Ecclesiastes 1

[1] The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

[2] Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

[3] What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?

[4] A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.

[5] The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises.

[6] The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns.

[7] All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again.

[8] All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

[9] What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.

[10] Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us.

[11] There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after.

[12] I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

[13] And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.

[14] I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

[15] What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.

[16] I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”

[17] And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.

[18] For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. (ESV)

On His way to the cross Jesus gives His disciples a “farewell address” which includes one final metaphor to communicate what life will be like after His ascension back to Heaven –– the Vine and the branches. Abiding in the vine is essential to living a fruitful life as a Christian, but how do we do that in our cultural moment? We will answer that question by first asking the question, “What am I Becoming?”

John 15:1–17

[1] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.

[2] Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

[3] Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.

[4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

[5] I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

[6] If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

[7] If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

[8] By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

[9] As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

[10] If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

[11] These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

[12] “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

[13] Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

[14] You are my friends if you do what I command you.

[15] No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

[16] You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

[17] These things I command you, so that you will love one another. (ESV)

Genesis 3:14–15

[14] The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.

[15] I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (ESV)

Revelation 21:1–4

[1] Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

[2] And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

[3] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

[4] He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (ESV)

Luke 24:44–49

[44] Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

[45] Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

[46] and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,

[47] and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

[48] You are witnesses of these things.

[49] And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (ESV)

Colossians 2:1–3

[1] For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face,

[2] that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ,

[3] in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (ESV)

Matthew 22:34–40

[34] But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.

[35] And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.

[36] “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”

[37] And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

[38] This is the great and first commandment.

[39] And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

[40] On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (ESV)

John 1:1–18

[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

[2] He was in the beginning with God.

[3] All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

[4] In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

[5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

[6] There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

[7] He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.

[8] He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

[9] The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

[10] He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

[11] He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

[12] But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

[13] who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

[14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

[15] (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”)

[16] For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

[17] For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

[18] No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. (ESV)

Genesis 1:1–2

[1] In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

[2] The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (ESV)

Proverbs 3:1–12

[1] My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,

[2] for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.

[3] Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.

[4] So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.

[5] Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

[6] In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

[7] Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.

[8] It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

[9] Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;

[10] then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

[11] My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof,

[12] for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. (ESV)