Connected People Grow

John 15:1–5 NKJV

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 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. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 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. 5 “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.

⚓ BUILT TO FOLLOW JESUS - WEEK 2

“CONNECTED PEOPLE GROW”

INTRODUCTION

CHURCH, ONE OF THE GREATEST DANGERS IN THE LIFE OF A BELIEVER IS TRYING TO GROW ……WHILE DISCONNECTED FROM JESUS.

WE ARE LIVING IN A GENERATION THAT WANTS SPIRITUAL FRUIT WITHOUT SPIRITUAL CONNECTION.

PEOPLE WANT PEACE WITHOUT PRAYER.

POWER WITHOUT DISCIPLINE.

GROWTH WITHOUT COMMITMENT.

BLESSINGS WITHOUT ABIDING.

BUT JESUS MAKES SOMETHING CLEAR IN JOHN CHAPTER 15:

REAL GROWTH ONLY HAPPENS THROUGH CONNECTION.

AND THAT MAY SOUND SIMPLE

BUT IT IS IMPORTANT

BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE TODAY

ARE CONNECTED TO CHURCH ACTIVITY

BUT DISCONNECTED FROM CHRIST HIMSELF.

CONNECTED TO ROUTINES.

CONNECTED TO TRADITION.

CONNECTED TO POSITIONS.

BUT NOT TRULY CONNECTED TO JESUS.

AND CHURCH, YOU CAN FAKE

CONNECTION FOR A WHILE.

YOU CAN LOOK HEALTHY FOR A SEASON.

BUT EVENTUALLY DISCONNECTED THINGS STOP GROWING.

(PAUSE)

THAT IS WHY JESUS USES THE IMAGE OF A VINE AND BRANCHES.

BECAUSE EVERYBODY LISTENING TO HIM WOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD

VINEYARDS.

VINEYARDS WERE COMMON

THROUGHOUT ISRAEL.

PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THAT

BRANCHES HAD NO LIFE

WITHOUT THE VINE.

THE BRANCH DID NOT PRODUCE LIFE ON ITS OWN.

EVERYTHING THE BRANCH NEEDED FLOWED FROM THE VINE:

NOURISHMENT

STRENGTH

GROWTH

FRUITFULNESS

AND JESUS SAYS: “I AM THE TRUE VINE…”

IN OTHER WORDS: “I AM THE SOURCE.”

IS THAT RIGHT CHURCH?

YOUR JOY COMES FROM HIM.

YOUR PEACE COMES FROM HIM.

YOUR STRENGTH COMES FROM HIM.

YOUR WISDOM COMES FROM HIM.

YOUR GROWTH COMES FROM HIM.

AND IF YOU DISCONNECT FROM THE SOURCE….WHO IS JESUS….

EVENTUALLY YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE BEGINS TO DRY UP.

THAT IS WHY SOME BELIEVERS BECOME SPIRITUALLY STAGNANT.

NOT BECAUSE GOD STOPPED MOVING…

BUT BECAUSE THEY STOPPED ABIDING.

JESUS SAYS: “CONNECTED PEOPLE GROW.”

🔄 EXPANDED TRANSITION TO POINT I - GROWTH REQUIRES CONNECTION

CHURCH, BEFORE WE RUSH INTO THE FIRST POINT….

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE SETTING OF THIS PASSAGE.

JESUS IS SPEAKING TO DISCIPLES

WHO ARE ABOUT TO FACE PRESSURE.

IN JUST A SHORT TIME, JESUS WILL GO TO THE CROSS.

THE DISCIPLES WILL

FACE FEAR,

CONFUSION,

PERSECUTION, AND UNCERTAINTY.

AND IN THIS MOMENT…

JESUS DOES NOT TELL THEM:

“TRY HARDER.”

“BECOME STRONGER.”

“FIGURE IT OUT ON YOUR OWN.”

NO.

HE TELLS THEM:

“STAY CONNECTED TO ME.”

