Sunday 2nd May 2021

Theme: Remaining Fruitful
Text: John 15:1-8; 1 John 4: 7-21

God is love.
When we take up permanent
residence in a life of love,
we live in God and God lives in us.
(1 John 4:17 - The Message)

The theme of the service today comes from John 15 where Jesus says he is the true vine and we are the branches.

When Jesus uses the image of the vine in John 15 he is drawing on along biblical lineage. The image is Israel as a vine planted in the promised land by God, care for by God, but with a mind of its own, prone to grow out of control and consequently becoming unfruitful.
This is the background well known to the Jewish hearers of Jesus as he said:
“I am the true vine, and the Father is the gardener (15:1)
 
A recorded version of this week’s message can be accessed here: https://youtu.be/tcTbP-sEjGM