The Vineyard- June 5, 2016

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

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

Read Galatians 1:11-24

The Ladder Only Goes So High

-          What ladders do we try to climb in life?  In what ways do we seek to “get ahead,” and promote ourselves?

-          Paul had done well climbing the ladder in his own life.  He had advanced ahead of many of his peers in his devotion to his faith, and his zealousness for God’s law. 

-          And yet, Paul’s zeal was actually causing him to work against God’s purposes by persecuting the church. 

-          In what ways might your attempts to climb the world’s ladders- corporate ladders, financial ladders, social ladders- be putting you at odds with God’s will for your life?

-          Passage to Consider: Acts 8:3; 9:1-2

God Reveals Himself to Us in Christ

-          No matter what we do as humans, we can never climb high enough to reach God. 

-          The Bible shows us that God has consistently revealed himself to individuals, and through them humanity.  Noah, Abraham, Moses…they all received revelation from God, whose purpose was to save mankind through them. 

-          Most significantly, God has revealed himself to us, through his Son Jesus Christ. 

-          What do Jesus’ teachings tell us about the nature of God?

-          What do Jesus’ actions tell us about the love of God?

-          Passage to Consider: John 1:18; Hebrews 1:1-2

Transformation Only Happens by Encountering Christ

-          Paul set out on the road to Damascus intent on rounding up Christians and putting them in jail. 

-          After encountering Christ on that road, Paul went to persecuting Christ’s followers, to preaching Christ!

-          How might encountering Christ transform us?

-          If we have truly encountered Christ, how does our view of the world change?

-          Would those who know you best, say that your encounter with Christ has changed you as a person?

-          Passage to Consider: Acts 9:19-22

Ask God for wisdom and strength, to not fall victim to the love of this world. 

Praise God for revealing himself to us through his Son Jesus Christ!

Pray that we might be continually transformed as we encounter Christ each day.