BECAUSE JESUS UNDERSTANDS SOMETHING WE OFTEN FORGET:

DISCIPLES CANNOT SURVIVE

DISCONNECTED FROM THE SOURCE.

AND CHURCH, THE TRUTH IS,

MANY PEOPLE LOOK CONNECTED PUBLICLY

WHILE SLOWLY DRYING UP PRIVATELY.

STILL SINGING.

STILL ATTENDING.

STILL SERVING.

BUT NO LONGER ABIDING.

AND THAT IS WHY THIS TEXT MATTERS SO MUCH.

BECAUSE JESUS IS NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT CHURCH ATTENDANCE.

HE IS TALKING ABOUT SPIRITUAL SURVIVAL.

HE IS SAYING:

“IF YOU DISCONNECT FROM ME,

EVENTUALLY YOUR STRENGTH WILL FADE,

YOUR JOY WILL WEAKEN,

YOUR PEACE WILL DRY UP,

AND YOUR FRUITFULNESS WILL SUFFER.”

THAT IS WHY DISCIPLESHIP IS NOT BUILT ON

OCCASIONAL MOMENTS WITH GOD.

IT IS BUILT ON CONSISTENT CONNECTION.

AND CHURCH, BEFORE JESUS EVER

TALKS ABOUT FRUIT,

PRUNING, OR

GROWTH, HE STARTS WITH RELATIONSHIP.

BECAUSE GROWTH IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT CONNECTION.

SO THE QUESTION BECOMES: ARE YOU TRULY ABIDING…

OR JUST APPEARING CONNECTED?

THAT LEADS US TO THE FIRST TRUTH OF THE TEXT

I. GROWTH REQUIRES CONNECTION

JESUS SAYS: “ABIDE IN ME, AND I IN YOU…”

THAT WORD “ABIDE” MEANS:

REMAIN

STAY

DWELL

CONTINUE

JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT ONGOING RELATIONSHIP.

NOT CASUAL CONNECTION.

NOT OCCASIONAL PRAYER.

NOT EMERGENCY-ONLY FAITH.

BUT DAILY COMMUNION WITH HIM.

AND FRIENDSHIP

THIS WAS POWERFUL LANGUAGE IN JEWISH CULTURE

BECAUSE RABBIS AND DISCIPLES OFTEN LIVED LIFE CLOSELY TOGETHER.

DISCIPLES STAYED NEAR THEIR TEACHER CONSTANTLY BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED PROXIMITY PRODUCED TRANSFORMATION.

THE CLOSER THEY STAYED TO THE RABBI, THE MORE THEY LEARNED HIS WAYS.

AND JESUS SAYS: “IF YOU WANT TO GROW SPIRITUALLY, STAY CONNECTED TO ME.”

CAN I HELP SOMEBODY HERE?

YOU CANNOT SURVIVE SPIRITUALLY OFF YESTERDAY’S CONNECTION.

YESTERDAY’S PRAYER WILL NOT SUSTAIN TODAY’S BATTLE.

YESTERDAY’S WORSHIP WILL NOT SUSTAIN TODAY’S PRESSURE.

YESTERDAY’S WORD WILL NOT SUSTAIN TODAY’S TEMPTATION.

YOU NEED FRESH CONNECTION.

AND CHURCH, MANY BELIEVERS ARE SPIRITUALLY WEAK

BECAUSE THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCONNECTED.

DISCONNECTED FROM PRAYER.

DISCONNECTED FROM THE WORD.

DISCONNECTED FROM WORSHIP.

DISCONNECTED FROM GODLY FELLOWSHIP.

AND EVENTUALLY DISCONNECTION SHOWS UP.

BECAUSE DISCONNECTED PEOPLE LOSE SPIRITUAL HUNGER.

THEY STOP PRAYING CONSISTENTLY.

STOP READING SCRIPTURE CONSISTENTLY.

STOP SEEKING GOD CONSISTENTLY.

