It is the Christian who stays close to Christ, receives the nurture from him, the discipline

that he brings to us, that is productive, and brings forth the fruit of the kingdom.

Because in a New Testament church, God doesn't want wild grapes.

He wants fruit.

And we feel like we're not growing as Christians.

We need to ensure that we're not neglecting the means that God has given us for Christian growth.

I am Nathan W. Bingham, and thank you for joining us today for renewing your mind.

Jesus said that he is the true vine, and that apart from him, we can do nothing.

We need to take heed of Jesus' words.

It corrects our Western individualism, keeps us humble, and continually points us back to Christ.

Well, today as Dr. Sproul continues his study of the I AM saying of Jesus,

he considers this very practical I AM saying.

Here's Dr. Sproul.

We continue now with our study of the series of the I AMs,

pronounced by Jesus during his earthly ministry.

And we remember that these I AMs are all prefaced by the unusual Greek construction,

Ego Emi, which is the same combination of words that was used in the Greek translation of the

Old Testament for God's sacred name, Yahweh, I AM who I am.

And so because of that, we're looking at the specific importance of these sayings as they occur

in the gospel of John.

And today, we come to the 15th chapter of John's gospel where we have the 7th of this series,

the I AM in which Jesus says, I AM the true vine.

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