Consider the Word, April 29, 2021

Consider the Word, April 29, 2021
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Readings for May 2

• Acts 8:26-40
• Psalm 22:24-30
• 1 John 4:7-21
• John 15:1-8

 
Collect

Almighty God,

your Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.

Give us grace to love one another

and walk in the way of his commandments,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: John 15:1-8

Jesus said, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

 
Reflection Questions

1. What does it mean to “bear much fruit”?
2. Is it true that you can, “ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you”?
3. What does it mean for the church to live as the branches of Christ, the vine?

 
Closing Prayer

God,

you sent your Son into the world

that we might live through him.

May we abide in his risen life

so that we may bear the fruit of love for one another

and know the fullness of joy. Amen.

 
The Message: John 15:1-8

15 ^1-3 “I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.

⁴ “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.

^5-8 “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson