Thriving Through Abiding: The Power of Rest
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound concept of abiding in Jesus, as illustrated in John 15:5-8. The essence of abiding is to remain connected to Jesus, the true vine, which is essential for bearing fruit in our lives. This connection is not just about spiritual nourishment but also about finding strength and purpose in our daily lives. Jesus desires for us to thrive, and this thriving is contingent upon our connection to Him, the source of life and strength.
We delved into the importance of establishing rhythms of rest that lead to restoration. In our fast-paced world, it's easy to become overwhelmed and exhausted, often cutting ourselves off from the very source that sustains us. True rest goes beyond physical sleep; it is about finding rest for our souls. Abiding in Jesus requires us to incorporate healthy rhythms of rest into our lives, allowing us to reconnect with Him and be restored.
We also discussed the active role each of us plays in God's kingdom. Regardless of our vocation, we are all called to live with an active faith, representing Jesus in our daily interactions. This active faith is not limited to pastors or church leaders but extends to everyone, as we are all on the front lines of ministry. Our unique gifts and talents are meant to be used for God's purposes, and we should strive to live our lives in alignment with these gifts.
Furthermore, we examined the story in Mark 6, where Jesus sends out His disciples to do His work. Despite their success, they became tired and hungry, prompting Jesus to invite them to a quiet place for rest. This illustrates the necessity of rest, even in the midst of fruitful ministry. Jesus Himself modeled the importance of rest, reminding us that we need to establish healthy rhythms to avoid burnout and continue our work effectively.
Finally, we were challenged to take back our Sundays and establish Sabbath rhythms, creating space for rest and activities that bring us joy and draw us closer to Jesus. By doing so, we can live active, faith-filled lives while experiencing the restoration that comes from abiding in Him.
Key Takeaways:
- Abiding in Jesus is essential for spiritual nourishment and thriving in life. It requires us to remain connected to Him, the true vine, as our source of strength and purpose. Without this connection, we risk becoming spiritually withered and unfruitful. [00:00]
- Establishing rhythms of rest is crucial for restoration. True rest goes beyond physical sleep; it involves finding rest for our souls by reconnecting with Jesus. This rest allows us to maintain perspective and stay active in our faith. [19:48]
- Each of us has a unique role in God's kingdom, regardless of our vocation. We are all called to live with an active faith, using our gifts and talents for God's purposes. This active faith is not limited to church leaders but extends to everyone. [28:10]
- Jesus modeled the importance of rest, even in the midst of fruitful ministry. In Mark 6, He invited His disciples to a quiet place for rest, illustrating the necessity of establishing healthy rhythms to avoid burnout and continue our work effectively. [31:11]
- We are challenged to take back our Sundays and establish Sabbath rhythms, creating space for rest and activities that bring us joy and draw us closer to Jesus. By doing so, we can live active, faith-filled lives while experiencing the restoration that comes from abiding in Him. [36:17]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - Introduction to Abide Series
- [02:10] - Understanding Abiding in Jesus
- [04:30] - The Importance of Staying Connected
- [06:15] - Rhythms of Rest and Restoration
- [09:00] - Personal Story of Restlessness
- [12:00] - The Deeper Need for Soul Rest
- [15:30] - Active Faith and Representing Jesus
- [19:48] - Mark 6: Jesus Sends Out the Disciples
- [23:00] - The Necessity of Rest in Ministry
- [28:10] - Avoiding Burnout Through Rest
- [31:11] - The Miracle Born from Rest
- [34:00] - Embracing Sabbath Rhythms
- [36:17] - Challenge to Establish Restful Rhythms
- [39:10] - Closing Prayer and Psalm 23
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 15:5-8
- Mark 6:6-13, 30-32
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Observation Questions:
1. In John 15:5-8, what does Jesus mean when He refers to Himself as the "vine" and us as the "branches"? How does this imagery help us understand our relationship with Him?
