Love That Grows Us Beyond Ourselves#Greater is thy faithfulness

John 15:1-17

I want to open with this question: Is it possible to grow spiritually and live comfortably? I believe you can, but there’s a tension there that can’t be ignored. Comfort isn’t the enemy, but it can be a distraction. Living comfortably isn’t wrong in itself. God often blesses us with stability, provision, and peace. But when comfort becomes our goal, we risk becoming spiritually stagnant. Growth usually involves discomfort, like confronting sin, serving others, or stepping out in faith or even as we learned two weeks ago from the apostle Paul, taking the low road called humility.

Now Spiritual growth is about your posture, not your Poverty. Posture refers to your heart, your attitude — humility, openness, surrender, and a willingness to learn and grow closer to God. Poverty refers to what you lack — your weaknesses, struggles, brokenness, or even material needs. This phrase is saying that spiritual maturity isn’t about how broken or needy you are, but about how you position yourself before All mighty God. You can be poor in spirit or struggling, but if your heart posture isn’t humble, teachable, and seeking God, real growth won’t happen.

See, God looks for a heart that says, “Here I am, God. I need you and I trust you,” more than someone who simply has a lot of needs.

A perfect verse for this idea is James 4:10: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

It shows that God responds to our posture of humility, not just our struggles or lack of. When we bow our hearts before Him, He does the lifting, the healing, and the growing.

Another one you might like is Isaiah 66:2: this is what the Lord said “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.”

Both verses emphasize that spiritual posture — not material or emotional poverty — is what draws God’s attention. Meaning that people respond off emotion and need rather than responding through faith, truth and obedience.

Today we are adding one more piece to our theme of Love one Another, by exploring how loving like Jesus will always push us beyond our comfort—and stretching us to a point that will causes or convict us to grow.

We live in a world that idolizes comfort—comfortable homes, jobs, routines, and relationships. We go to school, take exams, trainings to better ourselves and our families. There is nothing wrong with that, But when you open your eyes to the spiritual aspect, spiritual growth often begins where comfort ends. Today, we explore how love not only calls us to grow but also covers us when we fall short.

In this passage we will see that love is the vine that connects these two together. Turn your Bible to John 15

John chapter 15 is a unique section of the Bible. Chapter and verse divisions were not original to the text; they were added centuries later to make it easier to find certain statements. Still, this is one of the few chapters composed entirely of words ascribed to Jesus Christ. Some, like John chapters 14, 16, and 17, come very close, but not every single word in those texts is something spoken by Him. Leading up to this text, Jesus has been teaching about His status as the Way, Truth, and Life (John 14:6), and the work of the Holy Spirit.

This chapter begins with one of Jesus' most famous analogies. His description of Himself as the True Vine, God as the Vinedresser, and human beings as branches has a specific context that makes its lessons clearer. Just as some branches are "in" a vine, but not connected to the life giving aspects, so too can people be "in" a church, or a Christian community, and not be truly connected. The evidence to support this accusation fruitfulness: branches that aren't legitimately part of the "true vine" are barren, eventually cut off, and destroyed. This is not about a loss of salvation: ( I need to add something)

Here in chapter 15, we join Jesus and the disciples on their journey, leaving the last supper in route to the Mount of Olives where their camping overnight. Imagine you’re one of the 12 disciples. You just finished the late-night meal that will become known as the last supper with Jesus. After hearing a bunch of profound things that Jesus has said in the last 2 chapters and you’re still trying to wrap your head around them. Jesus says Rise, let us go. You get up from the Passover meal. You’re a little groggy definitely full and still chewing on some of Jesus‘s stranger sayings like “I am in the father, and he is in me” with these thoughts still playing in your mind you find your way through the quiet streets of Jerusalem this city eerily muffled as streets are on the verge of the biggest holiday of the year. The Passover is just a few days. As you make your way to the Mount of Olives, where you’ll sleep under the trees, Jesus who has been deep in thought since you started walking stops in front of a vineyard, great vines arched their way across trellises as his hands trace the weaving of the vines in and out of the clusters of plants and fruit he says, for the first time the words we read in verse 1 and 2 “I am the true vine, and my father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does not bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” I am the true vine and my father is the gardener. Imagine the disciples trying to wrap their heads around these words. Are they parables, metaphors or Jesus has had a little too much wine at dinner tonight? Now remember this conversation started back in chapter 13 with the washing of feet, the betrayal conversation to the new commandment to love one another and show people that you are my disciples and then he transitions into chapter 14 or should I say he speaks about him leaving to 1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me. 2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going."5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. That’s not an address or one the mountain top or even a place down by the river. Its because they are looking from the poverty lense and not their posture lens. Spiritual Growth will show you the way, It will show you the truth and definitely a life that is comfortable in Him. So Jesus continues in verse 3) you’re already clean because of the word I have spoken to you, 4) 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. Remain, that’s the word repeated over and over, and over again. And you are already clean because you’re in me, and you need to abide or remain in me. I wonder the tone that Jesus speaks to the disciples. Remember this is the one who can get loud and angry and The question that is our title today is, can we grow spiritually and love comfortably? I know this sounds strange but it has so much Substance to defining who God is and His son and the love they share through those who believe.

