God has MORE for your life. More of what? More of Himself. And when we have more of Jesus, our lives begin to bear more fruit.
In John 15, Jesus was preparing His disciples for His death, resurrection, and return to the Father. His instructions gave them a picture of what it means to follow Him: a vine, a gardener, and branches that bear fruit. That picture still speaks to us today. If we want fruitful lives, we have to stay connected to the One who gives us life.
1. MORE Fruit Is a Picture
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.”
— John 15:1
Jesus identifies Himself as the true vine. He is our source of life. As we discover who He is, we begin to understand who we are and why God put us here.
What does spiritual fruit look like? Scripture describes it in several ways: people coming to faith in Jesus, holiness, generosity, good works, and praise. Galatians 5:22–23 also describes the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities give us a way to examine our growth. Are we becoming more loving? More patient? More generous? Can the people closest to us see Jesus working in our lives?
A tree never eats its own fruit. Its fruit benefits someone else. In the same way, God works in us so that we can bless others. That is the heart of MORE. Behind every opportunity to expand our ministry is one more person who needs to meet Jesus. Our fruit should make a difference in someone else’s life.
2. MORE Fruit Is in Pruning
“Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.”
— John 15:2
Notice which branches get pruned: the ones already producing fruit. Being fruitful does not mean we are finished growing. Tammy has beautiful rose bushes. When she cuts them back, it can look like she has done too much. But that cutting prepares them for more growth and more flowers.
God does a similar work in us. He cuts away what drains our time and energy or keeps us from becoming more like Jesus. Sometimes that means dealing with pride, selfishness, anger, or insecurity. Sometimes it means letting go of something good to make room for what is best.
Pruning can hurt. We naturally want comfort, but the gardener is working toward fruitfulness. We can trust His care even when the process is painful. And when we are discouraged, we can turn toward Him. Psalm 3:3 describes the Lord as the lifter of our heads. He knows how to lift us up and help us grow.
What might God be asking you to release? Where do you need to respond with humility and repentance?
3. MORE Fruit Is a Process
“The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.”
— John 15:5
In John 15, we see a progression: no fruit, fruit, more fruit, and much fruit. Growth takes time.
You do not hear branches straining to push out grapes. They bear fruit because they remain connected to the vine. Jesus calls us to remain in Him, depending on His strength and allowing His Word to shape us. We can fill our schedules with activity and still neglect our relationship with Him. Spiritual fruit grows as we spend time with Jesus, listen to His Word, pray, and obey.
We also need relationships with other believers. Stay connected to your church. Build relationships in your group. Give people permission to encourage you and speak truth into your life.
Keep showing up. Keep trusting God. Keep taking the next step of obedience.
You cannot get to fruitful without being faithful. The growth you hope to see may come through years of quietly remaining where God has planted you.
4. MORE Fruit Has a Purpose
“My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.”
— John 15:8
The purpose of our fruit is to glorify God. As His character becomes visible in us, people see evidence that we belong to Jesus. Real fulfillment comes as we walk in that purpose and make a lasting difference. Jesus says in John 15:16 that He chose and appointed His followers to produce fruit that remains. It is possible to become more capable and successful while allowing our relationship with God to weaken. When that happens, working harder cannot give us the fulfillment we are missing. Jesus invites us to put Him first again. Come back to His Word. Make time for prayer. Bring Him your honest struggles and your need for help.
The focus is to abide in Him. He is the One who produces the fruit.
As we continue through MORE, ask God for more of Himself. Stay connected to Jesus, trust Him through the pruning, and remain faithful through the process. He can produce fruit in your life that brings Him glory and blesses others.
If you’re ready to take your next step, whether that’s baptism, or something else, fill out a Connection Card or visit one of our campus locations. We would love to pray with you, baptize you, or help you get connected.