source and measure of ours
• v16-17:  Why does Jesus “choose” disciples?
  * Chosen to bear fruit and to love one another
  EnduringWord: Jesus spoke of great privilege for the disciples – friendship with the Master, answered prayer, bearing much fruit, knowing things from the Father. The disciples should rightly treasure these without becoming proud as if they had earned them. They were all rooted in the fact that Jesus chose them, not that they chose Him. 
  * Jesus connected fruit bearing with answered prayer. When He departed from them their experience of asking and receiving would not end but would change, and Jesus prepared His disciples for this.

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Related:
Isaiah 5 – Bible Study{blog}
I AM the Good Shepherd – Bible Study{blog}
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Tags: I AM the Vine, I AM=Jesus' Invitation to Know Him, Jesus the True Vine, John 15:11, John 15:4-5, John I AM Bible Study