Love God, Each Other, Our World (John 15)

Good morning. Peter, one of the pastors here. Welcome to Garden City. 

Today: How do people change? Most people would say they want to become a better person. More patient. More self-disciplined. More generous. More loving. Better friend, spouse, parent, etc. So every new year, people make resolutions. How many of you are keeping yours from this year – last quarter of 2025? 

-23% quit after the first week

-43% quit by the end of Jan.

-80% quit by mid-Feb.

-And by the end of the year, it’s depressingly sad.

So if you’re planning on starting afresh next year because this year is a loss, you might as well not even try next year either. JK. 

Why is it that year after year we consistently fail to change? 

Last week, we looked at Jn.14 about how we need a new power that is outside of ourselves – to help us – Holy Spirit. This morning, Jn. 15 as Jesus continues… Bibles. Turn. Screen. Begins…

1. Love God – John 15 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. 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. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

What does Jesus mean – We can’t do anything apart from him? It seems like there’s a lot I can do…. You can even be a really religious person who knows a lot about Jesus and does good things.

But can we really do anything that’s of the utmost importance? Of eternal value? We can’t even keep our simple NYRs. In context of what Jesus has been talking about – He’s saying you can’t do anything to change to love him, become like him and live like him, apart from him. 

Garden City – Why we talk so much about Jesus and the gospel – the good news of what Jesus has done for us. Because it doesn’t matter how great our strategy is, how great the talent, how much money we have, how many people we can gather. None of that matters. We can do nothing of any value apart from Jesus. 

So as a church, we prioritize Jesus and the gospel above all. And that will never change.

A. The branches are completely dependent on the vine for all its needs and its life. (v.4-5, 11) I’m not much of a horticulturalist or botanist – expert/student on gardening or plants…(Flowers – Dandelions?) Even I know – If the vine is good, the attached branches will be good and will bear fruit – the branches don’t have to worry.

Mt. 6 – God takes care of the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. How much more does he love us? So don’t worry about your needs. Seek God and the kingdom first because God loves you and will provide for you. You’re branches connected to a good and loving vine.

Waiting on God – Andrew Murray

Psalm 145:14-15 The Lord upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season.

Psalm 104 is a psalm about creation, and the words “These all wait for You” were used in reference to the animal world. Here we have a psalm about the kingdom of God, and the words “The eyes of all look expectantly to You” refer specifically to God’s saints, to all that fall and are bowed down. What the universe and the animals do unconsciously, God’s people are meant to do intelligently and voluntarily.

Jesus – Abide – remain in, make your home in. Not first a list of things to do for God. But receiving, believing, and abiding in God’s love for you and what he has already done for you. And resting in that. Where true joy is found – You are loved by the God of the universe, the one who made you, and placed his love on you – And it’s where true growth and change begins. Abiding in God’s love for you creates a love for God in you.

Abiding is a 2-way activity. The branch has to stay connected to the vine for the vine to supply but the branches also draw from the vine.  It’s fighting to abide, us pursuing growing in Jesus. So what does abiding look like? How do you stay attached to the vine for life? 

Bible, Prayer, God’s People – Yeah I know…I’ve heard it a thousand times. But do you really? Do you live like these are what’s keeping you attached to the vine? Most people, if honest, would say, I know, BUT I’m so busy…you might be so busy you forget to eat a meal, maybe two, but you don’t forget to breathe. After a certain time, whether for food or air your body says no more. Can’t go on like this. A branch cut off from the vine dies. 

And it’s good to consume Christian books, podcasts, and content but even those are supplements. Multivitamins. They can’t replace real food. 

–Word (v.7) – Not just some ancient irrelevant words – Living and active. Our very life. (Heb.4:12, Deut.32:47) 2Tim.3 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God (Adam) and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 

Have to be consuming it. Constantly. PJD – When life cuts you, you bleed the Word of God.

–Prayer (v.7) – Prayer is hard, I think, because we’ve reduced prayer to a self-centered activity. Where all we do is ask – which don’t get me wrong, is critically important. But when we do all the talking, we don’t actually give God an opportunity to speak to us. 

So here are two tips for prayer. 1) Start with Scripture. Abiding in God’s Word makes our prayer effective. Because God’s words come out in our prayers. We pray Scripture and his promises back to God. And then 2) Take some time to just sit quietly – to hear from God – to give room for God to speak to you. 3/9min routine – Read – 3mins, hear from God – 3mins, pray – 3mins.

