Prepare your heart for this Sunday’s morning message by reading the below Family Discipleship Plan, Discussion Questions & Action Steps, Sermon Slides & Songs.
Family Study page John 15:5; Haggai 1:5-6 August 16, 2026
VITAL SIGN - There are moments, by God’s grace, when the chaotic pace of life suddenly pauses. A rare moment of sanity and awareness breaks through the noise and the schedule. For a moment you can see the fog that surrounds you. Suddenly, a fresh barrage of questions enter your mind. “What am I doing?” “How did I get here?” “Is all of this activity moving me, my marriage, our family, where we intended?” “How do I get out from under the “good things” that have dog-piled on me so I can catch my breath?”
Life’s moments, decisions, and obligations are not something you can just put on “auto pilot”. Either you are managing the various elements of your life, or they are controlling you. Suddenly you realize that your “self-driving-life” has put you in the back seat, and is taking you in a direction you do not want to go. In that moment, what vital sign do you check to assess your health and Identify your critical next steps.
In the hours just before He would be arrested, beaten, and nailed to a wooden crossbeam, Jesus identified a critical assessment for human life. Three statements, only 31 words, provide our assessment of a critical vital sign for life- “how is your connection with Jesus. For centuries since that evening conversation, disciples of Jesus across the globe have found healing clarity and a pathway to a life of thriving fruitfulness. Today, Jesus’ words will diagnose the symptoms of disillusionment, disconnection, and disappointment that are resulting in your failure to thrive.
Discussion Questions and Action Steps for you and your family
With your family or a group of friends, have one person share a “green thumb” story of helping a plant to thrive. Have someone else share a “not-so-green thumb” experience.
Read John 10:10; 15:5 and Matthew 13:1-9. What do these verses teach you about God’s desire to have you thrive in relationship with Him? What insight or phrase captured your attention? Why? What do you discover about God/Jesus? What do you discover about humans/yourself?
How does the image of the vine and the branch inform important aspects of your identity in Jesus? What false identity, threatens your identity as a branch? Share your insights with someone this week!
Praise - Elevation Worship
Let everything that has breath Praise the Lord! Oh, my soul!
I’ll praise in the valley; Praise on the mountain; I’ll praise when I’m sure, Praise when I’m doubting. I’ll praise when outnumbered; Praise when surrounded; Cause praise is the waters My enemies drown in! As long as I’m breathing I’ve got a reason to Praise the Lord! Oh my soul!
I’ll praise when I feel it, I’ll praise when I don’t; I’ll praise cause I know You’re still in control; My praise is a weapon, It’s more than a sound; My praise is the shout That brings Jericho down! Praise the Lord Oh my soul! Praise the Lord Oh my soul!
I won’t be quiet My God is alive How could I keep it inside Praise the Lord oh my soul
I’ll praise cause You’re sovereign Praise cause You reign; Praise cause You rose and defeated the grave; I’ll praise cause You’re faithful Praise cause You’re true; Praise cause there’s nobody greater than You!
“I am the vine. You are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in Him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5
Great Is Thy Faithfulness - William Runyon
Great is Thy faithfulness, O Go my Father! There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not: As Thou hast been, Thou forever shall be.
Great is thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness, Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided!
Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide, Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow – Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.
Turn Your Eyes - Natalie Grant
O soul are you weary and troubled, No light in the darkness you see; But just one look at the Savior Is life more abundant and free. So just look up, your help is on the way.
Turn, turn your eyes upon Jesus; Look full, look full, look full in His wonderful face; And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, When you turn, turn your eyes upon him.
His Word forever unfailing, His promise an anchor to hold; Here in the midst of your sorrow, His presence is healing your soul. So just look up, your help is on the way!
In the light of his glory and grace, There is freedom, healing filling this place. In the light of his glory and grace, There’s revival, it’s stirring, shaking this place. In the light of his glory and grace, Hear the chains hit the ground all over this place
“Now, therefore, thus says the LORD of Hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but never have enough; You drink, but never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And He who earns wages, Does so to put them into a bag with holes!”
Haggai 1:5-6
Give Me Jesus - Fernando Ortega
In the Morning when I rise; In the morning when I rise. In the morning when I rise, Give me Jesus!
Give Me Jesus. Give me Jesus. You can have all this world, just give me Jesus!
And when I am alone; Oh, when I am alone; And when I am alone, Give me Jesus.
And when I come to die; oh, when I come to die; When I come to die, Give me Jesus!
VITAL SIGN August 16, 2026
Diagnosis of our failure to … THRIVE!
Week 1, The Confusion Of IDENTITY!
Slide #1 John 10:10
Slide #2 Matthew 13:1-9
Slide #3 Haggai 1:5-6
Slide #4 Failure to Thrive: “growth faltering”—is when a person does not grow, gain weight, or develop at the normal rate for their age.
Slide #5 John 15:5
Slide #6 Mark 8:35-37
Slide #7 Reclaim Your Identity In Jesus and Thrive
- Declare Jesus as the Vine of complete provision.
- Declare your absolute dependence as a branch connected to Jesus.
- Admit any confusion you encounter with an imposter identity.
- Use storms to strengthen your identity clarity as a branch connected to the Vine.
- Discover your Thriving Identity in the revelation of Scripture.








