A More Excellent Way: Where Love Grows

Abide: Where Love Grows

Text: John 15:1–17 Series: A More Excellent Way Big Idea: Love is not produced by effort—it is the fruit of abiding in Christ.

INTRODUCTION

You could introduce it something like this: “We’ve established that love isn’t something you produce through willpower or performance. But you might be wondering: How does this love actually flow through me? How do I access it? Jesus answers that question directly in John 15 with one of Scripture’s most powerful illustrations.

Love is something we receive.

Jesus answers this fundamental question—Where does this love come from?—by taking us to a vineyard. And in that vineyard, he reveals three essential truths about how divine love actually enters and flows through your life.”

I. Jesus is the True Vine (vv. 1–3)

Jesus begins:

John 15:1–3 NKJV

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

Who supplies this love you receive? Jesus alone.

This love must be a gift God places, by the Holy Spirit, into the human heart—He takes a portion of His own love and puts it inside you.

He’s saying, I am the real source of life.

Not religion. Not performance. Not effort. Not knowledge. Not spiritual activity.

Not your track record.

Not your failures.

Not your past

Life comes from Me.

II. The Connection — You Must Abide (V. 4-5)

John 15:4–5 NKJV

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Then He says:

“You are the branches.”

That’s humbling.

Branches don’t generate life. Branches don’t decide what fruit to grow. Branches don’t make themselves alive.

They receive.

Everything a branch has comes from the vine.

This already confronts our instincts.

We want to be the source. We want control. We want credit. We want independence.

Jesus says: That’s not how the Kingdom works.

Then Jesus gives us the command:

John 15:4 NKJV

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

“Abide in Me.”

The Greek word menō means “to abide,” “to remain,” or “to stay”

The word abide lends itself to at least two ideas:

One which suggests a continuing in union with Christ and another which suggests a continuing in communion with Christ

Abiding means staying put in your relationship with Jesus. Not trying to earn it, not drifting away from it—just remaining connected through His Word and obedience. When you do, His life flows through you naturally, and love becomes inevitable rather than impossible.”

Remain Stay Dwell Continue Don’t disconnect

This is not a command to try harder.

This is a command to stay close.

Abiding is not striving. Abiding is not performing. Abiding is not achieving.

Abiding is relational dependence.

Jesus is saying:

Don’t visit Me. Don’t use Me. Don’t consult Me.

Live in Me.

III. The Fruit — Love Naturally Flows (John 15:6–8)

John 15:6–8 NKJV

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Jesus says:

“Apart from Me you can do nothing.”

Not less. Not a little. Not almost.

Nothing.

This is the verse that ruins our pride.

Because we believe:

“I can do some things without Jesus.” “I can be kind on my own.” “I can be patient on my own.” “I can love on my own.”

Jesus says: No, you can’t.

You can act loving. You can appear patient. You can fake kindness.

But you cannot bear fruit without Me.

Fruit is not behavior. Fruit is life.

CONCLUSION

So where does love grow?

Not in effort. Not in pressure. Not in performance.

Love grows in abiding.

And that means the Christian life is not about trying harder.

It’s about staying closer.

The problem with most of us is not that we don’t love God.

It’s that we’re tired from trying to live without abiding.

Be Blessed

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