“Are You Growing?”

John 15:1-13, {1} “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. {2} He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. {3} You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. {4} Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. {5} “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. {6} If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. {7} If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. {8} This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. {9} “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. {10} If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. {11} I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. {12} My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. {13} Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.