How do we abide?

Intro

Turn to John Chapter 15

What you attach yourself to will change you....

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Lets geek out

A neural Que = Attachment to a creature and ability to control it over time.

Smaller creatures >>> Big Creatures

The idea is that you can control these things.. or they are going to control you.... This is pretty similar to our conversation this morning.

how things often work in the real world...

We attach ourself to things.. both good and bad

People: (Friends, Leaders, Coaches, mentors)

Stuff: Phone, video games,

activities: sports, show choir,

Jesus: This needs to be your greatest source of attachment....

Transition:

Big Idea: Following Jesus, begins by abiding, and is sustained by abiding. Abiding in Jesus is always the aim of our faith.

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.

Three questions this morning?

Have you attached to the Vine? (Conversation with non believer)

The Source of life change

the posture of worship

The place of Joy.

Ephesians 4:1–3 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Calling you have been Called?

four chapters no command other than to remember who you are…

Slide 1: Apart from Christ

Slide 2: In Christ

What does it take to be in Christ?

Romans 10:9 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Confess, believe abide and watch God Work...

Lordship places Jesus over your life and submitting yourself to him.

Transition: This is part one of the message for some of you… you really just need to get up… and I wont be offended in the sligthest if you get up act like you are going to the bathroom and a leader goes with you to the hallway to see the Lord and wrestle throguh this.... for those of us who are in Christ… on to part 2!

For the Rest of us… our time I want to give you a framework to think through… and if you have something to write this down please do. (Personal, Family. Relational, Communal)

What do you need to leave behind?

1. You have trusted in Jesus but you are still attached to other things…

This is lifelong and ongoing.

God is at working in growing you in Christ likeness and you will not see this completed until he takes you home...

Romans 8:30 ESV

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

God by the work of Jesus sees you as holy, but there is a-lot of work to be done on this side of heaven.

Personal: When you get by yourself… how are you and God..

Where do you go to find peace?

Lets be really real.

what do you turn to…

Family: How is your family life leading you towards Christ?

Your mom or dad at their best or worst are not God…

God calls you to be obedient but he does not call you to make them God.

Your faith must be your own…

My prayer time through John… (We want you to attach to Jesus)

You cant really change who is in your family but.…

Relational: Who in your life are you attached to that is pulling you away from God?

Be sensitive (There is one way to handle it if they are next to you)

Seek your leaders help with this.

Make no fast moves (All people are valuable to God)

Communal: what Groups in your life are you attached to that is pulling you away from God?

Be sensitive (There is one way to handle it if they are next to you)

Seek your leaders help with this.

Make no fast moves (All people are valuable to God)

What do you need to commit to step into?

I am going to make some suggestions but I want you to seek the Lord with this… so I am not going to give it away.

Personal: Spiritual Disciplines?

guys… we have got to get the dust off our bibles.

Family: Disciple your siblings/ get after it in prayer with your parents/ in most cases this is going to be welcomed more than you know.

Relational: How can you commit to follow Jesus together...

Story of girls at the coffee shop!

Communal:

These are your people..... This is your community, these leaders are your disciples. buy in, I promise you you wont regret it.

Conclusion: when we abide in Jesus we bear much fruit.

We dont know what the fruit is....

But I can imagine what it is and it is beautiful...

- A world where your Personal life, family, relationships, and community are all centered on Jesus and he is doing radical things...

Let God use this weekend to remind you that he doesn’t want to be a part of your life but rather the center of all that you do…

And there you will find joy and peace.

Pray Psalm 96 in closing

Psalm 96 ESV

Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.” Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.