Table of Contents
PRAYER
Our main goal in this time together is to build relationships and learn to walk alongside one another in all that God has called us to be and do. Let’s start by praying for each other.
Does anyone have prayer requests or personal stories of how God has been moving in your life that we can celebrate together?
THIS WEEK
This week, we asked a simple but honest question:
What are you staying connected to these days?
It’s a good question, but maybe there’s a better one to ask:
Is what you’re connected to giving you life, or slowly draining it out of you?
In Sunday’s message, Connected But Drained, Pastor Alvin reminded us that there’s only one connection strong enough to hold the full weight of our soul’s desire—to be whole, to be alive, to truly belong.
And it’s not just about believing the right things that connect us. It’s about how we live, how we move through the daily rhythms of our lives.
And in John 15, Jesus gives us a clear image to help make sense of this. He calls Himself the True Vine and us the branches. That picture says a lot.
Through it, we uncovered four core truths about the kind of connection our souls are made for—truths that shape how we live, work, and relate to others in everyday life.
To start our time together, let’s begin with the following questions:
If your soul had a battery percentage today, what would it be? Why?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
SCRIPTURE
Have someone read John 15:1–11 aloud. As you listen, notice any words or phrases that stand out, and ask the Holy Spirit to highlight something for you.
John 15:1–11
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
5 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.
6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
The Person of the Vine
As we begin, let’s start with a reminder and quick summary of what we saw in John 15:1-3:
Jesus doesn’t just point us to life. No, He is the True Vine, the only source of lasting purpose, meaning, and fulfillment. When we’re connected to Him, we’re not just getting by. We’re rooted in a life that actually bears fruit.
And here’s the good news: we’re not alone in that growth. The Father, as the Vinedresser, lovingly tends to us. His pruning isn’t to hurt us but to help us thrive. Even the hard moments have purpose when we’re connected to Jesus. Being connected to Jesus isn’t about self-help or surface-level change. It’s about real heart transformation that comes from staying close to the One who gives life.
What stands out to you about Jesus calling Himself the “True Vine”? Why do you think that matters for your everyday life?
In what ways do you tend to treat Jesus like a supplement instead of your source?
How have you seen God “prune” you in the past, removing or shaping something for your growth? How did it feel then, and what fruit came from it?
What helps you stay closely connected to Jesus in your daily rhythms, and what tends to pull you away?
If someone looked at the “fruit” of your life right now, what would they learn about who or what you’re connected to?
The Posture of the Branch
If Jesus is the True Vine, then we—His followers—are the branches. And branches don’t produce fruit on their own. They have to stay connected. That’s what “abide” means: to remain, to stay close, to depend completely. It’s not about looking the part, it’s about being deeply rooted in Him. Our posture, whether we abide or not, shapes how we relate to Jesus, ourselves, and others. When we abide, life flows. When we don’t, we dry up.
What does “abiding in Jesus” mean to you in your daily life? How do you know when you’re really connected to Him?
What habits or rhythms help you stay rooted in Jesus, especially when life gets busy or tough?
If you had to check your “branch” connection today, what would it reveal about where your life is drawing strength from?
The Peril of Disconnection
John 15:6 warns us about the danger of disconnecting from Jesus. Reality is a branch that isn’t truly connected withers and becomes useless. This isn’t about losing salvation or going to hell, but about whether there’s real life flowing through us from Jesus to begin with. Without staying closely connected to Jesus, like all other creation, we too drift away from God, others, and our purpose. Yet, God’s discipline invites us back to Him should we turn to Him. And that’s just it: when life feels dry or distant, it’s a signal to return, draw near, and let go of what holds us back.
Where in your life do you feel like you’ve been running on empty or disconnected from Jesus? What do you think is contributing to that?
How do you usually respond when life feels dry—do you press in, pull away, or just push through? Why?
What’s one thing you might need to let go of right now in order to reconnect more deeply with Jesus?
The Promise That Completes
John 15:7–11 shows us that disconnection isn’t the end of the story. Jesus promises a life of fruitfulness, answered prayers, a real and deep love, and lasting joy for those who abide in Him.
However, this abiding connection isn’t passive. It’s one that is active, built on trust, obedience, and love. When we remain in His Word, the Holy Spirit changes us and our nature from the inside out. Jesus’ love shapes how we live, how we pray, and how we relate to others. And in all of it, He promises that His joy will be in us and that our joy will be full, making us complete as He always intended for us to know and live in.
What’s the difference between the kind of joy He offers and just feeling happy? Where have you seen that play out in your life?
How has staying connected to Jesus changed the way you pray, love, or make decisions?
What’s one way you can intentionally abide in His love this week, especially in how you treat others or respond to challenges?
CLOSING THOUGHT
Here’s the heart of it: Life is full of connections, but not all of them give life. In John 15, Jesus doesn’t offer tips or tricks—He offers Himself. He is the True Vine. And He’s clear: if we stay with Him, we’ll bear real fruit. If we don’t, we wither. That’s not fear-based pressure. No, it’s a loving warning from someone who wants more for us than performance or pretending.
Abiding in Jesus means trusting Him with every part of life, even when it’s hard, even when it’s quiet. It means staying close through His Word, obeying because we’re loved, and living in a way that draws others toward that same love. And when we do? Our lives don’t just work, they flourish. Not without pruning, not without tension, but with purpose, joy, and fruit that lasts.
So the question isn’t just, “Are you connected?” It’s, “What kind of life is that connection producing in you?” Stay close. Stay honest. Stay rooted in Him.
Let’s close in prayer: Jesus, You are the True Vine, and we need You. Help us stay connected to you daily. Not just in words, but in how we live where we live, work, and play. When we’re tired, remind us that You are our source. When we drift, draw us back. Grow in us the kind of fruit that reflects Your love, not just for our good, but so others can see You and your glory through us. Keep us rooted, honest, and close to You. Amen.
Alvin Brown, the Lead Pastor of Mosaic Church Fort Worth, brings over a decade of pastoral ministry experience and more than 20 years of operational and technical leadership expertise. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Telecommunications Management from DeVry University and an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management. He enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Mallary, and their three children and contributing as a writer to various media outlets.