AND THEN THEY WONDER:

“WHY DO I FEEL DRY?”

“WHY DO I FEEL DISTANT?”

“WHY DO I FEEL WEAK?”

BECAUSE DISCONNECTED THINGS EVENTUALLY STOP GROWING.

CAN I MAKE IT PLAIN?

A PHONE DISCONNECTED FROM POWER EVENTUALLY DIES.

IT MAY STILL LOOK GOOD.

STILL HAVE APPS.

STILL HAVE POTENTIAL.

BUT WITHOUT CONNECTION, THE BATTERY DRAINS.

AND SPIRITUALLY, SOME PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO OPERATE ON LOW BATTERY.

BUT JESUS SAYS:

“STAY CONNECTED TO ME.”

BECAUSE CONNECTED PEOPLE GROW.

🔄 EXPANDED TRANSITION TO POINT II - HEALTHY GROWTH REQUIRES PRUNING

NOW CHURCH, AFTER JESUS TEACHES US THAT

GROWTH REQUIRES CONNECTION,

HE IMMEDIATELY SHIFTS INTO SOMETHING UNCOMFORTABLE.

BECAUSE EVERYBODY LIKES THE IDEA OF GROWTH.

EVERYBODY LIKES THE IDEA OF BLESSING.

EVERYBODY LIKES THE IDEA OF FRUITFULNESS.

BUT NOBODY GETS EXCITED ABOUT PRUNING.

NOBODY PRAYS:

“LORD, CUT ON ME.”

“LORD, STRETCH ME.”

“LORD, REMOVE WHAT’S UNHEALTHY IN ME.”

JESUS SAYS HEALTHY GROWTH

ALWAYS INVOLVES PRUNING.

AND CHURCH, THIS WOULD HAVE MADE

PERFECT SENSE TO PEOPLE LIVING IN AGRICULTURAL CULTURE.

VINEYARDS REQUIRED CONSTANT CARE.

A VINE LEFT UNTOUCHED WOULD EVENTUALLY

BECOME WILD, UNHEALTHY,

AND UNPRODUCTIVE.

SO THE VINEDRESSER HAD TO CUT WITH INTENTION.

NOT BECAUSE HE HATED THE BRANCH.

BECAUSE HE BELIEVED IT COULD PRODUCE MORE.

AND CAN I TELL SOMEBODY TODAY?

SOME OF THE UNCOMFORTABLE SEASONS

IN YOUR LIFE WERE NOT ATTACKS FROM THE ENEMY.

THEY WERE MOMENTS

WHERE GOD WAS DEVELOPING YOUR CHARACTER.

BECAUSE GOD LOVES YOU TOO MUCH TO LET YOU STAY SPIRITUALLY STAGNANT.

THAT IS WHY SOMETIMES GOD WILL DISRUPT YOUR COMFORT

TO PROTECT YOUR CALLING.

SOMETIMES HE WILL CLOSE DOORS.

SOMETIMES HE WILL EXPOSE UNHEALTHY THINGS.

SOMETIMES HE WILL REMOVE DISTRACTIONS.

SOMETIMES HE WILL SHAKE AREAS OF YOUR LIFE

THAT BECAME TOO COMFORTABLE.

AND IF WE ARE HONEST, CHURCH,

WE OFTEN RESIST THE VERY PROCESS THAT PRODUCES GROWTH.

JESUS SAYS IF YOU ARE TRULY CONNECTED, THE FATHER WILL PRUNE YOU SO YOU CAN BECOME MORE FRUITFUL.

THAT BRINGS US TO THE NEXT TRUTH OF THE TEXT.

II. HEALTHY GROWTH REQUIRES PRUNING

John 15:2 NKJV

2 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.

JESUS SAYS: “EVERY BRANCH THAT BEARS FRUIT HE PRUNES…”

NOW CHURCH, PRUNING WAS A NECESSARY PART OF VINEYARD LIFE IN ANCIENT ISRAEL.

