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RadicalTeenStudy BeginningattheEndofOurselves
RadicalTeenStudy BeginningattheEndofOurselves
Lesson Overview
Biblical Passage
John 15:111
Supporting Passages
Exodus 33:118; Matthew 11:2830; Luke 11:113; Luke 24:4549; John 15:1217; Colossians 1:242:5
Memory Verse
John 15:5
Biblical Truth
There is no way to live in relationship with God apart from total dependence on His presence.
Biblical Context
Underlying the American dream is a dangerous assumption that if we are not cautious we will unknowingly accept. Also, the
American dream contains a deadly goal that if we are not careful we will ultimately achieve. The dangerous assumption we
unknowingly accept is to believe that our greatest asset is our own ability. The American dream prizes what people can
accomplish when they believe and trust in themselves, and we are drawn toward such thinking. But the gospel has different
priorities. The gospel beckons us to die to ourselves, believe in God, and trust in His power. Even more critical is the fatal
goal we will achieve when we pursue the American dream. As long as we achieve our desires in our own power, we will
always attribute it to our own glory. But here, the gospel and the American dream are clearly and ultimately opposed to one
another. While the goal of the American dream is to make much of us, the goal of the gospel is to make much of God.
Learning Goals
Explore Goal: Students will examine what it means to fully rely upon Gods presence in their life.
Transform Goal: Students will identify areas in their life where they are self-reliant so that they may discover ways to
become more reliant on God.
Biblical Commentary
Investigation
In Johns Gospel, we find a record of Jesus Last Supper with His disciples (John 1315). During that evening, He taught them
many things, most of which only John recorded. Jesus told the disciples about the troubles He and they would soon
experience. He knew He was about to be arrested and crucified. These words were among His last to the disciples during His
earthly ministry.
Though His disciples did not understand everything at that time, Jesus promised to send to them the Helper and Comforter,
the Holy Spirit, to guide them. The Spirit would lead them into all truth and remind them what Jesus had taught them. He
would comfort them and give them peace as they exercised the ministry they had been given. At the conclusion of His
teaching, Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Importance
This passage teaches that [Jesus is God and Savior. This passage of Scripture is important for students because it helps them
understand that a close relationship with Jesus in which they surrender to and obey His Word will enable them to bear fruit
so others can also see Christ.
This passage also touches on other Essential Truths: [God Is], [People Are Gods Treasure], and [The Church is Gods Plan].
Interpretation
John 15:1 This conversation took place as Jesus and His disciples were moving from the house where they had the Passover
meal to the garden where Jesus would pray earnestly to the Father and then be betrayed (14:31; 18:1).
The Old Testament describes Israel as Gods vine or His vineyard (Isa. 5:17; Jer. 2:21; Ezek. 15, 19:10; Hos. 10:1; Ps. 80:8).
The vine had even become a symbol of Israel as a nation. Because of this imagery, the vine was on Jewish coins and on the
front of the Holy Place in the Temple. The disciples listened to Jesus describe Himself as the true vinethe true Israel.
This is the last of the seven I am statements of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of John. These statements were ways Jesus
revealed who He was (I am the way and the truth, I am the light of the world, and so on). Since I Am is the way God
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chose to reveal Himself personally in the Old Testament (Ex. 3:14), these statements are not only descriptive metaphors, but
also Jesus revelation to be God in personal relationship with His people. Here, Jesus identified Himself as the vine. For a
garden to be fruitful, a gardener or farmer has to take care of it. He identified God the Father as the One who tends the
garden and takes care of the branches.
John 15:2 Those who never bear fruit are branches to be cut off. The writer of Hebrews uses this language in 10:2627,
saying: If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but
only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
Jesus prunes those who abide in Him so they will bear more fruit. Again, clarification can be found in Hebrews where it is
written: the Lord disciplines those he loves (12:6) and He does so for our good (12:10). The dead wood of a plant or a tree
can prevent new growth. It's important for unfruitful branches and limbs to be removed. This encourages more growth. Just
as a bush or vine must be pruned regularly, so must Gods people. This cutting away of unhealthy areas may not be pleasant.
