Abiding in Christ: Growth Through Community and Rest
Summary
The sermon focuses on the importance of abiding in Jesus to bear fruit, particularly the fruit of the Spirit as mentioned in Galatians 5:22. The speaker stresses that individuals are not responsible for producing the fruit themselves but must remain connected to Jesus, who enables growth within them. This connection is fostered through disciplined spiritual practices such as prayer, engaging with the Word, and worship. The speaker also discusses the plateau seasons of life, which are characterized by routine and lack of significant highs or lows. They encourage the congregation to use these times for growth in rest, community, character, and faith.
Building life-giving relationships and being part of a supportive community are highlighted as essential for success, warmth, protection, and overcoming challenges. The speaker references Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 to illustrate the benefits of companionship and mutual support. They also emphasize the importance of having friends who provide accountability and keep one grounded in Jesus.
The sermon acknowledges the peaks and valleys of life, with peaks being moments of joy and success, and valleys being times of loss and difficulty. However, most of life is spent on the plateau, where finding purpose in the ordinary is crucial. The speaker compares plateaus to mountains without peaks and suggests that these periods are opportunities for building character and faith.
The speaker shares a personal story about neglecting rest during a home improvement project and being reminded of its importance. They cite Psalm 127 to affirm that rest is a gift from God and encourage the congregation to seek balance between productivity and self-care.
Finally, the speaker prays for a supportive community and the development of Christ-like character. They express a desire for God's presence and thankfulness for the growth that comes with faithfulness. The sermon concludes with a call to align actions with words, live with integrity, and allow the Holy Spirit to transform character. The speaker urges the audience to crave the things of God and maintain a strong relationship with Jesus, as emphasized in John 15.
Key Takeaways:
- Abiding in Jesus is essential for spiritual growth, as it is through this connection that the fruit of the Spirit develops within us. By prioritizing spiritual disciplines, we can ensure that we remain in close relationship with Christ, allowing His life to flow through us and produce lasting fruit.
- The plateau seasons of life, often overlooked, are critical periods for personal development. These times of routine and normalcy are opportunities to build rest, community, character, and faith, which prepare us for future peaks and valleys.
- Life-giving relationships and community are invaluable for navigating life's journey. As Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 suggests, companionship provides mutual support, warmth, and strength to face life's challenges, making it essential to cultivate such bonds.
- Rest is not only a physical necessity but also a spiritual gift from God. It is crucial to balance productivity with self-care, recognizing that rest is not earned but graciously given by God to His beloved.
- True character development involves aligning our actions with our words and seeking the transformation that comes from the Holy Spirit. Living with integrity and transparency brings security and pleases God, as we strive to become more like Jesus every day.
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 15:4-5 (ESV) - "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."
2. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (ESV) - "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken."
3. Psalm 127:2 (ESV) - "It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to John 15:4-5, what is necessary for a branch to bear fruit? How does this relate to our spiritual lives?
2. In Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, what are the benefits of companionship and mutual support?
3. What does Psalm 127:2 say about the value of rest and how does it contrast with anxious toil?
4. What personal story did the speaker share to illustrate the importance of rest? ([50:41])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does abiding in Jesus enable us to bear the fruit of the Spirit as described in Galatians 5:22? ([01:13:41])
2. Why might the plateau seasons of life be critical for personal development, according to the sermon? ([45:36])
3. How can life-giving relationships and community help us navigate life's peaks and valleys? ([57:27])
4. What does the speaker mean by "building in the boring," and how does this concept apply to our daily lives? ([45:36])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current spiritual disciplines. How can you improve your connection with Jesus to ensure you are abiding in Him? ([01:12:03])
2. Think about a time when you were in a plateau season. How did you use that time for personal growth, or how could you have used it better? ([45:36])
3. Identify one or two people in your life who provide mutual support and accountability. How can you strengthen these relationships this week? ([57:27])
4. Are you currently balancing productivity with rest? What changes can you make to ensure you are honoring the gift of rest from God? ([50:41])
5. Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) to focus on this month. What specific action can you take to cultivate it in your interactions with others? ([01:13:41])
6. How can you build Christ-like character in your daily life? Identify one area where you need to align your actions with your words and make a plan to improve. ([01:01:57])
7. What steps can you take to ensure you are not wasting the plateau season but using it to build your faith, energy, community, and character? ([45:36])
Devotional
Day 1: Cultivating Connection with Christ
Abiding in Jesus is the cornerstone of spiritual growth, as it is through Him that the fruit of the Spirit blossoms. This divine connection is not passive; it requires active engagement in spiritual disciplines that draw one closer to Christ, allowing His life to flow through us. As branches to a vine, the closer one remains to Jesus, the more vibrant and fruitful one's life becomes. [07:40]
John 15:4-5 - "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 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."