VINEDRESSERS WOULD CAREFULLY CUT AWAY DEAD BRANCHES,

UNNECESSARY GROWTH,

AND UNHEALTHY AREAS SO THE VINE

COULD PRODUCE GREATER FRUIT.

AND HEAR THIS:

PRUNING WAS NOT PUNISHMENT.

IT WAS PREPARATION.

THE VINEDRESSER CUT THE BRANCH BECAUSE IT HAD POTENTIAL FOR MORE GROWTH.

CAN I GET AN AMEN?

SOME OF THE PAINFUL SEASONS IN YOUR LIFE WERE ACTUALLY PRUNING SEASONS.

SEASONS WHERE GOD STARTED CUTTING AWAY:

PRIDE

DISTRACTIONS

UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

WRONG ATTITUDES

BAD HABITS

MISPLACED PRIORITIES

AND WHILE YOU THOUGHT GOD WAS HURTING YOU…

GOD WAS DEVELOPING YOU.

CAN I HELP SOMEBODY?

SOMETIMES GOD REMOVES THINGS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT GO WHERE HE IS TAKING YOU.

AND CHURCH, PRUNING IS UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE WE BECOME ATTACHED TO THINGS GOD IS TRYING TO REMOVE.

BUT DISCIPLESHIP REQUIRES TRUST.

BECAUSE GOD SEES WHAT WE CANNOT SEE.

THE VINEDRESSER KNOWS WHERE GROWTH IS POSSIBLE.

AND SOMETIMES GOD WILL CUT AWAY GOOD THINGS TO PRODUCE GREATER THINGS.

CAN I PUSH THIS FURTHER?

SOME PEOPLE SHOUT OVER INCREASE…

BUT MATURITY OFTEN COMES THROUGH REDUCTION.

REDUCTION OF PRIDE.

REDUCTION OF EGO.

REDUCTION OF SELF-DEPENDENCE.

BECAUSE GOD IS MORE CONCERNED WITH YOUR FRUIT THAN YOUR COMFORT.

AND CHURCH, PRUNING SEASONS REVEAL WHETHER

YOU TRUST GOD ENOUGH TO STAY CONNECTED WHILE HE IS WORKING ON YOU.

CAN YOU STILL PRAISE HIM WHILE HE IS CUTTING?

CAN YOU STILL TRUST HIM WHILE HE IS SHAPING?

CAN YOU STILL FOLLOW HIM WHILE HE IS STRETCHING YOU?

THAT IS DISCIPLESHIP.

AND HEAR ME CLEARLY:

IF GOD IS PRUNING YOU, IT MEANS HE STILL HAS PURPOSE FOR YOU.

BECAUSE GOD DOES NOT PRUNE DEAD THINGS.

HE PRUNES FRUITFUL THINGS.

🔄 EXPANDED TRANSITION TO POINT III - CONNECTION PRODUCES FRUIT

NOW CHURCH, AFTER JESUS TALKS ABOUT PRUNING,

HE MOVES US INTO THE REAL EVIDENCE OF SPIRITUAL CONNECTION.

THE HEALTH OF THE VINE WAS PROVEN BY THE FRUIT IT PRODUCED.

NOT BY APPEARANCE.

NOT BY LEAVES.

NOT BY SIZE.

FRUIT WAS THE EVIDENCE.

AND SPIRITUALLY, JESUS SAYS THE SAME THING ABOUT DISCIPLESHIP.

REAL CONNECTION PRODUCES VISIBLE TRANSFORMATION.

CAN I GET AN AMEN?

WE LIVE IN A CULTURE THAT HAS MASTERED APPEARANCES.

PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO APPEAR BLESSED ONLINE.

APPEAR STRONG PUBLICLY.

APPEAR SPIRITUAL AROUND CHURCH PEOPLE.

BUT JESUS SAYS REAL DISCIPLESHIP EVENTUALLY PRODUCES FRUIT.

NOT PERFORMANCE.

NOT RELIGIOUS ACTING.