2. According to the sermon, what are some of the consequences of not abiding in Jesus, as mentioned in John 15? [00:00]
3. In Mark 6, what specific tasks did Jesus send His disciples to do, and what was their response to His instructions? [19:48]
4. How did Jesus respond to the disciples' need for rest after their ministry work in Mark 6? What does this tell us about the importance of rest? [31:11]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to "bear much fruit" as a result of abiding in Jesus, and how does this reflect in a believer's life? [00:00]
2. How can establishing rhythms of rest help believers maintain their connection to Jesus and avoid spiritual burnout? [28:10]
3. In what ways does the story of Jesus sending out His disciples in Mark 6 illustrate the active role each believer has in God's kingdom? [19:48]
4. How does Jesus' invitation to His disciples to rest in Mark 6 serve as a model for balancing ministry work and personal well-being? [31:11]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current life rhythms. Are there areas where you feel disconnected from Jesus, the true vine? What steps can you take to re-establish that connection? [00:00]
2. Consider your weekly schedule. How can you incorporate intentional times of rest that allow you to reconnect with Jesus and find restoration for your soul? [36:17]
3. Identify a specific gift or talent you have. How can you use this gift actively in your daily life to represent Jesus and fulfill your role in God's kingdom? [19:48]
4. Think about a time when you felt overwhelmed by your responsibilities. How did you handle it, and what could you do differently to ensure you are abiding in Jesus during such times? [31:11]
5. How can you take back your Sundays to establish Sabbath rhythms that bring you joy and draw you closer to Jesus? What specific activities will you include in your Sabbath? [36:17]
6. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt spiritually exhausted. What practical steps can you take to ensure you are not cutting yourself off from the vine during busy times? [28:10]
7. How can you encourage others in your small group or community to find rest in Jesus and live out their faith actively? What role can you play in supporting them? [19:48]
Devotional
Day 1: Abiding in Jesus for Spiritual Vitality
Abiding in Jesus is the foundation of spiritual vitality and fruitfulness. This connection to Jesus, the true vine, is essential for drawing strength and purpose in life. Without this connection, individuals risk becoming spiritually withered and unfruitful. Abiding is not a passive state but an active engagement with Jesus, allowing His life to flow through us and produce fruit. This relationship is nurtured through prayer, meditation on Scripture, and a conscious effort to remain in His presence. [00:00]
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."
Reflection: What specific practices can you incorporate into your daily routine to ensure you remain connected to Jesus, the true vine, throughout your day?
Day 2: Rest as a Pathway to Restoration
Establishing rhythms of rest is crucial for spiritual and emotional restoration. True rest goes beyond physical sleep; it involves finding rest for our souls by reconnecting with Jesus. In a world that often values busyness, it is easy to neglect the soul's need for rest. By intentionally setting aside time to rest in Jesus, individuals can maintain perspective and stay active in their faith. This rest is a gift that allows believers to be refreshed and renewed, enabling them to continue their work effectively. [19:48]
Matthew 11:28-29 (ESV): "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you feel overwhelmed. How can you intentionally create space for rest and reconnect with Jesus in this area today?
Day 3: Active Faith in Everyday Life
Each person has a unique role in God's kingdom, regardless of their vocation. All are called to live with an active faith, using their gifts and talents for God's purposes. This active faith is not limited to church leaders but extends to everyone, as all believers are on the front lines of ministry. By living in alignment with their gifts, individuals can represent Jesus in their daily interactions and contribute to His kingdom work. [28:10]
1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What unique gifts and talents has God given you, and how can you use them to actively represent Jesus in your daily interactions this week?
Day 4: The Necessity of Rest in Ministry
Jesus modeled the importance of rest, even in the midst of fruitful ministry. In Mark 6, He invited His disciples to a quiet place for rest, illustrating the necessity of establishing healthy rhythms to avoid burnout. This example serves as a reminder that rest is not a luxury but a necessity for effective ministry. By following Jesus' example, believers can avoid burnout and continue their work with renewed energy and focus. [31:11]
Mark 6:31 (ESV): "And he said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.' For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat."
Reflection: Reflect on your current ministry or service commitments. How can you incorporate regular times of rest to ensure you are serving from a place of strength and not exhaustion?
Day 5: Embracing Sabbath Rhythms
Believers are challenged to take back their Sundays and establish Sabbath rhythms, creating space for rest and activities that bring joy and draw them closer to Jesus. By doing so, they can live active, faith-filled lives while experiencing the restoration that comes from abiding in Him. Embracing the Sabbath is an act of trust, acknowledging that God is in control and that rest is a vital part of spiritual health. [36:17]
Hebrews 4:9-10 (ESV): "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his."