Listen to Jesus' word, stopping there in the moonlight, they look at the vine, and they know that if one of those vines is cut off from the source of the root it would shrivel up and die. Jesus picture is very clear, but he repeats it again in verse five because it’s so important. 5) I am the vine. You are the branches if you remain in me and I and you will bear much fruit apart from me you can do nothing.6) If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch of this thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire, and burned 7) If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. 8) This is to my father‘s glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Once again, Jesus talks about bearing much fruit, verse 5 points to the source of fruitfulness. If you remain in me, if you remain in me, you will bear much fruit. He says it will glorify God if you do Showing yourselves to be my disciples, remember Jesus, he just told them in the upper room that they would do greater works than he did that’s a tall order, but for greater works, they’ll need greater power to produce that type of fruit. They’ll need the juice the same juice that Jesus had flowing through his veins, flowing through the vines and it can only come from Jesus himself. “Remain in me”. We must remain in him. Some people get overly concerned about the part where Jesus says the withered vines get thrown into the fire they start to worry about going to hell, but I don’t think that was Jesus‘s point here. I believe that Jesus was trying to show the vine that doesn’t stay in him will shrivel up and it’s good for nothing.

Real life vines get thrown in the fire, but Christians don’t.. That’s why he said in verse 3, you’re already clean because of the word I’ve spoken to you. He’s not telling the 12 you better stay in line or I’m gonna cook ya in hell. Jesus‘s main point here is greater fruitfulness keep in mind. He only talks about the fire once, but he repeats very much fruit over and over. We focus on the fire and not the fruit

We Western civilization folk sometimes struggle when it comes to the eastern picture lessons like this. We want to take every word apart and analyze it. We hone in on one thing and usually not what picture or thought is about. Imagine looking at the Mona Lisa we all know that little smile is world famous it’s actually the most famous picture in the entire world, but in the background is a tiny little bridge barely noticeable. In this passage, focusing on the fire is like looking at the Mona Lisa and telling people it’s an artistic statement about a Renaissance bridge. You’re missing the point if you’re not focused on that Mona Lisa smile, and that picture is made to make you smile. It’s not about the fire it’s about our spiritual fruitfulness.

Jesus‘s statement in verse nine is probably one of the most profound in all the Bible. 9) “As the father has loved me ,so I have loved you. Now remain in my Love” We could so easily read that and it just goes right over heads so let me repeat what Jesus just said as the father has loved me so I have loved you and here’s a question. how much do you think the father loves himself? If you thought of words like unbreakable, unchanging, eternal love, everlasting love. Then you’re in the range of how much Jesus says he loves you God loves you as much as he loves himself now I don’t have a box to put that in, and I think we’ll spend eternity trying to get our heads wrapped around that one, but it helps us understand what it means to abide in Jesus. What does he mean when he says remain in me, abide in me? Well this should shed some light on it. Abiding in Jesus means abiding in his love. This is important because some people think we need to keep ourselves in our salvation, but God is saying, I love you and friends. There’s just nothing you can do to change that. God‘s love for us never changes but remaining in his love means our experience of it does. People might say that “I don’t always feel God loves me especially when I’m disobedient or in sin, I struggle to believe God cares about me and those moments I don’t love myself very much”

But this it was you should say I can’t imagine God loving me if I don’t love me. To remain in Jesus‘s love means to keep yourself in a place where you’re constantly experience it. And Jesus knows this. so verse 10) If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11)I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Imagine taking a shower. One of those hot showers that you need to wake up, just enjoying water coming down. Your body and mind just wants to stay there all day. And it usually on that day when you are running late or your spouse needs to get in there before the hot water runs out. But you are at peace and calm. The door is locked, the kids can’t get in, you have to break any arguments or kids saying I’m hungry, just a place of oasis. Now imagine that God’s love is the Shower. God‘s love is showering down at all times on you, you don’t have to worry about the hot water running out. Steaming up the room and surely not a water bill. but if you step outside of that shower, you will no longer experience it. When we step outside of God‘s will or his commands and we fall short in our transgressions . It’s not that God doesn’t love us. That shower is still on full blast. We’re just not standing in it; Therefore we’re not experiencing it. So hold on a second. Let me add a little more to that shower verse 11 says 11) Jesus said I’ve told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy would be complete.

