September 13th, 2026 | ABIDE | Mark Strickland

Devotional

Day 1: Plugging Into the Vine Like a Branch

When a branch is severed from the vine, it withers. Jesus uses this image to redefine success: fruitfulness flows not from frantic activity but from abiding in him. Just as Apple’s revival came through ruthless focus on core products, spiritual vitality comes through anchoring every part of life to Christ. Abiding isn’t passive—it’s an intentional, life-giving connection. To bear fruit, we must resist the lie that busyness equals faithfulness. Jesus invites us to draw nourishment from his presence, not our performance. [06:32]

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
(John 15:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: What distractions or “side projects” in your life compete with abiding in Christ? What practical step could you take this week to prioritize connection with Jesus over productivity?

Day 2: Sitting at Jesus’ Feet When the World Demands Doing

Martha’s kitchen clattered with dishes, but Mary chose the better portion: stillness. Jesus defends Mary’s posture not to condemn service but to elevate presence. Like a spouse who craves shared silence over grand gestures, Christ desires our nearness more than our noise. Churches and individuals often default to measuring worth by output, but abiding reorders our values. The heart of worship isn’t smoke machines or schedules—it’s sitting unhurried at the feet of the One who calls us beloved. [17:14]

“She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’”
(Luke 10:39-42, ESV)

Reflection: Where do you feel pressure to “perform” for Jesus instead of resting in his approval? How might you create space this week to simply be with him?

Day 3: Unplugging the Noise to Hear the Heart of Worship

When the amps went silent and the stage lights dimmed, Matt Redman’s church rediscovered worship. Like Apple’s stripped-down product line, spiritual clarity often comes through subtraction. Jesus from “Schutesville”—the shoot prophesied centuries earlier—calls us to prune the clutter that drowns his voice. Abiding requires dismantling the machinery of self-made righteousness to hear the ancient, unadorned invitation: “It’s all about you, Jesus.” True worship begins when we unplug our striving and let grace fill the silence. [14:57]

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
(Psalm 46:10, ESV)

Reflection: What “noise” in your spiritual routine might God be asking you to unplug? How could simplicity deepen your awareness of his presence today?

Day 4: From Spiritual Bankruptcy to Fruitful Simplicity

Ninety days from collapse, Apple chose radical focus. Jesus meets us in our depletion—whether emotional, relational, or spiritual—and offers renewal through abiding. The shoot from Jesse’s stump reminds us that life springs from unlikely places when we root ourselves in him. Like a pruned tree, seasons of stripping back aren’t punishment but preparation. Abiding transforms our bankruptcy into abundance, not by adding programs but by drinking deeply from the Vine. [23:34]

“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.”
(Isaiah 11:1, ESV)

Reflection: Where do you feel spiritually depleted or “bankrupt”? How might Jesus be inviting you to exchange striving for trust in his life-giving presence?

Day 5: Practices That Open the Doorway to Abiding

Spiritual practices aren’t to-do list items but doorways. Jesus modeled habits—prayer, solitude, Scripture—that kept him anchored to the Father. Like a musician practicing scales to play freely, these disciplines train us to abide. Over nine weeks, we’ll explore practices that deepen our connection to Christ, not as burdens but as gifts. The goal isn’t mastery but intimacy. As we walk through these doorways, we’ll discover that abiding isn’t a destination—it’s coming home. [19:35]

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
(Philippians 4:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: Which spiritual practice feels most life-giving to you right now? What new “doorway” might God be inviting you to explore this season?

Sermon Summary

Apple’s near collapse and comeback through ruthless simplicity sets up a picture of what can happen in Christian life. The pull toward more services, more programs, more projects, and more noise can wear people out while the main thing gets lost. Jesus gives every follower one central call: “Abide in me.” John 15 says that branches cannot bear fruit by themselves, because life and fruit come only through connection to the vine.

Isaiah’s picture of a shoot coming from the stump of Jesse points ahead to Jesus. Jesus, the promised branch from David’s line, comes as the one whose roots bear fruit. Jesus from “Schutzville,” Nazareth, calls branches to abide in him so that his life produces fruit through them. Abiding means finding rest, purpose, calling, hope, and salvation in Jesus, rather than trying to build a better Christian life through sheer activity.

Simplicity pushes back against the instinct to do more for Jesus while missing time with Jesus. Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet shows the better thing, while Martha’s busy service shows how good activity can still distract from abiding. The heart of worship is not bigger lights, better music, or impressive church machinery. The heart of worship is getting back to Jesus himself, because the chief end of people is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.

Spiritual practices provide practical doorways into abiding. Jesus models a life deeply connected to the Father, full of the Spirit’s power and marked by perfect character. Prayer, Scripture, fasting, solitude, community, worship, celebration, generosity, service, witness, and Sabbath are not extra religious products to pile onto a crowded life. These practices help believers rest in Christ and stay plugged into the vine.

Fruit also multiplies. Abide Church, launching in South Milton, stands as a hopeful sign of corporate fruit flowing from a church that remains connected to Jesus. The call is to make the main thing the main thing, especially for those nearing emotional, anxiety, faith, or financial bankruptcy. Jesus does not call exhausted people to work harder. Jesus calls them to sit at his feet, simplify, and abide.

