John 15:1-16:4: Abide in Jesus, Bear Much Fruit, and Be Hated

Jesus reveals Himself as the True Vine, inviting His followers to remain connected to Him for a life of true purpose and fruitfulness. Like branches drawing life from the vine, believers thrive only when abiding in Christ, while the Father prunes (or cleanses) them to bear even more fruit—good works that flow from faith! Through his loving discipline, God can use even the difficult times of our life for our own good and his glory. Jesus calls His disciples to a radical love for one another and warns them of the world's animosity toward them because of their hatred for Him.

The Rev. Jeremy Swem, pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, MI, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study John 15:1-16:4.

The Gospel of John takes us on a journey through the Good News of Jesus in a unique way. It reveals Jesus as the incarnate son of God from eternity. From His miraculous signs to His profound "I Am" statements, we witness Jesus offering living water to the thirsty, light to those in darkness, and life to the dead. But this is also a story of conflict: Jesus is relentlessly pursued by those who reject Him, yet He willingly goes to the cross, showing the depths of God’s love. As we travel from His first miracle to His ultimate victory over death, John invites us to see and believe—that in Jesus, we find eternal life and the very presence of God among us. Connect to God’s revealing Word in this series that uncovers the rich, layered truths of John’s Gospel and the unshakable hope it offers.

Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.