Back to Sermon Podcast.

Note: The following podcast is no longer available to listen online. If you'd like a copy, please contact us and we will send you the MP3 from the archives.

print

Vines, Branches, and Fruit

John 15:1-8

Pastor Bob Hiller
5/6/2012

John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

1. We are wired to think that in order to ____________ something we must ____________ something. But God saves us by ____________ alone.

2. The devil wants us to believe that good works:

a. Help ____________ us.

b. Don't ____________ at all.

3. Christians ____________ to Jesus will inevitably do _____________ ____________.

Scripture Readings
Acts 8:26-40
1 John 4:1-11
John 15:1-8

Take It With You!

Here are some further thoughts to help you contemplate and celebrate Christ's Easter victory over sin, death, and the devil!

Faith is a divine work in us and makes us to be born anew of God. It kills the old 'Adam' and makes us altogether different people, in heart and spirit and mind and all powers; and it brings with it the Holy Spirit. O, it is a living, busy, active, mighty thing this faith. It is impossible for it not to be doing good work incessantly. It does not ask whether good work are to be done, but before the question is asked, it has already done them. Whoever does not do such work, however, is an unbeliever, who gropes and look around for faith and good work, but knows neither what faith is nor what good work are. yet such a person talks and talks, with many words, about faith and good work. Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that the believer would stake life itself on it a thousand times. This knowledge and confidence in God's grace makes people glad and bold and happy in dealing with God and with all creatures. And this is the work which the Holy Spirit performs in faith. Because of it, without compulsion, a person is ready and glad to do good to everyone, to serve everyone, to suffer everything, out of love and praise to God who has shown this grace. Thus, it is impossible to separate work from faith, quite as impossible as to separate heat and light from fire.

The Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord, Article IV: Good Works, quoting Martin Luther.

If a sermon here has been a blessing to you, or if you would like to support the Lord's work being done at Faith Lutheran, you may make a donation online.

Subscription Options

Use the links below to subscribe and listen to the sermons on your favorite podcast app.

Email subscriptions are sent the next day after an episode is posted and contain all the available links: sermon (audio & video), full service video, bible study audio, and children's message audio.

More Audio & Video Resources from Faith Lutheran Church

  • Bible Study - check our our recent ZOOM Bible Study.
  • What is Christianity? - join us as we study and answer the question: "What is Christianity?"
  • Christ & Calamity - a devotional study based on the book "Christ & Calamity: Grace & Gratitude in the Darkest Valley" by Harold Senkbeil.
  • What Does This Mean? - join us as we learn and discover, review and renew the Word of God as He answers the question, "What Does This Mean?"
  • What We Believe - are you new to Christianity or want to review? Check out this series as we examine the ten commandments, the Apostles' Creed, Lord's Prayer, and Holy Baptism.
  • Holy Communion - interested to learn more about Holy Communion? Check out this sermon series and bible study as we dig deeper into the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
Faith Lutheran Church 123 Park Lane • Moorpark, CA 93021 • (805) 532 1049 Email Us • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • YouTube