STARTER
(In pairs for 5 minutes)
What is your favourite job in the garden?
WORSHIP
READ PASSAGE ALOUD
(As you hear this read jot down notes of the thoughts that come to you)
RE-READ PASSAGE AND COMMENTARY
(Personal reflection)
PERSONAL FOCUS
(Personal reflection on the passage / commentary & questions in silence 10 minutes)
COMMENTARY
John speaks of Jesus doing the work of the Father. He knows the love and concern of the Father. The image of the vine and the branches reveals the union between Jesus and us. Together the vine, Jesus, and the branches, his disciples, bear much fruit. The One who causes to grow, prunes and tends is the Father. The work of Jesus becomes part of the disciples. We are to live as he lived and we are to love as he loved. Jesus not only revealed God's love for us; he gave evidence of this love "by laying down his life for us." To be followers of Jesus we must give witness to him by our words and deeds. [Baranowski
Thou true life–giving Vine,
Let me thy sweetness prove;
Renew my life with thine,
Refresh my soul with love. H & P 730
PERSONAL FOCUS QUESTIONS
(Initially just reflect on the question that chooses you. It may help to clarify your thinking to make notes in the spaces provided. This will also give you material to reflect on in the future)
1. What verse in this reading speaks to you? What is God saying to you?
2. What nourishment do you need to help you increase your yield?
3. What do you need to prune in your life?
PERSONAL FOCUS QUESTIONS
(Discuss in triplets / pray for each other -25 minutes)
LIFE FOCUS
(Discuss in whole group-15 minutes)
4. What fruit is our church community producing?
5. What practical outcome is there from our reflection?
Do we need to make any plans to make things happen?
GROUP MEMORY TIME
(Review the actions you agreed to carry out at previous meetings)
REVIEW TIME
Is there are real bond between you and the other people in this group?
What would you like to do differently next time?
PRAYER TIME
You could pray for growth of the individual members of your church
and for growth by the addition of new members of church
