This message is Part 4 of the message series "I AM" by Pastor Chuck Bernal. In this message titled, "I AM The True Vine", Pastor Chuck discusses the lessons of the vineyard from John 15:1-11. Jesus uses the metaphor of the vineyard to talk about how we can produce God's fruit in our lives. Pastor Chuck explains what this passage really means, what fruit really is and our we can have a greater connection with Christ, the True Vine. This message was delivered at LifePointe Church in Crowley, TX on Sunday, March 5, 2017.

1. I AM
THE TRUE VINE

2. I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts
off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every
branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will bear
more fruit . . . Remain in me, as I also remain in you.

3. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the
vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in
me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from
me you can do nothing.

4. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is
thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up,
thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and
my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will
be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear
much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

5. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.
Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands,
you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my
Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told
you this so that my joy may be in you and that your
joy may be complete.

6. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved
you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s
life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I
command. I no longer call you servants, because a
servant does not know his master’s business.

7. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I
learned from my Father I have made known to you.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed
you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—
and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will
give you. This is my command: Love each other. (John
15:1-2, 4-17 – New International Version)

8. THE LESSON OF THE
VINEYARD
WE ALL MATTER TO GOD

9. VINEYARD TRUTH 1:
JESUS LOVES US!

10. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.
Now remain in my love . . .
Love each other as I have loved you.
(John 15:9 – New International Version)

11. VINEYARD TRUTH 2:
JESUS DIED FOR US!

12. Greater love has no one than this:
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
(John 15:13 – New International Version)

13. VINEYARD TRUTH 3:
JESUS CHOOSES US!

14. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you
so that you might go and bear fruit . . .
(John 15:16 – New International Version)

15. THE subjects in THE story

16. I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,
while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes . . .
(John 15:2 – New International Version)

17. True V I
BRAN
CH

18. JESU
Every christian

19. THE PURPOSE OF THE
VINEYARD
TO PRODUCE FRUIT

20. ”GOD-
LIKE”
FRUIT

21. GOOD
WORK
S
FRUIT

22. When the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this
kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
(Galatians 5:22-23 – Living Bible)

23. But also our people must learn to engage in good deeds for
necessary needs, so that their lives will be fruitful. (Titus
3:14 – Lexham English Bible)

24. We are God’s creation. He created us to belong to Christ
Jesus. Now we can do good works. Long ago God
prepared these works for us to do.
(Ephesians 2:10 – New International Reader’s Version)

25. WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF
FRUIT
IN YOUR LIFE?

26. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,
while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it
will bear more fruit . . . If you remain in me and I in you, you
will bear much fruit.
(John 15:2,5 – New International Version)

27. LEVEL 1:
NO FRUIT

28. LEVEL 2:
SOME FRUIT
LEVEL 1:
NO FRUIT

29. LEVEL 3:
MORE
FRUIT
LEVEL 1:
NO FRUIT
LEVEL 2:
SOME FRUIT

30. LEVEL 3:
MORE
FRUIT
LEVEL 1:
NO FRUIT
LEVEL 2:
SOME FRUIT
LEVEL 4:
MUCH
FRUIT

31. GOD’S GOAL FOR MY LIFE IS TO
PRODUCE
“MUCH FRUIT”

32. NO FRUIT
MUCH
FRUIT
MORE
FRUITSOME FRUIT

33. NO FRUIT
MUCH
FRUIT
MORE
FRUITSOME FRUIT
60% 25% 10% 5%

34. BEARING “MUCH FRUIT”
WHAT IS GOD’S PART?

35. I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,
while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes
so that it will be even more fruitful . . .
(John 15:1-2 – New International Version)

36. ”cuts off”
greek word: airo
“To lift up”

38. GOD THE GARDENER
RAISES US

39. HIS PLAN HAS A PURPOSE!

40. He raises the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy
from their misery . . . He gave himself for us to set us
free from every wrong and to cleanse us so that we
could be his special people who are enthusiastic
about doing good deeds.
(Psalm 113:7/Titus 2:14 – Good News Bible/International Standard Version)

41. I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,
while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes
so that it will be even more fruitful . . .
(John 15:1-2 – New International Version)

42. ”prunes”
greek word: kathairo
“To CLEANSE, TO remove what is
useless”

43. GOD THE GARDENER
REFINES US

44. our PaiN HAS A PURPOSE!

45. When punishment is happening, it never seems pleasant,
only painful. Later, though, it yields the peaceful fruit called
righteousness to everyone who has been trained by it.
(Hebrews 12:11 – Voice)

46. BEARING “MUCH FRUIT”
WHAT IS OUR PART?

47. Abide in Me, and I will abide in you. A branch
cannot bear fruit if it is disconnected from the vine, and
neither will you if you are not connected to Me. I am the
vine, and you are the branches. If you abide in Me
and I in you, you will bear great fruit.

48. Without Me, you will accomplish nothing . . .
Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part
of you. Then you can pray for whatever you want,
and your prayers will be answered.
(John 15:4-5, 7 – Voice/CEV)

49. ”ABIDE”
greek word: MENO
“To STAY, TO remAIN TRUE, TO
PERSEVERE”

50. THE BRANCH MUST STAY
CONNECTED TO THE VINE

51. THE WORD &
PRAYER

52. Let’s Pray