The Pruned Life

This week explores the pruning work of God necessary for fruitfulness in our lives. (John 15:2, 6; Psalm 1:4)

Sermon Outline

“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.” (John 15:2)

Pruning as Cleansing for Fruitfulness

• The word means cut “clean” and implies healing
• Jesus’ word is the pruning tool that cuts clean
• What about the branches that don’t bear fruit?
• Pruning’s purpose is to bring greater life and fruitfulness

Three Types of Pruning

• Pruning related to sin
• Pruning related to service
• Pruning related to circumstances

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What is your favorite flower, plant, or tree? Why?
2. This week we continue our Lenten preaching series, “The Tree and the Vine,” based in the Psalm 1 and John 15. Whether you are on your own or with others, begin your study in prayer, asking God to speak to you, and then read John 15:1-17 aloud.
3. Today we’re going to focus on Jesus’ words in verse 2 related to pruning. Read that verse aloud again. Why does Jesus say God brings pruning into our lives?
4. The verb used for “prune” has the literal sense of cutting something cleanly, deriving from a root word which means “clean” or “pure.” How might this add to our sense of the meaning of the pruning Jesus describes here?
5. When have you experienced pruning in your own life with God? What happened?
6. Is there any sense you have now of needing God’s pruning in your life?
7. One concern with this passage is whether there is a way to “lose one’s salvation” based on what we read about cutting off branches (vs 2) and branches thrown into the fire (vs 6). What do you think Jesus is really trying to address in these verses within the metaphor of the vine and the branches?
8. Now return to Psalm 1 and read it aloud. In this psalm’s description of two different ways of living, what would you say makes the difference in the two ways? More specifically, what does God do and what do we do?
9. What is God speaking to you through this study? If you are with a small group, discuss that with one another and then pray about what you shared. If you are on your own, write it down, pray about it, and share this with someone during the next few days.