May, 22 2016
Pastor Joe Fitzgerald
Keep Your Vineyard
Highlights:
1. We can be so consumed with what is demanding that we neglect what is important.
2. Keeping our vineyard
– Christ: We must be in the word and we must be with Him
– Calling: Our calling is a vision that keeps us on track.
– Clan: We are coming home to our priority.
– Community: If we surround ourselves with people who agree with our grievances we are not necessarily going to grow.
Discussion Questions:
1. What does keeping a spiritual vineyard mean in a practical way in your life?
2. What does having vision have to do with keeping a vineyard?
3. What are your priorities in light of keeping your vineyard?
Key Scriptures:
– Do not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun. My mother’s sons were angry with me and made me take care of the vineyards; my own vineyard I had to neglect.
Song of Solomon 1:6 NIV
– I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit.
Isaiah 5:1-2 NIV
– Restore us, God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. You transplanted a vine from Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.
Psalm 80:7-8 NIV
– “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 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. “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. 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. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
John 15:1-8 NIV
-As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3 NIV
-By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just;
Proverbs 8:15 NIV