The Vineyard- August 9, 2015

The Vineyard

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:5

II Corinthians 5:11-21

Pray for God to speak to you through the reading of His word. 

Read the passage. 

-          Controlled by Christ’s Love

o   Jesus told us that part of following Him would be dying to ourselves.  We do this because we are overwhelmed by Christ’s love for us.  How is Christ’s love controlling you?  Is it causing you to live more for Him each day? 

-          Out with the Old, in with the New

o   Anyone who is in Christ, is a new creation.  What markers would people see in our life that show them we are a new person because we are in Christ?  Have our habits changed?  Have our priorities changed?  Has our attitude toward others changed?

-          The Ministry of Reconciliation

o   God reconciled us to Himself through Christ.  As Christ’s followers, have we pointed people toward God, so that they might be reconciled to Him as well?

o   In our speech, attitudes, and actions, do we unite or divide?  Do we see to reconcile people to God and one another as Christ did?

Pray that we will be controlled by Christ’s love. 

Pray that we will be a new creation in Christ. 

Strive to build up rather than tear down, to unite rather than divide.