John 15:1-25

Introduction

I love spy movies and TV shows. Something about clandestine operations always captures and holds my attention. So what are the elements of a good spy movie?

• We need a set of "good guys." In most movies this is some nation of collection of nation who are giving the spy their authority or power.
• We need some network of individuals. In good spy movies the spies almost always work with a larger group of people, their network or rolodex.
• We need a mission. What would a spy movie be without a worthwhile mission? Everybody knows that spies live to save the world from certain disaster.

Main Body

Point 1 (V 1-11)

As Christians, we need to find our strength in Christ.

The Vine (V. 1-9)

Verses 1 and 2

• In this seventh "I am" statement Christ declares Himself to be the true vine, a contrast with Isaiah 5:1-2 and Ezekiel 15:2-6
  • Now let me sing to my Well-beloved A song of my Beloved regarding His vineyard: My Well-beloved has a vineyard On a very fruitful hill. He dug it up and cleared out its stones, And planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, And also [b]made a winepress in it; So He expected it to bring forth good grapes, But it brought forth wild grapes.
  • 2 “Son of man, how is the wood of the vine better than any other wood, the vine branch which is among the trees of the forest? 3 Is wood taken from it to make any object? Or can men make a peg from it to hang any vessel on? 4 Instead, it is thrown into the fire for fuel; the fire devours both ends of it, and its middle is burned. Is it useful for any work? 5 Indeed, when it was whole, no object could be made from it. How much less will it be useful for any work when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned? 6 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

The Incipiency of God's Love (V. 9-11)

Verse 10

• Verse 10 answers the question "How do we remain in the love of Jesus?" Remaining in Christ's love is not some theoretical abstract notion but a concrete lived obedience to Christ. However, we must be careful to keep cause and effect in their rightful order. Love is the cause and obedience is an effect. We do not obey in order to receive God's love, we obey because of God's love. Indeed, God's love frees us to be obedient
  • Romans 6:18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

Verse 11

• Christ completes this section with a final explanation, joy. Notice the order, God's love, our obedience, and full joy.

Summary

If we are to operate in the foreign land that is this world then we need to find our strength in Christ. Christ is the source of our love, power, and joy.

Point 2 (V 12-17)

As Christians, we need to find our alligience Christ's church.

Point 3 (V 18-25)

As Christians, we need to find out mission in the World.