Introduction
So as much as I try and eschew sports metaphors, I’m going to throw this one out there. It’s common knowledge in coaching that the worst thing you can drill into a football player is “don’t fumble”. You would think this would be something good to remind a player, fumbles are bad and not fumbling is good. But when a player hears over and over again “don’t fumble” they tend to fixate on just that, to the exclusion of other things and – here’s the kicker – they often fumble more because of the anxiety the instruction instills. So let’s give Paul some credit for the instruction he offers this week, instead of the negative “don’ts” (which we must admit he does in other places) here it’s all about keeping your eye on the goal, on the why, and on the ultimate reason for all his actions. That’s some pretty good coaching. What else can we find in this text? (Hint, more sports metaphors – Paul’s, not mine).
Excited to dig in with y’all this week,
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.
