Week 21 Roots in Jesus
“Where there is a rotten root, there will always be rotten fruit. We must be rooted in Jesus Christ.”
Joyce Meyer
Today’s Passage
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 bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.
3“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
4“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
John 15:1–4 (NASB95)
Background
Quotes are summarized from Wikipedia. Passage summaries are from Biblehub.com by Jay Smith, with permission. Scripture comes from LOGOS software under license.
Quote- Pauline Joyce Meyer (née Hutchison; June 4, 1943) is an American Charismatic Christian author, speaker, and president of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Joyce and her husband, Dave, have four grown children and live outside St. Louis, Missouri. Her ministry is headquartered near the St. Louis suburb of Fenton, Missouri. Meyer also reports that during an intense prayer while driving to work one morning in 1976, she heard God call her name. She was born-again at age nine, but unhappiness drove her deeper into her faith.
Passage- The book of John is a Gospel that contains Narrative History, Sermons, Parables, and a few Prophetic Oracles. It was written by the Disciple/Apostle John around 85-95 A.D. It was written so that all may believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God who gives eternal life. John’s gospel uses the word “Believe” 98 times and the word “Life” 36 times, in an effort to embed the importance that one must believe in order to live eternally. John is not one of the three synoptic (common view) gospels, but instead was written with a more theological substance, yet equally as inspired and important as the first three gospels.
Opening Statement
Seeds can grow nearly anywhere they fall. Even when those places start out as less than idea the root can be guided to the good soil. Though there might be a lot of obstacles, we can nurture that seed to grow strong and true.
Ask: What is a root?
Point: It is the basis upon which the plant grows.
Ask: Where does our root belong for a solid beginning?
Point: In Jesus Christ. Please read the following:
8Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
10According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it.
11For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:8–11 (NASB95)
Ask: Is Jesus as the foundation for us or for other people?
Point: First, the seed has to be planted in the individual. We cannot bear fruit on a vine that hasn’t grown yet. Please read the following:
18“Hear then the parable of the sower.
19“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
20“The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
21yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.
Matthew 13:18–21 (NASB95)
Ask: What does verse 21 mean when it says the man in the parable “…has no firm root in himself…”?
Point: It means his principles are not seated in scripture and as a result, his faith isn’t very strong.
Ask: How do we guard against having shallow roots in Jesus? How do we build up strong, deep roots in Jesus?
Point: Garden seeds do not grow strong and tall being left to their own devices. They have to be tended and nurtured. Please read the following:
5For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.
6Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
Colossians 2:5–7 (NASB95)
Ask: Where should the seed of Jesus be planted in us so that root grows in the right spot, strong and tall?
Point: In the garden of our hearts. Please read the following:
14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
16that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:14–19 (NASB95)
Ask: So, what do we do if we believe Jesus is already rooted firmly in our hearts?
Point: Go back to the Colossians passage above, specifically verse 6.
Ask: What does the Colossians passage mean when it tells us to “…so walk in Him?”
Point: It means to walk in the spirit of Jesus, as He walked. It means to do as He did while on this earth as a person. Please read the following:
19This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;
20for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
21Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
22But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
James 1:19–22 (NASB95)
Ask: “But I struggle with so many things and while I am victorious over some, I fail at others and I don’t want to fail at this.”
Point: Because God knows the heart and understands whether or not we are actually working to be better or trying to put on the façade of a worldly excuse for others to see. Please read the following:
11Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.
12For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
13And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
Hebrews 4:11–13 (NASB95)
Ask: God knows the heart, knows true motivations instead of what we want people in the flesh to see, so how do we let this take root so it can grow strong and bear fruit?
Point: By walking the way Jesus would but being patient for God’s growth to happen in His time rather than in our time. Please read the following:
11“Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.
12“Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.
13“Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.
14“The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
15“But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.
16“Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.
17“For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.
18“So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”
Luke 8:11–18 (NASB95)
Closing Statement
God is the ultimate confidant, best friend, and confessor. He already knows what weighs heavy on our hearts. He already knows if we tried, how hard, and for how long. He already knows what we struggle with, and what we do not struggle with. The best part is He also understands because His Son came to earth, lived a life, was persecuted, died, and rose to glory sitting beside the right hand of God. Now, that same man who went through so much sits in judgment over all the world, but it is the judgment of love, not the judgment of condemnation so long as we also show grace and mercy to the people we encounter, and that is the beginning of our proof that our roots are deep, in the right place, and growing in the right way.