Abide in My Love

Thursday, January 8, 2015
John 15:1-11 KJV 

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and [that] your joy might be full.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) How does our Lord identify Himself and the Father? (v.1)
2) What will happen too every branch that is barren of fruit? What happens to the fruitful branches? (v.2)
3) How are we cleansed? (v.3)
4) Why does the Lord tell us to abide in Him? (v.4-5)
5) What happens to those who do not abide in Christ? (v.6)
6) What happens to those who abide in Christ? (v.7)
7) How is the Father glorified? (v.8)
8) How do we continue (remain) in the love of Christ? (v.9-10)
9) Why has the Lord taught us about the importance of abiding in Him? (v.11)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
10) Do you abide in Christ continually? If not, why not.
11) How do you know that you are abiding in Christ?
12) Have you ever been pruned? If so, how do you know.

LIFE LESSONS
12) Continual abiding, or remaining, in the love of Christ, glorifies the Father.
13) Belivers abide, or live in Christ, as we allow His word to remain in us.
14) Pruning is a process that is painful, but necessary, for the believer to bear more spiritual fruit.