“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. 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.” John 15:1-2,5 NIV

In these verses, Jesus is telling us that we are like the branches of a grape vine and He is the vine. In the picture above of a vineyard (a “yard” with “vines”), can you see the thick vine at the bottom (Jesus) and all of the branches (us) above? The branches produce the grapes, the fruit of the vine. I love grapes, they are sweet, and each fruit comes in its own little grape skin wrapper. What is your favorite kind of grape?

The branches (us) couldn’t make the fruit if they weren’t connected to the vine (Jesus). So this parable, this story to teach us a truth, is telling us that when we are believers and followers of Jesus we should produce fruit. But what kind of fruit can we bear?

In Galatians, Paul tell us what “fruits” of the spirit we should bear if we belong to Jesus, if we are in the vine. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 NIV We can be fruitful branches by sharing these “fruits of the Spirit” with others.

Be Fruitful! Share love, sing for joy, make peace, be patient with all, shine kindness and goodness, stay faithful to God and Jesus, be gentle with others, and always use self-control.

This week choose to be fruitful. Choose to share your fruits of the Spirit. Talk with your parents about how you can be fruitful. Each time this week you are fruitful, by being loving, kind, patient, good, faithful, gentle, peaceful, joyful or self-controlled, color in a grape in the bunch below! Be fruitful as a branch in Jesus’ vine.

Here is a picture of a bunch of grapes I got online. You can copy and print, or you can draw your own. Branch out and share your fruits of the spirit!

Thank you to http://www.firstpalette.com for the use of their drawing of a bunch of grapes!