A Church that Glorifies God

““I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15:1-8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What is glory?
     •God's integrity and excellence and presence
     •“yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.”
       Matthew‬ ‭6:29‬ ‭NLT‬‬
     •“So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was ful    
       of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory
       of the Father’s one and only Son.” John‬ ‭1:14‬ ‭NLT‬
     •Old Testament: ◦having glory, honor, and abundance
         ◦“kabod”- lift of God
     •New Testament: ◦“Doxa” - 70 stations and honor
         ◦Christ is the shining glory of God

The method to glorify God
     •doing what God tells you to do (John 17:4)
     •worshipping the Lord (John 11:4)
     •continue to change to become more like Jesus (2 Cor 3:18) ◦“So all of us
      who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord.
      And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we
      are changed into his glorious image.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭NLT‬‬
          ◦“For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this
            light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is
            seen  in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

     •continue to give thanks (2 Cor 4:15)
     •help each other (2 Cor 9:13)
     •perform duties of an evangelist - we are all evangelists! (Gal 1:24)
     •put our effort to strengthening and maturing our faith (Rom 4:20)
     •welcome suffering as Christians (1 Peter 4:16) - be clear about what path
       you are taking… That you are walking in the path of Christ and not of the
       world. Recover the first love.
     •seek all things in the name of Jesus Christ (John 14:13)
     •be fruitful (John 15:8)

Application
      •partake and become one
      •“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to
        God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy
        sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship
        him.“ Romans‬ ‭12:1‬ ‭NLT‬‬
      •know that the first and foremost priority is God and to serve Him. To serve
        Him is to love Him and to love one another.
      •“That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and
        obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.” Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬
      •whatever you do, be for the glory of the Lord
      •“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of
        God.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

        Regain the first love, first heart, first intention, that initial fervor and love in
        Christ

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625 Dewey Ave, San Gabriel, CA, United States