Knowing God, Pt. 4: The Vine
Take Communion
Leader: Begin your gathering by taking communion together, whether as a full meal together or some version of the bread and the cup before or after your meal. If you don’t already have a Communion liturgy, read these words from Paul to the church in Philippi.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2v5-11)
Read This Overview Aloud Together
The first miracle of Jesus takes place at a wedding reception. The party nearly crashes to a halt when the wine runs out. But before it does, Jesus makes a bunch out of water. It’s kind of a weird first miracle, but fast forward to the last “I am” statement of Jesus. We find him declaring, “I am the vine.” As the disciples heard him say this, they would have thought back to that first miracle and realized that he was revealing that apprenticeship to him generates really, really good fruit, which goes on to produce what he calls “life to the full”.
In this extended metaphor, Jesus says that the Father is the Gardener and that those who apprentice him are the branches. As the Gardener, the Father prunes branches so that they can produce more fruit. He goes on to call us to abide in him, the way a branch abides in the vine – it stays so connected that it is almost indistinguishable where one ends and the other begins. Tonight, we want to have a conversation around the season each of us finds ourselves in and what invitations the Spirit might have in order to produce more fruit in us.
Do This Practice Tonight
At first glance, cutting off branches may appear to hinder growth, not help it. But God, the trustworthy Gardener, knows how to prune in a way that brings life. How does God do this work of transformation in us? By cutting off and pruning branches to shape us into who has made us to be – our true selves. God transforms the ordinary into something extraordinary; he takes our lives and infuses them with Kingdom power to bear fruit we wouldn’t be able to on our own. This week, we want to have a conversation about what kind of season each of us might be in, and to explore together what the good Gardener might be inviting us into.
For this discussion, let’s break up into groups 3 to 4, so that we can have more time to talk and pray for one another.
(Leader: Pause until everyone has found a group.)
As we listen to each other, let’s also practice listening to God on each other’s behalf. What might he be revealing to each of us about our current seasons and invitations? We want to explore with curiosity, compassion, and as much trust as we can muster. Let’s work through the following questions together, taking time to listen thoughtfully – not waiting to respond, but really being present to what is being shared. The overarching question is this: What kind of season are you currently in with the Gardener? And we’ll work through it in three parts:
Where does it seem like God may be cutting away branches? Is there something in your life that isn’t producing fruit or even hindering it?
If something comes to mind, don’t let your heart grow hard. If you feel like, perhaps even take some time to repent – which means to tell the truth and to turn away from the sin – and to ask for help.
Where does it seem like God may be pruning you? Perhaps you are feeling disappointed for something you really wanted and didn’t get. Maybe something in your life is revealing to you an invitation to growth.
If something comes to mind, the invitation is to trust him. What might the Gardener be making room for? Take some time to dream about the fruit he might be trying to bring to you through this pruning.
How are you sensing God inviting you to abide?
If something comes to mind, press into it. Explore how you might draw close to him through that invitation.
Read The Practice for the Week Ahead
This week, take a step forward into one of the invitations you sensed the Gardener extend to you. Is he inviting you to come into the light and allow a branch to be cut off? Is he inviting you to some kind of new growth as he prunes and recycles pain or disappointment in your life? Is he inviting you to abide in his love, as the goodness of his “life to the full” flows through you?
As we soon enter the season of Lent, a 40-day period in which we voluntarily abstain from good things in order to make more space for God, how might God be inviting you to make more space for him in your life? We prune back things like wine or dessert or social media or meat in order to turn our hearts towards Jesus and ask him for more. Consider spending time in our 24-7 prayer room or maybe trying the Daily Prayer Rhythm with us.
Whatever you do, big or small, practice making space for God in your life.
End in Prayer
Close your time together asking for God to continue to reveal himself to you all as the Vine and teaches you how to abide in him.