–People – “I want to hear from God.” – Neglecting – Word, Prayer, People. How did God often speak to his people in the OT? Could’ve… Prophets – People – Who heard from God and delivered God’s Word to his people. NT – Jesus, Apostles. Church.

Our discipline/doing – Branches abiding in the vine. – Powerlines – The power is not in the lines but the source. The lines are just the vehicle that delivers the real power. 

If you want to change/grow, if you want to become more loving, patient, kind, –  you have to be dwelling in and drawing from Jesus, who is the perfect example of love, patience, kindness, goodness. We can’t become loving/good apart from the only one who is truly loving/good.

B. The vine determines the fruit the branches bear. (v.7) A mango tree doesn’t produce durian fruit. (That would be really sad.) The branch can’t say to the vine, I don’t like durian. I’d rather bear mangoes. They smell and taste better. Mangoes can be enjoyed in public spaces and hotels. They’re superior. (Not my opinion. Hypothetical convo.)

So Jesus’ followers are expected to become more and more like Jesus in character – Gal. 5 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And in action – loving and serving like Jesus – Because that’s the vine they are attached to. Not optional. 

If you have put your trust in Jesus as your Lord/God and Savior, your identity and mission are clear. – You’re a son and daughter of God in loving relationship with the Father. You’re a follower of Jesus, bearing his fruit, by the Spirit working in you. And so your mission – God’s mission. (Not how does God fit into my life.) Where does he want me to join what he’s already doing? Or what needs are not being met that God is wanting me to meet?

Israel – Wild vine/fruit. (Ps. 80:8-11, Isa. 5:1-7) Attached to the wrong vine. They forsook the one true God and ran after other gods. And being cut off from the true vine attached to other false vines – led to their devastation/destruction/death. 

The vine you’re attached to will determine the fruit you bear. 

Hardship or when someone wrongs you – Will show what vine you have attached to. (Someone cuts you off – sign language. – Forgiveness.)

What vine you’re attached to? – What are you consuming? What kind of fruit are you bearing? If your diet only consists of things of the world – that’s what you turn into. If your only intake is social media, entertainment, politics, etc. with some Bible on Sunday mornings – guess what kind of fruit you will produce. The fruit of the world. You’re going to think and become like the world. What you consume will come out. Not something else. (Vomit) 

Does what you’re consuming make you grow in your love for Jesus or does it help your heart grow more entangled to the things of this world. What I look at and watch – creates desire. Me: If I don’t know and I don’t see it, I don’t know to desire it! (Guitars) Prov. 27:20 20 …never satisfied are the eyes of man.

IDKAY, but I never feel closer to God after browsing the internet or binge watching. And whatever I’m watching/consuming is how I feel. Flying – Watch an action movie – makes me want to get up and fight somebody. Comedy – Laugh. Movie with kids – miss my kids. Romance – I never watch those. But if I did, I’m sure it’d make me miss my wife.

Matt. 6 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. 

Heb. 12 1 … let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

EOJ – Abiding Jesus – Changes you. Frees you from the grip of this world. Transforms you – Jesus.

C. The branches are expected to bear much fruit. (v.8) The branches don’t decide anything. Just do what they’re supposed to be doing – staying attached, being fed, being provided for, and then they bear fruit. It’s the expectation. If not, useless – cut off.

Now, you can have the appearance of bearing fruit – but if it doesn’t flow from your love for Jesus and abiding in him, you’re just stapling on (TK) – appearance. Not genuine. Tiring – Not natural. The only change that is lasting – heart change – loves Jesus.

Fruit: testimony to the world. I used to be…But God, not I fixed myself up, but God – … And so we prove to be Jesus’ disciples because we bear the fruit of Jesus’ redemption and restoration and – his works and greater works. 

Could people look at the way you love, the way to live, give your time, talent, and treasure and say yes, that person, they definitely love and follow Jesus? Not just with your mouth, but with your life.

Bearing fruit – Not about you, the branch. Not trying harder. Or I can’t. Your abiding – HS – produces the fruit.

D. God prunes the branches so they bear more fruit. (v.2) This one is tough. In God’s sovereignty, in his wisdom and his goodness, sometimes he takes away even good things for greater things. Personal and church level.

People I’d love to do ministry with and live with for the rest of my life. (Summit) God sends them somewhere else – cp/m – for the sake of advancing his kingdom there. (Us – KL)

We’re going to multiply and send out. We’re not going to hoard God’s resources to ourselves. We’re going to allow God to prune at Garden City as he sees fit, so there can be more fruit born for God’s glory through us. (Exciting things ahead.)

