Leaders Are The Vineyard

Isaiah 5:1-2
My beloved had a vineyard
on a rich and fertile hill.
He protected the land,
cleared its stones,
and planted it with the best vines.
In the middle he built a watchtower
and carved a winepress in the rocks.
Then he waited for a harvest
of sweet grapes.

THE VINEYARD INITIATIVE
Summary
In 2014 I asked God how to make a disciple.
Then I opened my Bible by faith to Isaiah 5:1-2,
and The Vineyard Initiative was born.

Followed faithfully, these seven steps
help Christ-followers return to the work
and the wonder of a life lived for Christ.

We find these seven steps in the seven verbs
spelled out in the fifth chapter of The Book of Isaiah
in a parable entitled, “The Song Of The Vineyard.”
Before this song is introduced,
the four preceding chapters of
Isaiah describe a people who had
lost the ability to recognize
God’s voice and his care.
The Song Of The Vineyard
is God’s forever solution for how
to rediscover these abilities.

It is noteworthy that Isaiah 5
is the first time in Scripture
God refers to his people as a vineyard.
Therefore, the seven verbs
seen in the song are not simply
seven actions for cultivating
a fruitful vineyard,
but the seven steps required
for cultivating a godly life.

Unbeknownst to most, Jesus refers back to
The Song Of The Vineyard in all four Gospels
(Matthew 21, Mark 12, Luke 20, John 15).
And, each time Jesus quotes it,
he does so with the express purpose
of rebuking the leaders of his day
for keeping the song and it’s lessons
and it’s blessings to themselves.

What Are The Seven Steps?
The below steps are timeless,
trusted, and true.
We pray that as you walk them out
you will come to fully understand
how wide, how long, how high,
and how deep God’s love is for you. 

Step 1: Receive
Step 2: Protect
Step 3: Clear
Step 4: Plant
Step 5: Build
Step 6: Carve
Step 7: Wait

For The Kingdom,
~Justin & The Sevenapples Team