阅读经文 

圣经中有好几处经文都指出神的子民以色列是神栽种的葡萄树。大意是，在耶稣来之前，神为祂的选民预备了一个家，让他们在与神的关系中健康茁壮地成长。

尽管神为祂的百姓做了这一切，他们还是失败了。一次又一次，他们在自己的罪中远离了神。他们拜别国的假神。他们偏离了神给他们的道路。

现在，耶稣正在转换有关葡萄树的比喻。祂说，最终，祂成为真正的葡萄树，给人们机会在与神的关系中得以成长，这正是神一直以来所期望的。

实际上，教会已经明白，这是需要通过属灵操练来实现的，如阅读和研习圣经，花时间祷告，敬拜，认罪和参加团契。这些事并不是要在神面前获得积分，或试图弥补我们的罪。相反，这是为了与枝子连接，好使我们茁壮成长。

每当我们靠近耶稣，我们就会得到支持，滋养，就能透过与祂的关系结出果子。

Several passages in the Bible refer to God's people Israel as a vine planted by God. The idea is that, before Jesus came, God took this group of chosen people and made a home for them where they could grow healthy and prosperous in a relationship with him.

But despite all that God did for his people, they failed to thrive. Time after time, they wandered away from God in their sin. They worshiped the gods of other nations. They strayed from the path that God had placed them on.

Now Jesus is switching up the imagery about the vine. He says that, ultimately, he has come as the true vine to give people the opportunity to grow in a relationship with God, the way God always intended.

Practically speaking, the church has understood that this happens through spiritual disciplines, such as reading and studying Scripture and spending time in prayer, worship, confession, and fellowship with community. And these things aren't about scoring points with God or trying to make up for our sin. Instead, they are about staying connected to the vine so that we can thrive.

When we draw near to Jesus, we are supported, nourished, and able to bear fruit in our relationship with him.