Abiding in Christ: A Call to Spiritual Growth

Devotional

Day 1: Project Pew: Engaging in Holy Week

Holy Week is a sacred time that calls for deep engagement with our faith through "Project Pew," which involves praying, extending invitations, and welcoming others. This initiative encourages believers to pray fervently for God's power and love to be poured out during this transformative period. It also emphasizes the importance of inviting others to experience the events of Holy Week and ensuring that everyone who joins feels the love of Jesus through the community. By participating in Project Pew, individuals can actively contribute to the spiritual growth of themselves and others, fostering a welcoming environment that reflects the heart of Christ. [04:37]

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison." (Colossians 4:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: Who is one person you can invite to join you in a Holy Week service or event, and how can you ensure they feel welcomed and loved?

Day 2: Abiding in Christ: The True Target

The essence of the Christian life is not about pursuing self-determined goals but about abiding in Christ. This involves cultivating a deep, life-giving connection with Jesus, where believers draw their strength and purpose from Him. Abiding in Christ is the true target, leading to genuine transformation and fruitfulness. It is not about performance or busyness but about a genuine connection that transforms individuals from the inside out. By focusing on abiding in Christ, believers can experience the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, and more—manifesting in their lives. [09:00]

"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." (John 15:4, ESV)

Reflection: What daily practices can you implement to deepen your connection with Christ and ensure that your life is rooted in Him?

Day 3: The Performance Trap vs. Abiding

Many individuals fall into the performance trap, believing their worth is tied to their actions and achievements. However, true flourishing comes from abiding in Christ, not from busyness or self-effort. This new operating system requires complete dependence on God and trust in His love and grace. Abiding in Christ involves letting go of the false vines that promise fulfillment but leave individuals empty. By embracing this new way of living, believers can experience a life of genuine transformation and fruitfulness, free from the pressure of performance. [19:38]

"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find yourself striving for approval or validation, and how can you shift your focus to abiding in Christ instead?

Day 4: The Role of Pruning in Spiritual Growth

Pruning is a necessary part of spiritual growth, where God removes what hinders our fruitfulness. Though this process can be painful, it is through these trials that believers draw closer to God and experience true transformation. Trusting in God's goodness during these times is essential for bearing abundant fruit. Just as a gardener prunes a vine to encourage more fruit, God prunes our lives to remove obstacles and encourage growth. By embracing the pruning process, believers can experience a deeper relationship with God and a more fruitful life. [30:47]

"Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit." (John 15:2, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God is pruning you, and how can you trust in His goodness during this process?

Day 5: The Invitation to Abide

Jesus invites believers to abide in Him, promising that this connection will lead to abundant fruit. This involves surrendering personal plans and trusting in His love and grace. Abiding is the heart of the faith journey, leading to a life that reflects the character of Christ. By accepting this invitation, individuals can experience a life of purpose and fulfillment, rooted in the love and grace of Jesus. This abiding relationship is not passive but requires intentionality and a willingness to let go of self-determined goals in favor of a life centered on Christ. [37:56]

"Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to surrender your plans to Jesus, and what steps can you take to trust in His guidance and love?

Sermon Summary

In this gathering, we are reminded of the profound significance of Holy Week and the call to deepen our spiritual lives through what I have termed "Project Pew." This initiative is a simple yet powerful call to action: Pray, Extend invitations, and Welcome others. As we enter this sacred time, we are encouraged to pray fervently for God's power and love to be poured out, to invite others to experience the transformative events of Holy Week, and to warmly welcome all who join us, ensuring they feel the love of Jesus through our community.

Reflecting on John 15, we explore the metaphor of Jesus as the true vine. This imagery invites us to consider the essence of our spiritual lives. Jesus calls us to abide in Him, emphasizing that true flourishing and fruitfulness in life come from a deep, abiding relationship with Him. This is not about performance or busyness but about a genuine connection that transforms us from the inside out. The target of our lives should not be self-determined goals but rather a life rooted in Christ, producing the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, and more.

We are cautioned against the performance trap, where our worth is tied to our actions and achievements. Instead, we are invited to embrace a new operating system—abiding in Christ. This involves a complete dependence on God, trusting in His love and grace. Abiding is not passive; it requires intentionality and a willingness to let go of false vines that promise fulfillment but leave us empty.

Pruning is an essential part of this process. Just as a gardener prunes a vine to encourage more fruit, God prunes our lives, removing what hinders our growth. This can be painful, but it is through these trials that we draw closer to God and experience true transformation. The invitation is to trust in God's goodness, even when the scissors come out, knowing that He desires abundant fruit in our lives.