It may be painful, yet it enables spiritual health, growth, and productivity. This discipline of pruning causes a harvest of
righteousness to be produced in our lives (Heb. 12:11). Consider Christs words in Revelation 3:19: Those whom I love I
rebuke and discipline. A healthy vine always produces fruit, so must a healthy Christ-follower.
John 15:3 At first, this verse seems to be out of place. It jumps from talk of pruning to talk of cleansing. Yet the word clean
here and the word prunes in verse 2 are from the same root. Jesus statement, You are already clean, could also read, You
are already pruned. Pruning is an act of cleansing, removing unhealthy parts. Jesus used this same word in John 13:1011
when He washed the disciples feet. What is the instrument God uses to prune and cleanse? It is His Word. He disciplines by
the powerful truth of His Word (2 Tim. 3:16, Heb. 4:12, Eph. 5:25-27). Believers are clean because of the Word and its
life-changing power.
John 15:46 This passage shows that God is the One at work to produce fruit in believers. People do not produce it in
themselves. Jesus, as the vine, is the source of all life, growth, and nourishment. A branch on the vine has life through no
effort of its own. It produces fruit through the vines nourishment. Further, it is God who prunes the branches. He gives life
and growth; He cuts and trims. The result is fruit. Not because the branch is trying hard to produce it but simply because it
abides in the vine. Christs life flows through His children as they abide in Him. They produce fruit not by their own efforts,
but because Christ produces it in them.
The imagery of abiding as a branch is powerful. To abide means to live, exist, and remain in relation to something (or in this
case Someone) else. As Christians, we should view ourselves as branches that must live, exist, and remain in relationship
with the life-giving vine of Jesus in order to grow. Only those connected to the vine can produce fruit. In other words,
remaining in the vine and producing fruit is evidence of salvation. The abiding believer is the only genuine believer.
John 15:78 The only way to have effective prayer is through Jesus Christ. By remaining in Christ and His Word, believers
are able to know the will of God. They are also able to pray according to His promises. Prayers offered while relying upon the
promises of Gods Word and depending on the Holy Spirit for guidance will be effective. All of this is made possible because
of Christs work as believers abide in Him.
John 15:9 The word translated as love is agape. Agape always seeks the best for its recipient. It is perfect love. This is the
kind of love that God has for His Son, Jesus, and the kind of love that Jesus has for His followers. God loves us just as much as
He loves His Son! The command given to Christs disciples was to abide, dwell, or live in Christs perfect, holy, and
all-satisfying love.
John 15:10 This is a great example of the tenets of Gods covenant with humankind. Jesus followers are to obey His
commands. In return, they will remain in His love. Love comes from obedience, and obedience comes from love. Love and
obedience were tied together in Jesus relationship with God. A comparison is made, then, between Jesus relationship with
His followers and the Heavenly Fathers relationship with Jesus. Actions are an overflow of the heart.
John 15:11 In the eyes of our culture, the commandments in this passage dont seem capable of producing joy. The follower
of Christ is told to accept discipline, be fruitful in doing Gods will, stay close to Jesus, obey Jesus, and keep His
commandments. This is demanding and requires total obedience and humility, but it is the only way to joy. Gods
commandments are not given to bind or restrict us. They are given to protect us and free us for a better life. When we are in
the center of Gods will, personal joy and satisfaction result no matter the circumstance.
Implications
Too often today, people say things like he or she is a Christian, they just arent living like one right now or I was saved
when I was a kid while no healthy growth or noticeable spiritual fruit is evident in their lives. Jesus clarifies that this simply
isnt possible. A healthy vine always produces fruit, so must anyone abiding in the Life of Jesus Christ.
