I AM Participant Workbook
Title: I AM Session 6: I AM the True Vine
Age: 8 to 12 years
Liturgical Time: Any
Doctrinal Content: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:1
Direct Aims: The I AM series aims to help young people understand their relationship to Christ and to others based on the I AM statements.
Indirect Aims: An additional aim is for young people to understand specific ways that they may emulate Christ.
Materials for the Lesson Plan:
I AM Participant Workbook
Orthodox Study Bible Bible
No Man Ever Spoke as This Man: The Great I AM’s of Jesus by Fr. Anthony Coniaris
I Am the True Vine Handout
Lesson Plan:
What does a vine need to thrive? How is Jesus the vine of our lives?
Sketch it out
Use the space below to sketch all of the parts of a living vine. Make sure your vine fills as much of the page as possible.
John 15: 1-5
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing.”
The Roots
Why do vines need strong roots? Roots help to bring nutrients to the rest of the vine. A plant without roots cannot survive. They also help to keep the vine firmly planted in the ground. If you’ve ever helped your family by weeding in the yard, you know that plants with very strong roots are the hardest to pull up from the ground. Christ helps us to stay firmly planted and protected. Listening to Him helps us to be strong when facing obstacles. Make sure your vine has a strong root system. What might our “root system” include?
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The Vine
The vine or trunk holds all of the parts together. The roots, the branches, the leaves and fruit all depend on the vine to keep them together and to deliver the water and nutrients throughout the plant. As you read earlier, Christ tells us that He is the Vine and we are the branches. He holds us all together through His love and attempts to bring us all closer together. Notice that as the branches get closer to the main stem or trunk, they get closer to each other as well. Be sure to label Christ as the main part of the vine in your sketch.
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The Branches
The Vine Needs Branches tells us more about why the vine needs the branches, just as the branches need the vine. A vine wouldn’t be much of a vine without branches. It also would not be able to grow fruit or flowers without branches on which these items can grow. Remember, we are the branches on Christ’s vine. He provides us with everything we need, and He expects us to “bear fruit.” What do you think we could do to be a fruitful vine that shows off everything God has given us? Add your family and friends to the branches of your vine.
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Being a Fruitful Vine
Have you ever seen someone cut the branches off of a tree or bush, so that the branches grew back stronger and with more fruit or flowers? This is called pruning. It allows the plant to focus all of its energy on growing bigger and better branches with fruit and flowers on them. Read Secrets of Fruit Bearing to learn more about how we can be the most fruitful branches for Christ.
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What fruits might you add to the vine you have sketched? Be sure to label them on your drawing.
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Written by Natalie Kapeluck-Nixon and Kira Senadak
Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
2014
Below is a link to access the complete I AM Participant Workbook and Leader's Edition, sessions 1-10 for ages 8 to 12 years.