Jesus Christ is the Vine and His Father is the Vinedresser; we are the branches, subject to trimming and pruning in order that we bear abundant fruit.

Three factors are necessary for successful grafting: (1) compatibility, (2) alignment and pressure, and (3) proper care of the joint site.

Dr. Bruce Wilkinson explains that 'takes away' should be more properly rendered 'takes up,' meaning new grape vines are lifted out of the dirt.

John 15:2 seems to say the Vinedresser cuts off every barren branch, but the Greek behind 'takes away' shows God doing something else: He lifts up.

The Branch is a well-known Old Testament prophetic figure, identified as the Messiah by most people. Yet, is there more to it than that? What does it mean to us?

We tend to avoid acknowledging our weaknesses, but at some point, each of us will admit our powerlessness and inability to carry out God's will on our own.

Jesus takes away unproductive branches and prunes productive ones. Both actions involve cutting, but the reasons for and the results of God's cutting are different.

Horticulture is not so easy as merely planting a seed and watching it grow. Tending and keeping implies continually watering, fertilizing, and cultivating.

Trees provide living illustrations of godly behavior that will prepare Christians to partake of the Tree of Life in God's Kingdom.

Our Heavenly Father, the Vine Dresser, has provided His junior partners some valuable tools to assist in pruning and cultivating His emerging spiritual crop.

Magic is always used as some kind of weapon, but not to build or develop moral strength or character. God chooses a life-long process of sanctification.

The Book of Hebrews is a must-read for all members of God's church who seek the key for spiritual growth through a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ.

Government may be the most important subject in the Bible because it touches on how Christians are to govern themselves under the sovereignty of God.

In Christ's vine and branch analogy, Jesus presents Himself as the true or genuine Vine, as contrasted to the unfaithful vine (ancient Israel).

The leadership of a father and a husband has a profound influence upon family, society, and culture, especially regarding unity.

If we know God, we no longer have the feeling that God is against us; we have no dread of God, but instead have awe and respect; we know that God loves us.

Jesus as High Priest was blessing His disciples with peace, as well as declaring Himself to be the Messiah. If we lack peace, we must examine our connection to Him.

God personally communicated with Adam, Eve, Abraham, Moses, the prophets, and to us through His Son. With the Scriptures, God teaches His faithful today.

Fruit is a product of growth requiring knowledge, work, patience, truth (light) and water (God's Spirit). Only by remaining on the vine will we bear fruit.

Jesus encouraged His disciples by promising to send the Holy Spirit to empower them for the challenges of the Christian life, making us sensitive to God.

Briars, thistles, thorns, and weeds are visible emblems of sin or its consequences, which we must pull up by the roots for the balance of our physical life.

Works demonstrate our faith, our response to God's calling and His freely given grace. Reciprocity is always a part of our relationship with God.

As Christ sacrificed for us, we are called to sacrifice for others. Love is an action, a behavior, rather than an emotion, described in I Corinthians 13.

The offerings have a great deal to do with our relationship with God. How closely do we identify with Christ? Are we being transformed into His image?

Unless our primary relationship is with God, positive relationships with our brethren will be impossible and we will feel alone in our spiritual battles.

To be made clean only prepares us for producing fruit. If we stand still, simply resting on our justification, the dark forces will pull us backwards.

Paul's body analogy illustrates the interconnectedness of all members to Jesus Christ and to each other. Not one is unimportant or useless.

Our children internalize our values; we teach largely by example. If we do not take seriously the responsibility for rearing our children, somebody else will.

Despite the privileged position of our calling, God does not cut us any slack in terms of trials and tests to perfect us. We must accept God's sovereignty.

Neglecting to feed the flock has been detrimental to preaching the gospel to the world. Because of neglect, members succumb to feeling insignificant.

Because judgment is now on the house of God, we must be diligent, making sure of our calling because it is not yet a sure thing without effort on our part.