Remain: Rooted in Christ to Bear Fruit

The congregation is invited into a confident, pastoral vision that blends worship, practical church stewardship, and deep discipleship. Worship opens with a tribute to God as the Ancient of Days, anchoring the fellowship in the unchanging character and faithfulness of the Lord. A clear summary of the church’s identity and heritage is given, affirming a Pentecostal, Protestant confession and pointing members to a printed Declaration of Faith that outlines fourteen core convictions. Attention then turns to tangible ministry: progress in youth and children’s programs, the birth of a girls’ ministry, safety and security planning, men’s and women’s small groups, and a growing emphasis on pastoral care for seniors, widows, and families in need.

Practical stewardship and facility work are addressed candidly — parking lot repairs, parsonage maintenance, sanctuary carpet, and security upgrades — with a call to sacrificial giving (including special offerings and mission support) to undergird both local and global outreach. Missions receive focused attention, urging renewed generosity toward local partners like Paul Pax, Neighbors in Christ, and Pregnancy Resource ministries. The congregation is urged to translate faith into service: volunteers for nursery, children’s church, hospitality, and mission teams are needed to sustain growth.

Theologically, the central call is to remain in Christ by saturating life with Scripture and prayer. Drawing from John 15 and Psalm 1, the teaching contrasts mere exposure to God’s word with true saturation: Scripture is to take residence in the heart, forming deep roots that sustain believers through storms. Spiritual stability, like a well-rooted tree beside water, is not flashy but essential; it is formed beneath the surface by consistent meditation on God’s law, which then produces timely fruit. The Holy Spirit’s role in illuminating Scripture is emphasized: God’s words are the primary means of guidance and transformation. The service concludes with corporate prayer, a charge to recommit to daily communion with God, and practical next steps in ministry involvement and an upcoming business meeting to steward the church’s shared life.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Remain deeply connected through Scripture Continual communion with Christ is cultivated primarily by allowing Scripture to dwell within, not merely passing through the mind. When God’s words take residence, desires reorder, discernment becomes natural, and prayer aligns with God’s will. This abiding produces prayer that receives direction and bears fruit in tough seasons rather than reactionary faith. [48:49]
• 2. Roots precede visible fruit Stability and fruitfulness are consequences of subterranean formation: spiritual roots nourished by Scripture and prayer. The psalmist’s image of a tree by streams shows that placement and root depth determine resilience during storms, not surface appearance. Investing in inward formation prepares believers to yield fruit in God’s timing, under pressure and in peace. [63:48]
• 3. Church life requires active service Authentic community depends on deliberate volunteering and mutual care: nursery workers, youth leaders, hospitality hosts, security teams, and care ministry caretakers all make the body whole. Service is not optional ornamentation but the practical outworking of faith that sustains families and reaches the neighborhood. Participation sharpens faith, builds relationships, and multiplies spiritual fruit across generations. [09:40]
• 4. Prayer builds spiritual stability A house marked by prayer shapes people who remain steady when trials come; prayer teams, hospital visits, and consistent intercession form spiritual muscle. Prayer is both posture and practice that keeps the community dependent on God’s provision and responsive to His direction. Developing accessible, persistent prayer rhythms prepares the church to endure and to minister effectively in crisis. [19:59]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:24] - Opening greetings and humor
• [02:40] - Worship: "Ancient of Days"
• [06:23] - God's faithfulness and experience
• [07:18] - Declaration of Faith & resources
• [07:56] - Church identity and heritage
• [09:40] - Youth, children, and family ministries
• [10:52] - Property repairs and parsonage needs
• [13:34] - New ministries: girls, safety, men's groups
• [19:59] - Prayer emphasis and team vision
• [42:15] - Missions focus and giving appeal
• [48:49] - Series launch: Remain — stay connected
• [63:48] - Psalm 1: roots, stability, fruitfulness
• [81:52] - Closing prayer and business meeting announcement

1. According to John 15:7, what two conditions are given for receiving what we ask in prayer?
2. In Psalm 1, what three actions does the blessed person avoid, and what one action do they embrace?
3. What imagery does Psalm 1 use to describe someone who delights in God’s law, and what are the results? [01:03:48]
4. How does the idea of “remaining” or “abiding” connect John 15:7 with the picture of the tree in Psalm 1? [48:49]

1. What does it mean for God’s words to “remain” or “take residence” in us, rather than just passing through our minds? [48:49]
2. Why is spiritual stability compared to a tree’s root system, and how does that relate to bearing fruit in season? [01:03:48]
3. How does meditating on Scripture “day and night” differ from simply reading it quickly or out of obligation? [55:52]
4. In what ways might a person’s desires change when God’s word truly dwells in them? [01:15:33]

1. What practical step could you take this week to move from merely being *exposed* to Scripture to being *saturated* by it? [01:00:42]
2. Where in your life have you noticed that your reactions under pressure reveal the depth (or lack) of your spiritual roots? [01:08:24]
3. How can you create space to “meditate” on God’s word—to pause, reflect, and listen—rather than rushing through devotions? [55:52]
4. In what area of your life do you need God’s word to reshape your desires or instincts right now? [01:15:33]
5. Who in your life helps you stay rooted in Christ through encouragement, prayer, or accountability? How can you strengthen those relationships? [01:12:33]
6. What’s one way you can serve others in the church or community as a practical outworking of your faith? [09:40]
7. How can you intentionally rely on the Holy Spirit to help you understand and apply Scripture, rather than just depending on your own understanding? [01:02:09]