Bible Study Guide

Read; Read some Biblical Truths; Which one resonates most today? Why?

  1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart.

  2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

  3. Do unto others as you would have them do to you.

  4. Trust in the Lord with all your heart.

  5. Seek first the kingdom of God.

  6. Pray without ceasing.

  7. Be quick to listen, slow to speak.

  8. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

  9. The Lord is my shepherd.

  10. I can do all things through Christ.

  11. God is love.

  12. Walk by faith, not by sight.

  13. Let your light shine before others.

  14. Be holy as I am holy.

  15. Put on the full armor of God.

  16. Rejoice always.

  17. Give thanks in all circumstances.

  18. Love one another as I have loved you.

  19. Judge not, that you be not judged.

  20. Turn the other cheek.

  21. Go the extra mile.

  22. Store up treasures in heaven.

  23. Blessed are the peacemakers.

  24. The truth will set you free.

  25. Come to me, all who are weary.

  26. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

  27. Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.

  28. Children, obey your parents in the Lord.

  29. Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church.

  30. Let everything you do be done in love.

  31. Cast all your cares upon Him.

  32. Be strong and courageous.

John 15:1-11

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Overview; On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus used the image of a vine and branches to teach his disciples the secret of spiritual life. The central command is to “remain” (abide) in him. Two key truths stand out.

1. Connection with Christ is essential for any lasting fruitfulness; apart from him we can do nothing.
Fruitfulness (Christ-like character, effective service, and answered prayer) flows only from a living connection to Jesus. The Father prunes fruitful branches to make them more productive, while disconnected branches wither. Self-effort and mere religious activity cannot produce lasting results.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Where in your life right now are you most tempted to try producing “fruit” (results, growth, impact) apart from close dependence on Jesus? What does the vine metaphor reveal about why that approach ultimately fails?

  2. How have you personally experienced the Father’s pruning (painful but purposeful discipline or removal) in your life? What fruit has it produced?

2. Abiding in Christ’s love through obedience produces complete joy and glorifies the Father.
Remaining in Jesus is not passive; it involves keeping his commands—especially the command to love as he loved us. This obedient, relational abiding leads to joy and brings glory to God as our lives demonstrate genuine discipleship.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Jesus links obedience directly to remaining in his love and experiencing complete joy (vv. 9-11). How have you seen obedience and joy connected (or disconnected) in your own walk with Christ?

  2. What does it look like practically for a group of believers (like us) to “remain in” Christ together rather than individually only? How can we help one another abide more faithfully?

Practical Challenge for the Week
Choose one specific practice this week that will help you abide in Christ (e.g., daily time in the Word and prayer focused on “remaining,” memorizing John 15:4-5, or intentionally obeying a clear command of Jesus you’ve been neglecting).

Share with one other person what you chose and ask them to check in with you by the end of the week. At the end of the week, reflect: What fruit (even small) did you notice, and how did your joy level compare to normal?