Focus on the Branches
1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every 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. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide 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. 5 I 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 15:1-5)
The last twelve months have been witness to a lot of changes at Grace Church.
We moved out of a shared space at Temple Emanu-El into our current home.
We successfully called our Senior Pastor, Benard.
We transitioned from an “interim” church structure to one firmly grounded in Biblical principles.
We brought on a new director for our Youth Ministry, Edie Smith.
We maintain a strong financial position to fund our future ministry growth.
These accomplishments resulted from the effort and talent of many. We are a stronger church because of it. And in the coming months we can focus on answering questions concerning our denomination direction and a more permanent home. I trust that the future of Grace Church is strong.
Not a bad year for our little church.
But view the above through the lens of Bernard’s sermon on Sunday from John 15. We can build upon the metaphor Jesus provides. If Christ is the True Vine, and we are the branches, then all the hard work and accomplishments above take a secondary role. It is all trellis, essential in supporting the branches, but the supporting structure does not produce fruit. Vineyards do not advertise or promote the quality of their trellises. Nor should our church.
So instead, look at the past year, not in terms of building out the trellis, but in finding where the branches produced fruit.
It is in our celebrating the first, of what I hope is many, baptisms of new a believer.
It is in our pouring out love and support for a sister suffering incomprehensible loss.
It is in watching a child reading about Christ to a group of toddlers sitting quietly around him.
It is in surrounding a sister in prayer as she battles a terrible disease.
It is in seeing the joyful cheer during meals we share and the solemn vulnerability in prayer meetings.
It is in hearing Bernard’s plea each Sunday to “those who have not yet accepted Christ”
It is in the faces of the women and children that eat and learn through Spirit-led mission.
This is the product of a church abiding in the Lord. His promise is that the joy and peace found in a Christian life, comes not through the trellis, but through the vine. It is sometimes easy to mistake the two, so I urge you to focus on the branches, your own and your fellow brothers and sisters. Let us maintain our focus in producing fruit by abiding in Him.
Thomas Goodrich