Reflection: What activities bring you joy and help you draw closer to Jesus? How can you intentionally incorporate these into your Sabbath to experience true rest and restoration?
Quotes
So really, what Jesus is saying here is that more than anything else, like more than your jobs, your relationships, more than anything else in this world, we have to abide in Him, right? We've got to stay connected, remain in Him, right? We've got to stay connected, understand that He is the very source of our life. He's our life source, our strength, right? He's the very thing that fuels us and empowers us to move forward in healthy rhythms of life, right? Because He wants us to thrive. [00:08:56] (35 seconds)
And so how do we do that? Like, what does it actually look like to abide in Jesus, to stay connected to the vine? Well, we've been saying it takes a patience to abide, right? Last week, Pastor Jonathan talked about having perseverance to abide. And so today, we're going to be talking on something a little bit different. We're talking about what it looks like to have rhythms of rest that lead to restoration. [00:09:52] (23 seconds)
And here's the thing, right? Abiding in Jesus, it requires us to live our lives with healthy rhythms of rest, right? Where we connect back to Jesus so that he can restore us, rebuild us, right? Help us keep our perspective on our true calling. And we've said this a million, if you've been a part of One Church for any length of time, you know that we believe very strongly that our true calling in life is to represent Jesus. [00:12:26] (30 seconds)
But here's the thing, like life gets busy. You know this and I know this. Life gets so busy and we do need sleep. We do need rest, like physical rest. It's part of being human. It's part of being like a normal functioning human being. So we get busy, right? We work hard. We study hard at school and, you know, we do all the social things and all the activities that we've going on. Our brains are busy and quite frankly, nothing ever seems convenient. [00:13:07] (27 seconds)
Translation, they did what God put them on this earth to do, right? Like that's, isn't that what it's all about or should, maybe shouldn't, should, should be what it's all about for us? Like God put these gifts inside of us. He placed us on this earth with purpose, and it's up to us to do what he sent us to do. That's the calling of all of us, right? Now, we're not all going to be pastors and teachers and preachers, right? [00:21:22] (27 seconds)
we're in the rat race we are just going going going every day every year for our whole lives and we do it so that one day we turn 65 years old and stop like we spend our whole lives working towards retirement so that we can stop what we're doing and his question is like for what like why would you do that why would you work all day every day just so that one day you can stop right so you can sit around and be bored out of your mind why would you do that he asked us right [00:22:50] (35 seconds)
living live your lives on mission utilize your gifts but do so with healthy rhythms of rest in your life now sidebar if you want to find out more about like what your gifting is we're gonna put the link in the description here it just brings you to like a spiritual gifts assessment we've done this before we actually actually the last summer but if you've never done this before just click the link take the assessment it takes probably 20 minutes to do it'll give you some feedback as to what your gifts are ask us we will help you figure out what this means for you [00:27:16] (31 seconds)
But what does Jesus do? He says to them, come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. Because you see, guys, even Jesus, the Son of God, fully God, fully human, right? The Son of God himself, even Jesus got tired. Even Jesus got overwhelmed. And Jesus knew that just like him, we need healthy rhythms of rest. If we're going to keep moving forward. [00:27:40] (40 seconds)
But the truth is, I'll say it again, we've got to stay connected to the vine if we want to thrive in this life. It's God who strengthens us. It's God who renews us, right? But it's only through our rhythms of rest that we can actually find restoration. It's when we find these healthy rhythms that we can connect and be restored. It's only in the stillness with God that all the noise, all the noise of your job and school and the relationships and the activities, all the noise starts to quiet down and go away, right? [00:30:24] (37 seconds)
You want some more of that in your life? Because I know I do, right? I want some more of that in me. I want to see those kinds of miracles lived out in my life. But for me to do that, I know from experience, I've got to have rhythms of rest in my life where I learn how to slow down sometimes and just be, right? Just be still. Be still and know that I am God, he says in Psalm 46. [00:32:02] (27 seconds)
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