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Key Takeaways

1. Abiding is the one necessary thing. Jesus does not build discipleship on frantic effort or endless spiritual output. Jesus calls branches to receive life from the vine, because fruit cannot be manufactured apart from him. A full schedule of Christian activity can still leave the soul disconnected from the source of life. [06:32]
2. Simplicity protects the heart of worship. The pressure to add more can quietly turn worship into production and service into exhaustion. Jesus wants presence before performance, just as a close relationship sometimes needs nothing more than simply being together. The heart of worship returns when Jesus, not the machinery around him, becomes the center again. [14:57]
3. Spiritual practices create space for Christ. Prayer, Scripture, fasting, solitude, worship, community, generosity, service, witness, and Sabbath are not ways to impress God. These practices are doorways through which believers learn to remain connected to Christ. Jesus himself modeled a life ordered around communion with the Father. [19:13]
4. Fruit grows from corporate abiding. A church plant is not merely another project or product to manage. Seed-bearing fruit multiplies when a church is genuinely connected to Christ and responsive to his leading. Abide Church represents a faithful witness in a growing part of Milton where Jesus is calling his people to bear fruit. [21:14]
5. Jesus meets every kind of bankruptcy. Emotional, anxious, spiritual, and financial depletion can leave a person feeling ninety days from collapse. Jesus does not shame depleted branches for lacking fruit apart from the vine. Jesus invites them back into the place where life, rest, and fruit begin: abiding in him.

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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:03] - Apple’s Comeback Through Simplicity
[05:22] - The Exhaustion of More
[06:01] - Jesus Calls His People to Abide
[07:35] - Isaiah’s Shoot From Jesse
[09:54] - Plugging Into Jesus the Vine
[12:21] - Abiding Looks Like Simplicity
[13:39] - Resting With Jesus
[14:05] - Returning to the Heart of Worship
[16:41] - Mary, Martha, and the Better Thing
[17:50] - Spiritual Practices for Abiding
[20:38] - Abide Church and Multiplying Fruit
[22:44] - Making the Main Thing the Main Thing
[23:54] - Apart From Jesus, Nothing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 15:4–5

Verse 4: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” [06:32]

Verse 5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” [11:58]

Isaiah 11:1

“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.” [07:47]

Luke 10:38–42

Verse 38: “Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.” [17:05]

Verse 39: “And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.” [17:05]

Verse 40: “But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’” [17:05]

Verse 41: “But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,’” [17:05]

Verse 42: “‘but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’” [17:05]

Observation questions

In John 15:4–5, what actions and results are connected with the branch abiding in the vine? What does Jesus say the branch cannot do on its own? [06:32]
What does Isaiah say will come from the “stump of Jesse,” and what will this branch do? [07:47]
What details in Luke 10 show the difference between Mary’s posture toward Jesus and Martha’s posture toward serving? [17:05]
What kinds of “more” can fill the life of an individual Christian or a church and become exhausting or distracting? [05:22]

Interpretation questions

Jesus says that apart from him his followers can do nothing. What does this mean for good activities such as serving, attending church events, helping others, or building ministries? [11:29]
Martha was serving Jesus, which was not wrong in itself. Why does Jesus describe Mary’s choice of sitting at his feet as the one necessary thing? [17:24]
Isaiah’s promise of a fruitful branch from Jesse’s line points to Jesus. How does this promise help explain why Jesus alone is the source of life and fruit for his people? [09:31]
Spiritual practices can easily become another item on a crowded religious checklist. What makes prayer, Scripture, Sabbath, worship, or service a doorway into abiding rather than an attempt to impress God? [19:13]

Application questions

What are the “many things” currently competing for your attention, energy, and affection? Which of them may be good things that have begun to crowd out time at Jesus’ feet? [22:52]
Where do you most need to find your rest, purpose, hope, calling, or salvation in Jesus rather than in your own activity, success, or ability to keep up? [12:02]
Is there an area where you feel close to emotional, anxious, spiritual, or financial depletion? What would it look like this week to hear Jesus’ invitation to abide rather than simply trying harder? [23:21]
Which spiritual practice would help you make room to be with Jesus this week—prayer, Scripture, solitude, fasting, Sabbath, worship, community, generosity, service, or witness? What is one simple and realistic step you could take? [19:49]
In what ways can worship become focused on preferences, production, busyness, or outward activity? What could help you return to worship that is simply centered on Jesus himself? [14:57]
Fruit grows as believers and churches remain connected to Christ. How could you personally pray for, encourage, or practically support the work of Abide Church in South Milton? [21:18]

Sermon Clips

34s

#AbideInChrist

“I'm asking you, are you ready to get back to a season of simplifying it, Of abiding in Christ? Of making the main thing the main thing? Like, maybe someone in here is ninety days away from bankruptcy in your life. I'm not talking about finances, it could be that. It could be emotional bankruptcy, it could be anxiety bankruptcy, it could be faith bankruptcy. And Jesus is saying, will you abide in me?”

65s

#MoreIsExhausting

“You know, as I thought about Apple Computer and I thought about this story, I can't help but see parallels into what many Christians individually and even churches go through. In the interest of making our Christian life better and better, what do we do? We go to more church services, more Christian events. We find more Christian programs to do. We listen to more praise music, more, more, more, more. And churches can get stuck in doing some of the same things at the church level, adding more ministries, more projects, more lights, more smoke machines, whatever it is. More, more, more, more. And I share all this to say, all these things that we do for Jesus can become exhausting, and we do them at the expense of the one thing that Jesus tells every follower of him to do. Do you know what the one thing is that Jesus wants every one of his followers to do? It's to abide in him.”

31s

#SitAtHisFeet

“Allow me to pray for us. Lord Jesus, I thank you, God, that you're good. I thank you, Jesus, that you don't call us to work harder, try harder, and do more. You call us to simply sit at your feet and abide. And, Lord, we're posturing ourselves to listen. We're posturing ourselves to simplify. We're posturing ourselves to abide in you. We love you, Jesus. Thank you for fall kickoff today, and thank you for our kids in the service today, Lord. They are such a blessing to have with us. We love them dearly. We love the next generation.”

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September 13th, 2026 | ABIDE | Mark Strickland | MBC Online