Introduction
This is a particularly difficult week to be the kind of Christian we’re seeking to be at Vine & Branch. Honestly the text we have for this week helps explain and reframe much of what we are all experiencing. That’s not to say it’s easy to digest. The language used in modern translations seems to justify exclusion and oppression of certain groups. The specific instructions could seem terse and absolute, leaving little room for nuance or compassion (and man, if there is anything we need more of right now it’s nuance and compassion)… But when we are diligent to remember what we emphasized last week, how we frame the text and the lenses we use to understand it, well, I think we can come out with something encouraging. Daunting? Yes… but encouraging nonetheless.
So let’s dig in y’all and see what we can find.
Grace and peace y’all,
John Ray and the teaching team
Text:
A Confession from John 15 (the message)
Reader: Jesus declared he is the Real Vine and his Father is the Farmer, that every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. That if we live in him -make our home in him just as He does in us, the harvest is sure to be abundant.
Everyone: Jesus we make our home in you and you make yours in us. Make this Church good soil for the Vine to take root and the branches to bear fruit.
Reader: Jesus told us the tree will be judged by the fruit.
Everyone: Give us hands to tend the soil, hearts to endure the pruning and ears to hear the song that gives us hope.
Lord’s Prayer
Christ, who taught us to pray saying:
Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who’ve sinned against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory forever. Amen.
