Rethinking the Church | A Fruitful Community

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3 You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

John 15:1-8 (NRSVUE)

Jesus uses the image of a vine and branches to describe how spiritual fruit develops. Individual branches don't produce fruit through their own effort—they produce fruit by staying connected to the vine. When the life of the vine flows through the branches, fruit develops naturally.

This helps us understand what a healthy church looks like. It's not a collection of people trying really hard to be good on their own. It's a community of people who are connected to Jesus and helping each other stay connected to him. When this happens, the fruit of the Spirit develops naturally throughout the entire community.

In a healthy church, you see love in action as people care for each other's needs and welcome newcomers. You witness joy as people celebrate each other's successes and find reasons to be grateful even in difficult times. You experience peace as conflicts are resolved with grace and people create environments where others feel safe and accepted.

You observe patience as people give each other room to grow and make mistakes. You see kindness in countless small acts of service and consideration. You notice goodness as people choose to do what's right even when it's costly. You witness faithfulness as people keep their commitments and show up for each other consistently.

You experience gentleness as people speak truth with love and handle each other's struggles with care. You see self-control as people choose what's best for the community over what's most convenient for themselves.

This kind of community doesn't happen by accident. It develops when people are intentionally connected to Jesus and committed to helping each other grow. It requires ongoing investment in prayer, worship, Bible study, and genuine relationships. It means celebrating each other's spiritual growth and supporting each other through difficult seasons.

When a church community demonstrates these characteristics, it becomes attractive to people who are searching for authentic love, genuine community, and real hope. They don't come because of impressive programs or perfect people—they come because they experience something of God's love through the way the community treats each other and cares for outsiders.

This is what spiritual health looks like on a community level: not a perfect church filled with perfect people, but a community of imperfect people who are being transformed by their connection to Jesus and their commitment to each other. It's a place where the fruit of the Spirit is evident in relationships, decisions, priorities, and responses to both joyful and challenging circumstances.

The goal isn't to become a church that impresses people with our performance. The goal is to become a community that reflects God's character so clearly that people get glimpses of what his kingdom looks like.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for being the vine that gives us life. Help our church community stay connected to you so that your life flows through all of us. Make us a place where love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are evident in how we treat each other and serve our community. Use our imperfect but genuine community to show others what your kingdom looks like. Help us bear fruit that brings glory to you and hope to our world. Amen.