If we go back to chapter 14 and Jesus was telling them the way truth and life and the holy spirit. we can connect Galatians 5 :22 the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, Love is the vine that we should stay connected with and if we remain in him we will enjoy true comfortability. But our comfort does not stop with ourselves verse 12 says

12)My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

So the command of Jesus is to love one another. Paul summed up the entire book of the law by saying love God and love your neighbors as yourself so when we love others, we are letting the love of God channel through us, so let’s run through a summary of these points to clarify I have loved you with the same love my father love me. Remain in that love, And be a channel for that love by loving one another, my friends that’s the fruit, that glorifies God, the fruit of love is what Jesus is looking for in our lives and it’s what he calls fruit that will last for a life time

Closing

Jesus was on His way to Mount of Olives. Jesus often brought His disciples to the Mount of Olives because it was a significant place both spiritually and prophetically.

A Place of Prayer and Intimacy with God: Jesus frequently went to the Mount of Olives to pray (Luke 22:39-40). It was a quiet place away from the crowds, where He could spend time with the Father. He brought His disciples there to teach them the importance of prayer and reliance on God.

A Preparation for What Was to Come: On the night of His arrest, Jesus took His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26:30-46). He was preparing them—and Himself—for the suffering that was about to take place. It was a moment of spiritual battle and surrender.

Fulfillment of Prophecy: The Mount of Olives is tied to prophecy. Zechariah 14:4 speaks of the Lord standing on the Mount of Olives in the end times. By spending time there, Jesus was connecting His present ministry to the future fulfillment of God’s plan. A Teaching Opportunity: Jesus gave His disciples important teachings on the Mount of Olives, especially about the end times (known as the Olivet Discourse – Matthew 24–25). It was a place where He could speak to them plainly about what was to come.

So, the Mount of Olives was a sacred and strategic location—one of prayer, prophecy, preparation, and teaching.

So I want us to think of the Mount of Olives as a place where:

Jesus went to pray deeply He prepared for hardship He taught and poured into His disciples He found peace before the storm

As we strive to grow spiritually and live life comfortably. Where is your “Mount of Olives”

1. A Quiet Morning Spot Before the Day Starts

Example: You wake up 30 minutes earlier to sit on the porch, in your car, or a favorite chair with your Bible and talk with God before the noise begins.

That’s your “Mount of Olives”—your time to prepare, surrender, and connect with the Father.

2. A Go-To Prayer Spot in a Busy Day

Example: You take your lunch break at a park or in your car, away from distractions, to pray and reset your heart. Many people park in this parking lot during the day, just to have some peace.

Like Jesus slipping away from the crowds, you’re creating space for God to speak and strengthen you.

3. A Sacred Place Before Making Big Decisions

Example: Before a major conversation or life changing step, retreat to your church, a walking trail, or your prayer closet to seek God’s will.

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives before the cross—your Mount of Olives might be where you say, “Not my will, but Yours.”

4. Maybe A Trusted Group or One-on-One Discipleship Time

Example: Meeting regularly with a small group or a mentor in a quiet space—maybe a home, coffee shop, or park—where you dive into God’s Word and grow together.

That mirrors Jesus gathering His disciples to teach and prepare them.

It’s not about the location—it’s about the intentional time and space to connect deeply with God, especially before or during spiritual battles. Church apart of our mission this year is to help you grow and find places you can call your Mount of Olives. A group of men and their wife’s will be coming to your home.

You don’t need to be poor, hurting, or in crisis to grow spiritually. But you do need:1. A humble heart that says, “God, I need You.” that your grace is sufficient You must have a Posture that is willing to be led, even if it disrupts your comfort. Comfort can give you space to grow—if you steward it well. If you’re in a season of comfort, use it wisely: Invest in things that have eternal value. So yes, you can grow and live comfortably—but you have to be aware that growth often requires stepping beyond what’s easy. Would you say you’re in a season of comfort right now? Or feeling stretched? We all love comfort—it’s safe, predictable, and easy. But Jesus didn’t call us to a life of ease—He called us to a life of love. And real love costs something.