Weekly Tip #2 Spring 2017
Last week we looked at John 15:1-2
“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.”
We know that Jesus is the vine, who gives us nourishment and life. Now we see that God the Father is the vinedresser. God is the farmer who prunes the branches. The good news – we are the branches that He loves and gives life to. The bad news – He will prune us so that we will bear even more fruit for His glory and honor. God is in the work of making us even more usable and fruitful.
Pruning, according to Strong’s Greek dictionary is, “to prune trees and vines from useless shoots.
Like a vine cleansed by pruning and so fitted to bear fruit.” This means that God wants to cut away from us things that will hinder our walk and devotion to Him, and anything that would hinder our effectiveness in serving Him.
Our problem is that we don’t always recognize when God is doing things in our lives that only work to make us more fruitful. We fight against it and we let our flesh take over. In the middle of life’s challenges and disappointments, we should look up to Him and say, “God, I don’t know why this is happening, but I trust you.” That is a fruitful response.
Always Be Ready to Make a Defense of Your Faith
1 Peter 3:15-16 “… always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience…”
Each Fall, Spring, and Summer term, take the time to review, remind and repeat the training and message of the “Knowing God Personally” booklet. Anyone who is new to your ministry, or joined your ministry late last Fall, and even your veteran students, need a refresher on the foundations of the Gospel message.
You want everyone to master the message contained in the Knowing God Personally booklet. God is calling us to share the transforming message of Christ to everyone who will listen, in your ministry environment. Find those open doors and take them. Make this practice a weekly habit.
Here’s is the training at your finger tips:
Transitioning from doing a survey
Pointing towards the prayer to trust Christ, as the Spirit is moving
Keeping the door open for another time with the “Sometime” concept
Talk to you next week,
Ben with Cru