Notes
We desire to know who God is and learn who we are in Him so we can live it out. Before we came to know Jesus we had no purpose; we were empty and going in the wrong direction. But Jesus sets us straight. With Him we are not only forgiven, but given new life and new purpose as image bearers - people who reflect who God is.
In John 15, Jesus talked about how to fill up on the right things so that we can produce fruit - so we do the good things we are created to do. Producing causes joy, and that joy will be contagious! Here are three things we need to do so that we can produce much fruit:
1) Remove
Pruning means making room for new growth. Getting the right things in our lives requires that we take inventory of what is already in our lives. We need to make room for what God wants to instill in us, and that means removing whatever is keeping us from producing.
2) Remain
Remain connected to the source. To produce fruit and experience joy, we must stay in the game, not quitting or giving up but instead doing the work God has set before us to do. When we remain connected to God, we will overflow with His goodness, joy, and kindness. We will be a city on a hill that changes the world around us.
3) Reflect
If we are going to do the good things God created us to do, we must reflect God’s love. We typically express love the way it has been expressed to us; if we haven’t experienced God’s love, we can’t reflect it.
Jesus expressed love with a purpose, so that people would believe. He expresses love because of who He is, regardless of who we are, what we’re doing, or what we’ve done. He loves each person, no matter what. To do the good things we were created to do, we need to experience this unconditional love so that we can pour it out.
Group Questions
- What does it mean to you that we are God’s masterpiece, created to do good things?
- How can you take inventory of your life to identify what needs to be pruned for new growth?
- Why is it important to remain connected to Jesus to produce fruit in your life?
- How can reflecting God’s love impact those around you and help you fulfill your purpose?
Prayer
Thank you for Valorous Church and everything you have blessed us with. As we enter this new season in the life of our church, help us to seek your Kingdom above all else and produce much fruit as we do what you have created us to do.