August 18, 2025
The Fruit-Filled Life | Week 4 | Brian Ebel
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Big Idea:
The goal of any vine is to be more fruitful. It’s why cutting, pruning, a fruit-filled life, are all important in our journey. As we walk into the new church year, we consider…how can we live into a fruit-filled life that lasts?
Key Points
- The Invitation to Friendship with God: Jesus’s words in John 15:15 are a radical invitation. By calling us friends instead of servants, Jesus offers a deep, intimate relationship with God that was previously reserved for a select few like Abraham and Moses.
- The Cost of Friendship: The fruit-filled life is not an easy or comfortable one. Friendship with God requires us to lay down our lives for others, embracing a counter-cultural path of sacrifice rather than self-enhancement. This journey, though challenging, leads to true spiritual growth.
- Friendship as Mission: Our purpose as friends of God is to bear lasting fruit for the kingdom. This mission calls us to use our gifts, invite others into the community, and serve, especially during seasons of transition and discomfort.
Application Questions
- How does the idea of being a “friend of God” change your perspective on following Jesus?
- Where in your life do you feel called to lay something down—your time, comfort, or even your life—for the sake of others or for the gospel?
- What is a “bumpy” or “uncomfortable” season you’ve experienced, and how can you see God using that time to help you grow and bear fruit?
