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After seeding the grassless lawn and watering it for more than a week this Spring, my wife and I still saw no signs of grass! After this frustrating experience, we spent some time to understand grass growth and lawn care. As you can see, learning the rudiments of gardening is important.
By using growing a grapevine as an example, Jesus Christ teaches His followers spiritual formation. A believer must remain in Jesus Christ all the time. There are at least three things that we must bear in mind:
First, one must accept Jesus as Saviour (John 6:54, 56).
Second, one must keep on believing (John 8:31).
Third, one must keep on obeying Jesus (John 15:9–10).
Let’s ponder the spiritual formation according to Jesus Christ.
Ponder
1“I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. 2He takes away every branch that does not bear fruit in me. He prunes every branch that bears fruit so that it will bear more fruit. 3You are clean already because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. 5“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me—and I in him—bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing.(John 15:1–5 NET)
Pose
Let’s pose a question to God. “Dear Jesus, could You teach me how to remain in You?
Practice
Let’s practice what you learnt. Pray that you will continue to grow in Jesus Christ.
Proclaim
Let’s proclaim to others about your experiential knowledge. After a small group meeting, bring up the topic of spiritual formation.
Kenneth Thumb Ministry 譚約珥事工 