Our Meeting on Sunday was led by Nigel Day

Nigel was looking at the subject of Fruitful Discipleship

Following the Announcements by CSM Tim Scott, which included a reminder of our Quiz night next Saturday

Nigel introduced our first song of the morning.   Song SASB 1002 I the Lord of Sea      TB 689 Band.

This was followed by a prayer for our local community, our Corps (especially for those members on the prayer list) and also for our Government.

The Singing Company sang ” I Stand Amazed” , which was very prayerfully sung and I could see the congregation were listening to every word and received the message of the song.  Well done to you all

Nigel called for some children to join him on the platform to talk about being Fruitful.  He showed them a grape and asked that they identify it, then photos of raisins, sultanas , and currants were all seen ( all Types of Grape), and even a dress was pictured made out of Grape skin ( felt like leather apparently)

We then saw a picture of an Olive tree ( can be up to 2000 years old & still fruitful).   The oil can be used as a Polish for wood, a beauty treatment or as an oil in its  own right. The wood is often used to make beautiful carvings.

Nigel explained that not all grapes will be eaten as tasty raisin, or made into dresse. Most grapes are crushed and used to make wine. Not all Olives will get made into delicious olive oil or its wood be used for amazing carvings, most will just be pressed to make every day oil.

Nigel made the point to the children that we, as Christians, come in all shapes and sizes.  We all look different, but can be used by God in different ways. Sometimes it may be exciting, sometimes it may be boring, but we must be ready to do what God asks of us. We should try to be like the trees themselves, bear lots of fruit to help many other people

Nigel read the following passage from the Bible : John 15 v1-17  and this was followed by two congregational songs  Song SASB 371 I will offer up my life    TB 894 Piano and Song SASB 64 The splendour of the King        TB 664 Piano.

Following the offering we sang  Song SASB 672 Saviour if my feet have faltered TB383 Band.

The Songsters piece this morning was ” Breathe on me”

Nigel began his Sermon by saying that the key verse of the earlier reading was verse 8

⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples

Nigel shared a story of his parents home in Broadstairs, which had an established vine growing in the conservatory when they moved in, and it yielded a vast amount of grapes , of the wine variety.  Nigel’s Father tried to make wine from these , but despite toiling over the pressing,  fermenting and bottling , the wine was bitter and he was not able to enjoy the fruits of his labour. Nigel shared this family story to illustrate that Jesus used the analogy of fruit and vines as an easily understandable story.   Grapes & wine were an important part of everyday life in Israel at that time, a staple part of peoples diet and the Bible is full of references to both.

We were asked by Nigel to look at ourselves , and think how we measure up to Jesus message, verse ” ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples”

Can we honestly say that we are bearing much fruit in our discipleship?

Commissioner Gill Cotterill was quoted by Nigel from a recent copy of the Salvationist .. ” bearing fruit brings fullness of life to us because it is a sign of our friendship with Jesus ”  and the article was further quoted from where the commissioner  said ” while the purpose of the Church is to bear fruit, this is evidenced by being spiritually connected  to God as followers of Jesus .

No connection = No growth.

Verse 5 of the earlier reading say’s 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.

Horticultural experts tell us that fruit,  especially grapes, do not grow on the trunk or stem of a plant or tree. Fruit grows on the branches  ( that’s us !) which are attached to the trunk.They are fed and nourished by the trunk,  verse 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.

Jesus by likening himself to the true vine ensure we will be fed and watered by him , but Nigel told us . it’s a two way thing . The roots bring up the water and nutrients to the branches, while the leaves on the branches use sunlight to produce further nutrients to ensure that the fruit grows, swells & ripens.

So we need to remain connected to Jesus , and draw on him daily, but we also need to do our part because if we do nothing the fruit will not grow .

Nigel told us we can do this by going deeper into Gods love , reading and understanding our Bibles better each day. Do we pray & listen to Jesus , as all of this is part of being fruitful and effective disciples.

We were encouraged to use the fruits of the spirit , compassion . love , respect etc  to help others in our neighbourhood, our families ,colleagues at work , this will help us stand out from the crowd in the way we behave to others and how we understand them and their needs

Nigel invited us to consider if we have that strong connection to Jesus, or has it weakened, could we take this time today to re-assess where we are on our spiritual journey, and where we think God wants us to be. Lisa was asked to play the tune of our next song through , which was Song SASB 649 If crosses come     TB 490 Piano, and we took the opportunity to pray and then sang the song.

Our final song of the morning was  song 959  I’ll Go in the Strength of the Lord

Benediction