John 15:1-8

Are you a limb or a stick? Phil Ware continues his I AM series from the Gospel of John by talking about the vine and the branches and being fruitful by remaining or abiding or staying connected to Jesus.

"[Jesus continued, "The Father] cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will..."

"[Jesus said,] "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. This is to....."

"[Jesus continued,] "Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be..."

"[Jesus continued,] "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be..."

Jesus > You + X (all your dos) + Y (all your dont's)! Jordan Harrell helps us understand what Jesus meant when what matters is in our hearts!

"Dear Friend, Before I ascended to the Father, I promised My disciples that I would send the Spirit. I promised I would pour out the Spirit on people...."

"[Jesus continued,] "I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.""

"How did you begin to bear fruit? It was when you came to Jesus and cast yourselves on his great atonement, and rested on his finished righteousness......"

"Communion with Christ is a certain cure for every ill. Whether it be the wormwood of woe, or the cloying surfeit of earthly delight, close fellowship...."

"[Jesus continued,] "When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.""

e-card of John 15:5 - I am the vine; you are the branches.

What's growing in your personal flower beds? God is the master gardener and works in our lives to get rid of what is dead and overgrown.

"Dear Friend, There are many voices that call out to you and seek to win your heart. There are many distractions in your busy and high-tech culture..."

How productive are you going to be in your walk with the Lord? We must remain connected to Jesus if we are going to bear fruit in the Lord.

It's not just true of our hair! Jesus words make us clean, squeaky clean just like our hair is when it is clean.

What are you connected to the most? We are connected to our iPhones, iPads, iTouch, iTunes, iMac, iChat, but have we lost the connection to the I AM?

How big is God in your daily world? God is so big that he is greater than heart and can help us overcome the daily grind in all its mundane sameness.