Reflection: What spiritual disciplines can you strengthen or incorporate into your daily routine to foster a deeper connection with Jesus?
Day 2: Embracing the Plateau for Growth
The plateau seasons of life are fertile grounds for personal development. While they may seem uneventful, these periods are rich with potential for deepening rest, community, character, and faith. It is in the ordinary and routine that one can prepare for life's inevitable peaks and valleys, building a foundation that sustains through all seasons. [07:40]
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 - "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."
Reflection: How can you use your current plateau season as an opportunity to grow in one specific area of your life?
Day 3: Fostering Life-Giving Community
Community is not a luxury but a necessity for the Christian journey. It provides warmth, protection, and the strength to overcome life's challenges. In the context of a supportive community, individuals find mutual encouragement and accountability, which are vital for maintaining a grounded and fruitful life in Christ. [07:40]
Hebrews 10:24-25 - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Reflection: Who are the people in your life that encourage and hold you accountable in your walk with Christ? How can you strengthen these relationships?
Day 4: Valuing Rest as a Divine Gift
Rest is a divine gift, not merely a physical necessity. It is a sacred space where one can find renewal and balance. God's design for rest reminds us that our worth is not tied to productivity, and that He provides for us even in our stillness. Embracing rest is an act of trust in God's provision and care. [07:40]
Exodus 33:14 - "The Lord replied, 'My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'"
Reflection: How can you intentionally incorporate rest into your daily life, trusting that God's provision is sufficient even when you are not striving?
Day 5: Aligning Actions with Christ-like Character
Character development is a journey of aligning one's actions with the teachings of Jesus, allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out. Living with integrity means that our words and deeds are in harmony, reflecting the character of Christ to the world around us. This pursuit of authenticity brings security and pleases God. [07:40]
Ephesians 4:22-24 - "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where your actions and words are not aligned, and how can you begin to bring them into alignment with the character of Christ?
Quotes
"You need community that will walk all of the stages of life with you... if you fall down, somebody is going to be there to pick you up... You're going to have victory because somebody's fighting with you." [58:30] (Download)
"Together is better. You are not supposed to be alone... you need people in your life... to help you to stay level headed... You need somebody that will keep you accountable." [58:30] (Download)
"Our desire should be to become more and more like Jesus every day. It is not about what I can do or what I think that is important, but what about what Jesus says is important for me." [01:01:44] (Download)
"If we are going to live in integrity, that means that we are the same no matter who's watching. You can be in your house all by yourself and you're still living the same stuff because that is a person that has character, that has integrity." [01:03:28] (Download)
"The same way that you are disciplined in your workspace or in your schoolwork, the same way we have to be disciplined when it comes to abiding in Jesus. Because when we do that then there's fruit that is going to be produced in us." [01:12:27] (Download)
"We are not responsible for the fruit being produced in us. We are only responsible in staying connected to him. He will make the fruit grow. He will make things happen in us." [01:14:15] (Download)
"So don't waste this season. Don't waste the time that God has given you today while things are slowing down. That there will not just be another boring season until something shows up. But that in this time you are building." [01:16:00] (Download)
"Lord, we don't want to just be us. We want to be more like you. We want to sound like you. We want to act like you. We want people around us to just see a reflection of who you are through us." [01:17:41] (Download)
"Lord, that we will desire to just abide in you, to remain in you, to stay connected to you every single day of our lives. Lord, that not a moment will pass where we just feel like we have to do it on our own, but that we will remember to stay connected to you." [01:17:41] (Download)
"Wearing stress and running on empty as a badge of honor is not making you any good. You have to look for times to rest. Whenever it's available to you, you should rest. God commanded the people of Israel to take a Sabbath, to keep the Sabbath holy." [49:47] (Download)
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