No one said it would be easy. In the first installment of his BreakThrough series, Dr. Bruce H. Wilkinson urged Christians to find the abundant life through following a simple prayer. In Secrets of the Vine, his follow-up to the bestselling The Prayer of Jabez, the president of Walk thru the Bible Ministries explores compelling images from Bible verse John 15 in support of his message that asking for God's blessings may result in suffering and difficult circumstances. Through Jesus' symbolic portrayal of himself as the vine, the Father as vinedresser, and his followers as the branches, Wilkinson believes that Christians can better understand God's methods for ensuring personal fulfillment, and find a closer walk with him.

Grapes need pruning--and so do Christians, Wilkinson writes. God's "pruning" is painful, but Wilkinson argues that this pruning away of "self" is necessary to gain desirable results. He notes, "Pruning will intensify as God's shears cut closer to the core of who you are." Wilkinson urges Christians not to confuse "pruning" with "discipline," and offers a helpful chart to distinguish between the two. He discusses four levels of fruit bearing, from "no fruit" to "much fruit," and the connection between God's pruning and an abundant harvest.

Wilkinson's warm, personable writing style helps him come across as a confidant and mentor. Even though he admits, "I assure you that I possess no special knowledge in these matters," millions of readers seem to think he does. He lays down the challenge: "If you don't know and apply Jesus's vineyard teachings, you'll never experience the abundant life you long for. There is simply no other way." Christians aspiring to maturity in their spiritual lives will likely sit up and take notice. --Cindy Crosby


From Publishers Weekly
That They Might Have Books More AbundantlyIn The Prayer of Jabez, Bruce Wilkinson took a single passage of Scripture and expounded on it so powerfully that Multnomah has just gone back to press for a total ofgulpfour million copies in print. The publisher is hoping that history will repeat itself with Wilkinson's follow-up, Secrets of the Vine: Breaking Through to Abundance. Here, Wilkinson takes on John 15 and divulges three secrets of "bearing fruit" more abundantly for Christ. Wilkinson has that special talent for making readers feel that his books speak directly and personally to them. Multnomah plans an initial release of 250,000 copiesand after that, who knows? Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


Book Description
In this powerful follow-up to his bestseller The Prayer of Jabez, Dr. Bruce Wilkinson explores John 15 to show readers how to make maximum impact for God. Dr. Wilkinson demonstrates how Jesus is the Vine of life, discusses four levels of "fruit bearing" (doing the good work of God), and reveals three life-changing truths that will lead readers to new joy and effectiveness in His kingdom. Secrets of the Vine opens readers' eyes to the Lord's hand in their lives and uncovers surprising insights that will point them toward a new path of consequence for God's glory.


About the Author
Dr. Bruce H. Wilkinson is the founder and president of Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, an international organization dedicated to providing the finest biblical teaching tools and training. He is the author of the bestselling The Prayer of Jabez, Experiencing Spiritual Breakthroughs, 30 Days to Experiencing Spiritual Breakthroughs, and numerous other books and resources. Bruce and his wife, Darlene, live in Atlanta, Georgia, and have three children.

FROM OUR EDITORS

In this follow-up to the bestselling The Prayer of Jabez, Dr. Bruce Wilkinson, the founder and president of Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, shows how readers can use the power of prayer to "trade in mediocrity for a life of consequence" via John 15. Wilkinson shows why Jesus is "the Vine of life" and how three secrets within that verse can open up previously untapped potential in God himself.

ANNOTATION

Dr. Wilkinson demonstrates how Jesus is the Vine of life, discusses four levels of "fruit bearing" (doing the good work of God), and reveals three life-changing truths that will lead readers to new joy and effectiveness in His kingdom.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In this bestselling follow-up to The Prayer of Jabez, Dr. Bruce Wilkinson explores John 15 to show readers how to make maximum impact for God. Dr. Wilkinson demonstrates how Jesus is the Vine of life, discusses four levels of "fruit bearing" (doing the good work of God), and reveals three life-changing truths that will lead readers towards new joy and effectiveness. Luxuriously illustrated by Katia Andreeva, this inspiring gift edition will encourage believers at every stage of their progress towards making a difference for God's kingdom.

Author Biography: Bruce Wilkinson is the founder and president of Walk Thru the Bible Ministries and Walk Thru the Bible International. He is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The Prayer of Jabez and Secrets of the Vine as well as 30 Days to Experiencing Spiritual Breakthroughs and numerous other books. Bruce and his wife, Darlene, live in Atlanta, Georgia, and have three children.

Katia Andreeva discovered her love for art as a child in the Far East of Russia. After intensive schooling in her youth, she attended the Academy of Decorative Arts in St. Petersburg, where she studied fashion design. Relocating to Minnesota with her husband in 1994, Katia's watercolor play of bold colors and light has been warmly embraced.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly