1. What is your level of experience with gardening? What is your least favorite part of gardening . . . or what part of gardening do you find to be the most difficult?
Ask two people to read aloud John 15:1-20, 26-27, one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Then ask a third person to briefly summarize the passage.
2. In verse 3, Jesus says believers are already clean because of the word he has spoken to them. What does “cleanliness” signify in this context?
• How does experiencing God’s forgiveness and the knowledge that you are “clean” impact your relationship with Jesus and your ability to bear fruit?
3. How can we abide in Jesus and have him abide in us?
• What specific steps can you take to nurture and deepen your connection with Jesus?
4. Can you think of a time when you experienced God’s loving discipline or pruning in your life? How did it help you grow?
5. How does Jesus calling his disciples friends instead of servants change the way you view your relationship with him?
6. What does it mean to love one another as Jesus has loved us?
• How does keeping Jesus’ commandments relate to remaining in his love?
7. Jesus helped his Father God to create the world, and yet the world hates him. The world also hates people who follow Jesus. How did we get to this point?
8. Why is it so difficult (yet important) to be—as the saying goes—“in the world but not of the world”?
9. As best you can, describe how the “Advocate . . . the spirit of Truth,” whom God ultimately sends to Jesus’ disciples, testifies to them about Jesus.
10. In what area of your life would you like to see more spiritual growth or fruit? Take positive steps toward growth and being more fruitful this coming week.
For Next Week: Read and reflect on John 1:35, 40-50; 2:1-11 as we begin the unit “John (Part 3)” with the theme, “Believe.” You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.
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