As we conclude, we are invited to reflect on a painting of Christ as the true vine, with His arms open wide, inviting us to abide in Him. This is the heart of our faith journey—remaining in Christ, drawing life from Him, and bearing fruit that reflects His character.

Key Takeaways

1. Project Pew: A Call to Action Holy Week is a time to engage deeply with our faith through prayer, inviting others, and welcoming them into our community. This initiative encourages us to pray for God's power and love, extend invitations to those around us, and ensure that everyone feels the love of Jesus through our actions. [04:37]
2. Abiding in Christ: The True Target The essence of the Christian life is not about aiming at self-determined goals but about abiding in Christ. This involves a deep, life-giving connection with Jesus, where we draw our strength and purpose from Him. Abiding is the true target, leading to genuine transformation and fruitfulness. [09:00]
3. The Performance Trap vs. Abiding Many fall into the performance trap, believing their worth is tied to their actions. However, true flourishing comes from abiding in Christ, not from busyness or self-effort. This new operating system requires complete dependence on God and trust in His love and grace. [19:38]
4. The Role of Pruning in Spiritual Growth Pruning is a necessary part of spiritual growth, where God removes what hinders our fruitfulness. Though painful, these trials draw us closer to God and lead to greater transformation. Trusting in God's goodness during these times is essential for bearing abundant fruit. [30:47]
5. The Invitation to Abide Jesus invites us to abide in Him, promising that this connection will lead to abundant fruit. This involves surrendering our own plans and trusting in His love and grace. Abiding is the heart of our faith journey, leading to a life that reflects the character of Christ.

** [37:56]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:00] - Introduction to Holy Week
[03:30] - Project Pew: Pray, Extend, Welcome
[04:37] - The Importance of Prayer
[06:46] - The Concept of Aiming in Life
[09:00] - Abiding in Christ: The True Target
[13:39] - Jesus as the True Vine
[16:53] - The Fruit of the Spirit
[19:38] - God's Desire for Our Lives
[25:29] - The New Operating System: Abiding
[28:09] - The Role of External Forces
[30:47] - The Invitation to Abide
[37:56] - The Necessity of Pruning
[41:56] - Reflecting on Christ the True Vine
[43:37] - Closing Prayer and Song

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 15:1-5 (ESV)
- Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

Observation Questions:

What does Jesus mean when He refers to Himself as the "true vine" in John 15:1? How does this imagery relate to the concept of abiding in Him? [13:39]
According to the sermon, what are the three components of "Project Pew," and how are they intended to impact Holy Week? [04:37]
What is the "performance trap" mentioned in the sermon, and how does it contrast with the concept of abiding in Christ? [19:38]
How does the sermon describe the role of pruning in spiritual growth, and what is its purpose according to John 15:2? [30:47]

Interpretation Questions:

In what ways does the metaphor of Jesus as the true vine challenge the idea of self-determined goals and personal achievements? How does this metaphor redefine the target of a Christian life? [09:00]
How might the concept of abiding in Christ as a "new operating system" change one's approach to spiritual growth and daily living? What does this imply about the nature of true transformation? [25:29]
The sermon mentions that pruning can be painful but necessary for growth. How might this process of pruning manifest in a believer's life, and what is the intended outcome? [37:56]
Reflecting on Galatians 5:22-23, how does the fruit of the Spirit relate to the idea of abiding in Christ? What does this suggest about the source of these character traits?

Application Questions:

"Project Pew" encourages prayer, extending invitations, and welcoming others. How can you incorporate these actions into your daily life, especially during Holy Week? Is there someone specific you feel called to invite or welcome? [04:37]
Consider your current life goals and activities. Are there any areas where you might be aiming at the wrong target, as described in the sermon? How can you realign your focus to abide more deeply in Christ? [06:46]
Reflect on a recent challenge or trial in your life. How might this be a form of spiritual pruning? How can you trust in God's goodness and draw closer to Him during this time? [30:47]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of a life-giving connection with Jesus. What practical steps can you take to deepen this connection and ensure it transforms you from the inside out? [28:09]
Identify one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) that you feel needs growth in your life. What specific action can you take this week to cultivate this trait in your interactions with others?
The sermon warns against the performance trap. Are there areas in your spiritual life where you feel your worth is tied to your actions? How can you shift your mindset to focus on abiding in Christ instead? [19:38]
Reflect on the painting of Christ as the true vine mentioned in the sermon. How does this imagery inspire you to abide in Him, and what changes can you make to ensure you remain connected to the true vine? [41:56]

Sermon Clips

And here's what John 15 does for us. John 15 describes the target, the target of the Christian life. Not one among many targets, the target. Let me show you. This is John 15, chapter 4. Okay, John 15, 4 says this. Abide in me. These are the words of Jesus. 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. We're going to talk about that. That is the heartbeat of the Christian life. Those words of Jesus, that's the heartbeat of the Christian life. You miss this, you miss the whole thing. It's the target. [00:06:55] (49 seconds)

