To Be Productive, You Must Be Connected
By Rick Warren
“A branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5 NLT).
In the Bible, the vineyard is a picture of the church. It’s a metaphor describing how a church family helps you grow like fruit on a tree or grapes on a vine.
Fruitfulness in Scripture revolves around being productive. No one wants their life to end and feel like it was unproductive. We want our lives to count. To be productive, we must be connected.
In God’s garden, in his vineyard, our lives become productive when we are connected.
God has all kinds of fruit he wants you to bear during your lifetime. But your calling will not happen until you’re connected to God’s family, the church.
If you really want the life God created you to live, you need the power to live on, the people to live with, the principles to live by, the plan to live out, and the purpose to live for.
God created the church to meet all of those needs. You won’t find that outside of the church.
The Bible says, “A branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5 NLT).
Sometimes getting connected means taking a step (or two) of faith and being uncomfortable at first. It’s not always the easiest thing to do. But it’s one of the most important things you’ll do with your life.
It’s time to plug in. It’s time to get connected. Take a step forward today!
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