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God prunes those who are in relationship with Christ, removing dead or unhealthy parts of our life that hinder growth. When
certain plants and flowers are trimmed back, they will grow more quickly. God the Father does the same for believers when
He disciplines and cleanses them. Unpleasant as it may be, its only when these areas are pruned that more growth can occur.
How have you encountered Gods pruning? In what ways can you share these experiences to encourage your students as God
works in their lives? How might we try to hang on to areas Jesus desires to remove?
Simply put: Nobody can live for Christ if they are not living in Christ. And anybody who truly has Christ living in them will
produce healthy spiritual fruit, evidencing a relationship with Jesus. It is only by relying upon His power that anyone can lead
productive and meaningful lives.
The fruit Christ produces in us always brings glory to God. Because of this, we can rest in Christ and totally depend on His
work in and through us. Sometimes its tempting to think we can produce good fruit in our own strength, but at those times
He will remind us of our dependence on Him. We look to Christ in faith to produce fruit in us just as we looked to Him in faith
to save us. How have you experienced an awareness that you are completely dependent on Him? How can you encourage
your students as they learn what it means to abide in Christ and bear fruit?
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have a greater chance of survival on this desert island if you werent alone. Now, lead students to partner up with one
other person in the group with whom theyd like to combine lists in order to have a better chance of survival. Invite a few
pairs to share why they chose to partner with each other. Then, say: American culture prides individualism, but when it
comes to matters of great importance, most of us recognize we can benefit from the help of others. Today we will
see why we must rely on God in order to live faithfully in this world.
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Remind students that David uses George Muller as an illustration of this point. Muller cared for more than ten thousand
orphans in his lifetime. He never asked for money or resources to run the orphanage but relied on prayer and God to provide.
His purpose for opening the orphanage was so others might see Gods provision and glorify Him (pp. 54-55).
3. By abiding in Christ, we experience Gods love, which brings us joy (John 15:911).
Read verses 911. Direct students attention back to the circles on the board. Invite a student to describe how these circles
give a picture of how we have joy by abiding in Christ. Emphasize that when we abide in Christ, we receive joy through our
obedience in following Him, and we receive joy because He is living within us. Say: Joy is a great result of our
relationship with Christ and our dependent life on Him.
Ask: How does the joy we have in God free us up to live radical lives on mission with God? Allow students time to
answer. Point out that when our true joy is in God as a result of abiding in Christ and His love, we are set free from finding
joy in the things of this world. When this is the case, sacrifice and service find a greater place in our lives as we trust God to
provide all we need.
Remind students about David mentioning how much he loves providing for his sons and how this provision shows his love to
them. He parallels this love with the provision of Himself that God gives His children through the Holy Spirit. Through the
power of the Holy Spirit that comes from abiding in Christ, we experience Him (pp. 56-59). Challenge students with this
thought to conclude the Key Study: There is no way to live in relationship with God apart from total
dependence on His presence. So, are you abiding in Him and He in you? <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face
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According to this passage, what should our attitude be toward pruning in our lives?
Provide examples of pruning in your own lives. What growth / fruit has resulted?
Why is placing our trust in Gods power instead of our own capabilities so difficult for us?
What evidence in our lives gives proof that we are following Christ and abiding in Him?
What does it look like in our lives to abide in Christ on a daily basis?
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with trying harder, promising to do better, or being good enough God did amazing things when His people
trusted and obeyed Him. Encourage students to discuss how this truth contrasts or compares with American culture, even
church culture. Allow students to discuss for a few minutes. Conclude by emphasizing that every good thing comes from God
and He alone is worthy of getting all glory.
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FRUITFUL RELIANCE
Follow along with your leader by FIlling in the blanks. Use the space provided to take notes.
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Student Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
3D
ABIDING 3D
3D
3D
So what does it look like to abide in Christ?
a Decision
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Student Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
Omni-Present
The PAST The PRESENT The FUTURE
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Student Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.