“The Fruitful Life” – a message from Psalm 1 and John 15

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we continued our preaching series during Lent entitled “The Tree and the Vine,” drawing from Psalm 1 and John 15. In this fifth message of the series I explored the concept of the fruitful life with God, leaning into both Psalm 1 and John 15.

You can find the message outline and video below. You can access the entire series here. Join us for weekend worship in-person or remotely via Eastbrook at Home.

---

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.” (John 15:16)

The Way of Fruitfulness

In Psalm 1: meditating on God’s word until it becomes your life (Psalm 1:1-3)

In John 15: Remaining in Jesus (John 15:4-5) and letting Jesus’ words remain in us (John 15:7-8)

The overflow of a life lived with God

The Essence of Fruitfulness 

The human work: choosing obedience (John 15:9-10)

The divine work: yielding to God (Philippians 2:12-13; Galatians 5:13-25)

Selfless Love (John 15:9-17; cf. John 13:34-35; Galatians 5:13-14)

Living the Fruitful Life 

Ordering our lives to grow with Christ so we become fruitful

Yielding to the presence and power of God in our lives constantly

Giving God the glory for the fruitfulness of our lives

---

Dig Deeper

This week dig deeper in one or more of the following ways:

• Memorize Psalm 1:1-3 or John 15:16-17
• Continue with the Eastbrook Church Lenten devotional: eastbrook.org/devotionals.
• Go for a walk sometime this week and pray around the following prompts and pay attention to what God might bring to the surface for you:
  • God, are there areas where I am not fruitful that you want to enliven in me?
  • God, please bring greater fruit within my life for Your glory. 
  • God, how might You be calling me to love someone sacrificially right now? 
• Explore some of the following resources:
  • The Didache, a first-century discipleship manual
  • John Stott, The Radical Disciple: Some Neglected Aspects of Our Calling
  • Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ
  • Bible Project, “Psalm 1”