Love God – Abiding in God’s love for you creates a love for God in you. (None of what follows happens if you don’t get this.)

2. Love Each Other – 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

The fruit being born is for the blessing of others – the church. 

Think about fruit on a tree. Who is the fruit for? Not for the tree. If the fruit just stays attached to the branches, what happens? They rot and they stink. They’re not useful. The fruit is for others to enjoy.

So your growing in Christlikeness by being attached to the vine, yes, is certainly for yourself, but not only for yourself, but for the blessing of others. That is the fruit that is naturally born by becoming like Jesus – You love and serve others. You leverage what you have for their needs. You consider others more significant than yourself and you’re even willing to lay down your life for them – because that is the degree to which Christ loved you. You love as Jesus loved.

And here’s why you can give yourself away and be vulnerable like this to others. – Because Jesus calls you his friend. (v.14) Not that slave/servant is a derogatory term – Many – servant of God. Honorable title. Friend – Intimacy. Access. Jesus is the friend that sticks closer than a brother. (Prov.18:24) He’s always looking out for you. He’s got your back. He won’t let you down.

Loving one another – Hard. It’s easy to love people that are like us – because we love ourselves. People aren’t always easy to love when they’re different. – The disciples couldn’t be more different from one another. – Tax Collector, Fishermen, Political Zealot, a Traitor, some were in the inner circle, others were not, some tried to be above the rest, and some talked too much.

Jesus – Love one another as I have loved you – Which means, not because they are lovable/same, but because you/ve been loved when you were unlovable.

One of the beauties of the international church. There is a uniqueness of Garden City’s testimony to the world. – People from all walks of life, different nations, religious backgrounds, socio-economic status – testifying to the world that there is something greater that unites us than all our differences. There is something that bonds us together that runs deeper than even blood. – Love and blood of Jesus. 

3. Love Our World – 18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

The fruit being born is for the blessing of others – the world. 

Jesus – the world is not a fan of ours. Jesus – It’s not so much of a possibility as it is an expectation. If you are loved by the world – you fit right in – there’s something very wrong. Because we believe, and value and live differently from the world. – We’re of a different vine.

The world shouldn’t hate Christians because they’re – judgemental, hateful, prideful, self-righteous, etc.

We should not be a stumbling block in any way. Through our speech, our actions, our lives. We should give no excuse for anyone not to believe in Jesus because of us. – We don’t like Christians. But we can’t say it’s because they’re not loving, generous, kind, gracious, patient, honest. Without cause…

Only – Preach the gospel. Faithful to God’s Word. The gospel – Jesus is the true vine – is offensive – nothing else should be. Culturally aware. Sensitive. Winsome. Use our freedom – Become all things to all people for the sake of reaching all peoples.

We’re not of the world. But – sent into the world to be a witness. HS. v. 26-27. Have to be bearing fruit in this area. Is a fisherman who doesn’t fish a fisherman. No. Robert Coleman – A barren Christian is a contradiction. 

Why every service – You are loved. You are sent. Abide in Jesus’ love for you – bear fruit to bless the world by bearing witness to Jesus. 

Most of you are not called into ministry and that’s awesome! Because we need believers sent into all the places to be witnesses. 

% of KL is Christian? ~10mil. How many Christians do your non-Christian friends know – not counting you? How many have even had the opportunity to hear the gospel? Would they if you weren’t there? 

That’s why you’re there! Not just for a job, not just for a home, not just for an education, or gym, and wherever else you spend your time. You’ve been sent there to bear witness to Jesus. Won’t come naturally to you unless you truly understand…

The love of God – The Father is the vinedresser who cut off Jesus – He made him to be sin who knew no sin, to die for us in our place, so that we could become the righteousness of God. So we could be grafted back into the true vine for eternal life. V. 9 – You are loved by Jesus as he is loved by the Father. Perfectly. Fully.

Dwell/Abide – God’s love lavished on you will make your joy full. (v.11) Ultimate joy in Jesus. By abiding in the true vine it changes your heart to love God and become like him. It produces love for others in you. How real change happens. – Abiding in God’s Love – Love God. Love each other. Love our world.

Nonbeliever/EV: Bible – Everyone who is detached from Jesus, the true vine, is spiritually dead in their sins. Eph. 2:1. And branches that do not bear the fruit of being attached to Jesus – gathered up and burned. Very clear. There is no middle ground or I’m a good person. You’re either attached to Jesus the true vine or you’re cut off and dead in sin.

God offers you the free gift through his Son Jesus. Receive his love. Abide in it for life and joy.