Abiding in Christ Forever

John 15:1-17

Verse 5  “I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

    Today we end our study of abiding.  We have looked at various angles of abiding so let’s take another peek at each one.

    The first week we looked at the Art and Act of Abiding.  We discussed things a Christian needs to grow.  We talked about how growing fruit requires various treatments and pruning.  The same is true about growing spiritual fruit.  We can’t grow the fruit we are to be bearing if we don’t abide in Him and let God prune us in season to grow abundant amounts of good fruit.

    Secondly, we talked about Attentive Listening.  We learned about the many ways and reasons we need to learn to listen so that we can abide in the Vine and bear good fruit.  Listening is about learning what we should do and learning what we shouldn’t do.

    Listening is only part of communication and that is why for our third topic we talked about The Unforced Rhythms of Grace: Abiding Prayer.  During the weeks on prayer we talked about how God wants us to talk to Him and listen to Him.

    Next we talked about the importance of taking a Dive into the Word and we followed that with a week discussing how Actions Speak Louder than Words: Radical Obedience.  Reading His Word shows us what He desires of us, our obedience reveals our love of Him.

    Last, but definitely not least, we talked about Friended: Loving Relationships which showed us what abiding friends look like.  We talked about loving, serving, praying, accepting and being kind to one another.

    These are the things that are needed to truly abide in Christ.  And only by faithfully abiding in Him and His ways, will we become more and more like Him.  Let’s become people who are abiding Him and Him alone.

Making It Personal

    What portion of abiding do you find most difficult in your life?  What have you learned that has helped you grow in your relationship with God?  How much are you abiding in Him?

Making It Personal Kids

    What does it mean to be living in Jesus?  Is it easy to live like Jesus?  Do you want to live for Jesus?

Closing Prayer

    Father, thank You for teaching us what it means to abide in You.  Prune and nurture us as needed.  In Jesus’ name, amen.