Tree-mendous growth

Preparation
Select a location where there are several large trees growing. You might also need a ground sheet students can lie on. You'll need several Bibles.

Activity
Take your group to the selected trees. Form groups of no more than five and have each group select a tree. Have kids lie under the trees, looking up at the branches. Have a volunteer in each group read John 15:5-10, then have kids answer questions about themselves and their trees in their groups.

Debrief
1. Imagine this tree is a picture of Christ and his followers.
* Which part of the tree would you label as Christ? Explain.
* Which part would be his followers? Why?
2. Have kids look for branches that are dead and need pruning.
* Why do branches die?
* How might someone become spiritually dead, like a dead branch?
3. Look for new growth.
* In what ways have you experienced new growth spiritually?
4. Look for evidence that the tree is reproducing, such as seeds or fruit.
* What areas of your Christian life are producing fruit?

Additional Activity
Have each person choose a branch that is most like him or her spiritually and explain why they've chosen this branch. For example, someone might say, "This branch is like me because it has lots of new growth, and I've been growing a lot in my faith recently."

Application
Close by having groups each form a circle around their tree and pray that they'll grow in Christ, the true vine.