When God allows things to be cut back, trimmed away, or removed from your life, it doesn’t mean He’s disappointed. It means He isn’t done. God is your life for impact John 15:1 From fruit to fruit to fruit to fruit Pruning is not punishment, it’s John 15:2-3 God’s goal for you when He trims: Clearer John 15:4a Greater John 15:4b Deeper John 15:5 Questions for Further Reflection & Discussion If you’ve ever tried gardening, what’s something you’ve grown (or tried to grow) and how did it go? What’s one area of life where “less” actually made things better for you (schedule, commitments, clutter, etc.)? Read John 15:1-5 and review the sermon outline. What stands out to you about how Jesus describes the relationship between the vine, the gardener, and the branches? The progression moves from no fruit → some → more → much. Where do you think people often get stuck in that progression, and why? How does viewing pruning as preparation instead of punishment change the way you interpret difficult seasons? Can you think of a time when something was “cut back” in your life that later proved to be beneficial? What did you learn from it? How does staying connected to Jesus shape your sense of identity compared to how the world defines identity? How have you seen greater dependence on God actually lead to greater impact, either in your life or someone else’s? Is there anything in your life right now that God might be “trimming”? What would it look like to trust Him in that process instead of resisting it?