Preached July 13, 2008
by Pastor Steve Tompkins

Painting by Stuart Roper (click image to go to website)

In the second part to this two part series, Pastor Steve uses John 15:8 “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” as a base text and looks at what it means to bear fruit as a Disciple of Jesus. He addresses many of the concerns we have over our daily circumstances and shows us from scripture that we should expect and be prepared for ‘fiery trials’ to come upon us. He also shows from scripture that the Christian response that bears good fruit is to ‘go deep’ into abiding in Christ when tough times come and to avoid bitterness, blame-shifting, and the naturally sinful responses of hearts.

Glory, Joy, and Living as Disciples for Jesus – Part 2

preached by Pastor Steve Tompkins | July 6, 2008

Listen right here by clicking the play button above. You can also listen to the audio in another browser by clicking here or right click and “save as” to download the mp3.

Below I’ve posted all of the scripture, definitions, and quotes that Pastor Steve referenced during this powerful sermon. As I did last week, I would highly recommend going back through all of this scripture on your own as a Bible study, as it makes for a wonderful devotion time. Looking back through all of these verses…I can’t help but think “how on earth did he keep this sermon under 60 minutes?!”

John 15:1-8
1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2Every 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. 3Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John 15:3-5
3Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:7-8
7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

What is fruit?

Spiritual fruit is the result of supernatural change that comes from being vitally, organically connected to Jesus Christ. This change takes place in the heart, and then pours itself out into all areas of our life (words, thoughts, deeds). This supernatural change includes victory over sin, moving from unloving to loving, despairing to joyful, anxious to full of peace, impatient to patient, angry to kind, all in increasing measure.

2 Peter 1:3-4
3His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Romans 6:20-23
20For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 7:4-6
4Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

Galatians 5:22-23
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

John 15:11
11These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

In verse 2: Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away . . .
In verse 5: Apart from me you can do nothing.
Verse 6: If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

1 John 2:19
19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

John 12:32-33
32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

2 Peter 1:8-10
8For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

John 15:2
2Every 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.

1 Peter 1:6-7
6In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:12-13
12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

Luke 22:31-32
31“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Romans 8:18
18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18
17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 4:16
16So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

Romans 8:28-32
28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. 31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

2 Corinthians 4:7
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

John 15:8
8By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John 15:11
11These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

1 Peter 1:8-9
8Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.