Sunday Sermon

Fruitful Hearers & Doers Ralph Crump February 27, 2005

Text: John 15:1-8

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 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.

“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. 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. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

I. Obeying the gospel of love

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:18-20

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. - Mark 16:15-16

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. - John. 14:15

II. Do you have the FAITH to come to Christ?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:28

1. Do you have the FAITH to become in Christ?

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - John 1:12

2. Do you have the FAITH to overcome in Christ?

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:13

3. Do you have the FAITH to triumph in Christ?

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. - Romans 8:37

4. Do you have the FAITH to bear much fruit for Christ?

This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. - John 15:8

III. Teaching for results

and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:20

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. - 2 Timothy 2:2

until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. - Ephesians 4:13

“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. - John 15:5

IV. Committed visiting

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. - James 1:27

I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ - Matthew 25:36

You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers, - 1 Corinthians 16:15

V. Devoted Bible Studies

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. - 2 Timothy 2:15

1. Follow Jesus

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. - I Peter 2:21

2. Spiritually strong in the Lord.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. - Ephesians 6:10

3. To make Christ preeminent

And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. - Colossians 1:18

4. Have the mind of Christ.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: - Philippians 2:5

VI. Pray fervently

Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years - James 5:17

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. - Acts 2:42

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. - Hebrews 4:16

VII. Bible Studies - IT’S VITAL IMPORTANCE!

“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”. - Proverbs 29:18

He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. - Acts 18:26

so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. - Isaiah 55:11

VIII. Restore Erring Brethren

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:1-2

My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. - James 5:19-20

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