John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

A tree is known by its fruit, just as a vine or plant.

Many different types of trees, vines and plants have branches, it is from these branches that the fruit grows.

Through the branches nourishment flows from the trunk of the tree, or the vine or the stem of the plant to the fruit.

• Practical: Get the children to be the branches holding to an adult that represents the trunk of the tree.
• Have other children represent the fruit.
• Then separate a few children away from the adult showing the separated branches. Can the fruit receive the nourishment?
• Furthermore when a branch is separated… so are the other branches that are connected to them. One separated branch doesn’t just effect the fruit, but the other branches that are “branched” from it.

When we are connected through Jesus Christ we can be effective in producing fruit

• Without Christ, we are just a stick; producing nothing.

The Branch that bears fruit

John 15:8  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Nourishment from the trunk

1 Timothy 1:14  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

John 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

The Account of John 21

(Teachers Note: Familiarize yourself on the information found in John 21 where Peter chose to leave and “Go a fishing” where when he left, he took many of the disciples with him)

When Peter chose to separate from the Vine and go it alone… as a result he took all the branches that were connected to him, with him. That day the caught nothing…

John 21:1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.

2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

Conclusion thoughts

When looking at the church as a tree we are grounded and connected to the trunk of the tree, Jesus. The fruit that we produce is nourished by the branches. Often the branches separate themselves and still feel they can nourish and produce fruit, be the end result is failure. Additionally is the recognition of how very part of the tree has a purpose, and when anything is altered it effects so much of the rest of the tree.