Sermon · June 26, 2026
If you have ever felt like God is waiting to cut you off for not being a “good enough” Christian, you need to hear this. For years, John 15 has been taught with a translation bias that makes God look like a harsh gardener ready to throw you away.
In this message, we look at the original Greek of John 15 and discover how a Good Father actually tends to His branches. We explore the massive difference between “dead works” (doing good things out of human effort) and bearing true, lasting fruit through your connection to Jesus. Whether you are raising kids, working as an engineer, or preparing to serve thousands through outreach initiatives like The Overflow, the source of your fruit is what matters.
Finally, we look at what it means to transition from being a servant to being called a “friend of God”—a title reserved for only four people in the Old Testament, but freely given to you under the New Covenant.
Chapters:
0:00 – Welcome & The Importance of Scripture
1:35 – The Mistranslation in John 15 (Lift Up vs. Take Away)
7:21 – God is Near, Not Far Away
11:26 – Reading John 15 Contextually
13:37 – The Only Three Commandments Jesus Gave
21:03 – Sermon 1: Good Works vs. Dead Works
22:50 – The Difference Between Human Goodness and Jesus’ Fruit
30:36 – Why True Fruit Matters in Serving the Poor
31:38 – Sermon 2: The Four Friends of God in the Old Testament
41:08 – The New Covenant: Jesus Calls You Friend
