I hope you enjoyed the previous four ministry lessons.  If you haven’t read them – please check them out.  They all lead up to Lesson #5.

Lesson #5: Apart From Christ I Can Do Nothing

“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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 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 15:1-5

Notice that Jesus does not say, “Apart from me you can do good things just not great things.” Notice that Jesus does not say, “Apart from me you can have a good ministry just not a great ministry.” No. Jesus says, “Apart from me you can do nothing.”

On my own I’m not that helpful. On my own I’m not that wise. On my own I think that I’m God of this world. Yet, the truth is … apart from Christ I can do nothing.

What are you attempting to do apart from Christ? If you can name something, and I’m sure you can, please know it will fail. Apart from Christ you can do nothing. Lean on him. Trust him with your life. Trust him with everything.