And that led to separation with God. You tracking with me? Okay, so in declaring himself to be the true vine, here's what Jesus is doing. He's bringing his people, his followers, back to the promise of life, of abundance that was lost during the fall. The fall of man. That's a living, thriving relationship with God. That's the promise that was lost in the Garden. Okay? And so Jesus says, hey, look, there's a vine that produces all the sap you need. There's a vine that produces all the nourishment that you need. And causes all the branches to flourish. He says, I'm the true vine, Jesus says. And he's saying that he is the source of life. [00:13:04] (45 seconds)

Recently, our fourth and fifth graders went on a retreat just a couple weekends ago. And we have a fabulous kids ministry, CC Kids, Christ Church Kids. Awesome. Amy Glover, our leader, her team, they do an amazing job. They took a bunch of kids, over 50 kids, to this retreat. And it was awesome. Listen to this. 24 kids during that retreat surrendered their life to Jesus. They gave their lives to Jesus. Isn't that wonderful? You should celebrate that. That's worth celebrating. Think about it. 24 kids, 24 10 and 11 -year -olds, they went from darkness to light. 24 kids who know that they are children of God. I mean, this is good stuff. [00:16:15] (45 seconds)

That aspect is known as the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians chapter 5. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self -control. These are the fruit of the Spirit. Do you get this? That fruit, those character traits, they are the grapes on the branches of the vine. This is what God wants. He wants fruit in our lives. And this fruit is always about character. It's always about character that actually reflects the character of Jesus Christ. That's what we're looking for. You know, from grapes, you get wine. And what's wine? That's the good deeds that are going to come. But it's not wine that God is looking for. You know what he's looking for? He's looking for fruit. [00:17:28] (57 seconds)

What are you abiding in? What are you trusting in? What are you resting in? What are you banking on in life? If you bank on any other thing, anything else other than the Lord Jesus Christ, it will suck you dry. It'll suck you dry. It's a false vine. That's why, you know, in the scriptures I was thinking about this. King Solomon says, King Solomon says, meaningless, meaningless. He looks at life and he says meaningless. It's all meaningless. Why does he say that? This was the richest man in the world at the time and he says this. He says that our our worldly earthly pleasures, our worldly pursuits, they don't produce lasting satisfaction. They don't really make you flourish. [00:23:11] (41 seconds)

It's a new operating system. Follow me on this. And this operating system, it's not like like in a hospital where they put a person on life support, where you're plugged into machines to make you live. That is not what this operating system of abiding is like. No, this operating system for living involves Jesus. Just as much as as it does, your heart and your muscles and your nerves and your blood, the operating system system of abiding isn't the same as performance -based Christianity. Performance -based Christianity is often fueled by an outside force, something external. Okay, let me give you an example of what I mean, okay? This might help. [00:24:58] (50 seconds)

Pride might be the outside force that's working on in your life. I mean, hey, I don't want to stand up in front of all of you as a paunchy pastor. No, no, no. I want to be a svelte shepherd. I want to look good, right? I don't want my pride working on me. It's all garbage though because in the long run, the outside forces, fear, pride, they do not bring change. They do not bring lasting fruit. You know why? I'm aiming at the wrong target. The target isn't lose weight. The target isn't, you know, look better. No. I need something different. I don't need a diet. I need something deeper. I need a new understanding of my relationship with food. That's what I need. I know this. That's what I need. [00:28:44] (46 seconds)

Jesus says, if you're connected to the true vine, you'll experience joyous living. Don't you want to be more joyous? Don't you want to be happier? Don't you want to experience something lasting? He says, you will have pure joy. The kind of joy that no amount of money can buy. No substance can deliver. No experience can supply. Jesus says, when you abide in me, if you're connected to the vine, you'll have that kind of joy. And here's the invitation. Holy week invitation. Come into the vine. Hey, hey, give up the right to call your own shots. Surrender that. Give that up. Go to God and say, God, I can't live a good life. [00:31:35] (40 seconds)

And no one is exempt from this. Be clear. This is a product of what happened in Eden. Remember I referred to the Garden of Eden? This is a product of what happened in Eden. Jobs are taken away. Friendships are lost. Why? Because we all face the consequences of the false vine that disrupted life in the garden. We're living in that reality. The scissors come out. But if you abide in the true vine, if you are banking on all that God is for you through Jesus Christ, then the same troubles that come into everyone's life will not make you hateful. They'll actually make you more compassionate. [00:37:10] (46 seconds)

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