Simplify – Discipleship
John 15:1-17
“Following Christ is a natural expression of new life at work in a convert”
Real Discipleship is a continued relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Biblical Discipleship involves being delivered from sin and transformed in mature believers.
Command: “Abide in Me”
To abide in Christ is to remain or continue or stay connected. Like a branch will die if not connected to the vine, we must stay, remain, abide in our relationship with Him.
Continue in my Word
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
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.
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.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
Continue to be Pruned
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.
Continue in Prayer
Two conditions are given for answered prayer: abiding in Jesus, and his words abiding in believers (thus transforming their thinking).[1]
Continue to Bear Fruit
Vs. 2, 8, 16
“God expects every believer to be a mature, reproducing disciple” – Bill Hull
Continue to Walk in Obedience
Continue to Love Others
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
You will experience
Joy
Answered Prayer
Bringing Glory to God
Much Fruit
[1] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2054.