WEEK 36.7 Discussion questions below.

Episode Summary

In this Week 36 Explore episode, Nick and Jamie look into Jesus's seventh and final "I Am" statement from John 15:1-15, where he declares himself the "true vine." They explore how this metaphor connects to Old Testament imagery of Israel as God's vineyard, unpack the Father's role as the vine grower who lifts up struggling vines and prunes fruitful ones, and examine the crucial concept of "abiding" that appears 11 times in this chapter. The episode redefines fruit-bearing as character transformation rather than evangelistic success, emphasizes the communal nature of discipleship, and celebrates Jesus's revolutionary invitation to move from servants to friends.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Overview 

01:44 Exploring John 15: The True Vine 

02:30 The Key Command: Abide 

04:21 Setting the Scene: Jesus' Longest Speech 

07:03 The Old Testament Connection 

08:53 The Metaphor of the Vineyard 

10:02 Pruning for Greater Fruitfulness 

19:29 Bearing Fruit: Inner Character Transformation 

27:19 Abiding in Christ: Mutual Indwelling 

31:15 The Importance of Christian Community 

33:25 Understanding Spiritual Fruitfulness 

35:43 Interpreting Jesus' Teachings on Abiding 

38:47 Answered Prayer 

41:35 The Love Commandment and Joy 

48:11 Sacrificial Love in Everyday Life 

51:17 Friendship with Jesus 

55:12 Final Takeaways and Encouragement

Key Points

• Jesus as the True Vine/Vineyard: Building on Old Testament imagery where Israel was God's vine / vineyard, Jesus claims to be the "true Israel" in whom all God's purposes are fulfilled

• The Father as Vine Grower: Does two things: he "lifts up" (not removes) struggling vines to get better sunlight and air, and prunes fruitful vines for greater productivity

• Abiding as the Key: The word "abide" (meno) appears 11 times in this chapter and 33 times in John's gospel. It’s about remaining in Jesus' teachings and lifestyle, not just mystical connection

• Fruit as Character Transformation: Bearing fruit primarily means developing Christ-like character (fruit of the Spirit) rather than evangelistic converts or miraculous works

• From Servants to Friends: Jesus elevates disciples from blind obedience to partnership, sharing the Father's plans and purposes for world flourishing

Discussion Questions

• Redefining Fruit: The hosts argue that fruit-bearing is primarily about character transformation rather than evangelistic success. How might this shift change the way churches measure spiritual growth and effectiveness?

• Abiding Beyond Devotions: Jamie discusses how she used to think abiding meant "mystical quiet time" but now sees it as adopting Jesus' lifestyle. How do you balance spiritual practices with practical obedience in your understanding of abiding?

• Community and Abiding: The hosts emphasize that abiding has both personal and communal aspects. We are "many vines in the vineyard." How essential do you think Christian community is for spiritual growth, especially for those wounded by church experiences?

• God's Pruning: The episode discusses how God sometimes prunes good things to make room for great things. Can you think of times when losing something positive led to something better in your spiritual journey?

• Friendship with Jesus: Jesus calls his followers friends rather than servants, sharing the Father's plans rather than demanding blind obedience. How does this change your understanding of following Jesus and making decisions?

Connect With Us

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• Website: thewildway.ca
• Future Plans: Working toward building "parishes" of like-minded community for life together after the completion of this series