The Trellis and the Vine

In chapter 3 Marshall and Payne move on to look at the biblical roots of the vine image examining Psalm 80, Hosea 14 and 1Peter 1. Their main point is that God acts in the world through spirit backed gospel preaching leading to the salvation of souls.. They also remind us that in Acts and the Epistles church growth is rarely mentioned whilst gospel growth or increase of the word are frequently used terms.

In short they conclude that the focus is on the passage of the Spirit backed word of God in the world according to God's plan. They then draw from this 3 implications:
1. We must focus on what God is doing and his means - gospel centred spirit-backed preaching.
2. God is looking for growth in people - as new creation and maturing fruit bearing new creations
3. this people growth only happens through the work of the Spirit applying his word to people's hearts.

Their contention is that this is vine work - everything else is trellis work, it is what we ought to prioritise and practice.

Again it is helpful chapter though I wonder if they too clearly try to distinguish between vine and trellis work, surely some of our trellis work in, for example, establishing home groups or young peoples groups where they are taught the Bible is vine work. I'm assuming they will come on to this later.

Helpful it reminds us that the application of the word of God is the work of the Spirit, something we cannot manufacture and for which we rely on, and pray to, God for.