Some of the most powerful lessons on faithfulness in Scripture come from flora illustrations. When we understand the flora behind the illustrations, we grasp the lessons at a deeper and more impactful level. As we launch into this new series, we begin in John 15 with Jesus’s famous words about the “vine and the branches.” As we’ll see, placing Jesus’s words in their viticulture context provides a vivid picture of what Jesus wants from his disciples, and what must be done to live a fruitful life!

• What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? 
• Reflect on one or two challenging seasons in life when your faith felt flat or fruitless. What was it like? What was happening? How were you feeling? 
• How did God meet you and “lift you up” during those challenging seasons? Did you stay connected to the vine in those seasons? 
• Name at least one example from your life when God pruned something that was good in order to make room for something better. 
• What are some concrete ways to abide in Jesus? (Try to think beyond reading your Bible, praying, and going to church.) 
• How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?  

• Finding the Lost Images of God by Timothy S. Laniak – Chapter 3 
• The NIV Application Commentary: John by Gary M. Burge 
• The Gospel of John: A Commentary (Vol. Two) by Craig S. Keener 
• Trees, Plants, and Flowers of the Holy Land by BiblePlaces.com (Todd Bolen) 

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