BUT FRUIT.

AND CHURCH, FRUIT CANNOT BE MANUFACTURED OVERNIGHT.

FRUIT DEVELOPS SLOWLY.

QUIETLY.

CONSISTENTLY.

YOU DO NOT SEE A TREE GROW OVERNIGHT…

BUT IF IT STAYS PLANTED LONG ENOUGH….

GROWTH EVENTUALLY BECOMES VISIBLE.

(WHEN I WAS A KID….I REMEMBER WHEN MY PARENTS WOULD HAVE ME AND MY BROTHER HAVE US STAND WITH OUR BACK TO THE WALL……

EVIDENCE OF GROWTH.

THAT IS WHY SOME BELIEVERS BECOME FRUSTRATED WITH THEMSELVES.

THEY THINK:

“WHY AM I NOT GROWING FASTER?”

“WHY AM I STILL STRUGGLING IN CERTAIN AREAS?”

BUT GROWTH IS A PROCESS.

THE BRANCH DOES NOT PANIC WHILE CONNECTED TO THE VINE.

IT SIMPLY REMAINS CONNECTED AND GROWTH HAPPENS NATURALLY OVER TIME.

AND I THINK SOMEBODY NEEDS TO HEAR THIS:

DO NOT CONFUSE SLOW GROWTH WITH NO GROWTH.

BECAUSE IF YOU STAY CONNECTED TO JESUS, FRUIT WILL EVENTUALLY APPEAR IN YOUR LIFE.

YOUR PATIENCE WILL GROW.

YOUR FAITH WILL GROW.

YOUR WISDOM WILL GROW.

YOUR MATURITY WILL GROW.

CONNECTED PEOPLE GROW.

AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE NEXT REALITY JESUS TEACHES IN THIS PASSAGE.

III. REAL CONNECTION PRODUCES FRUIT

JESUS SAYS:

“HE WHO ABIDES IN ME… BEARS MUCH FRUIT.”

NOTICE JESUS DOES NOT SAY:

“TRY HARDER TO PRODUCE FRUIT.”

FRUIT IS THE NATURAL RESULT OF CONNECTION.

CAN I HELP SOMEBODY?

BRANCHES DO NOT STRAIN TO PRODUCE GRAPES.

FRUIT FLOWS NATURALLY WHEN THE BRANCH STAYS CONNECTED TO THE VINE.

AND SPIRITUALLY, TRANSFORMATION HAPPENS WHEN YOU STAY CONNECTED TO JESUS.

THAT MEANS:

YOUR ATTITUDE CHANGES

YOUR CHARACTER CHANGES

YOUR SPEECH CHANGES

YOUR PRIORITIES CHANGE

BECAUSE THE LONGER YOU STAY CONNECTED TO JESUS, THE MORE YOUR LIFE BEGINS TO REFLECT HIM.

AND CHURCH, FRUIT MATTERS BECAUSE FRUIT REVEALS HEALTH.

IN BIBLICAL CULTURE, FRUITFULNESS REPRESENTED BLESSING, PRODUCTIVITY, AND SPIRITUAL VITALITY.

A FRUITFUL VINEYARD WAS A SIGN OF LIFE.

AND JESUS SAYS DISCIPLES SHOULD BEAR FRUIT.

NOT JUST GIFTS.

NOT JUST TALENT.

FRUIT.

BECAUSE GIFTS CAN IMPRESS PEOPLE WHILE FRUIT REVEALS CHARACTER.

YOU CAN HAVE TALENT WITHOUT MATURITY.

ABILITY WITHOUT INTEGRITY.

CHARISMA WITHOUT CHRISTLIKENESS.

BUT FRUIT REVEALS TRANSFORMATION.

AM I TALKING TO SOMEBODY….THIS MORNING

REAL FRUIT LOOKS LIKE:

LOVE

PATIENCE

KINDNESS

SELF-CONTROL

HUMILITY

FORGIVENESS

FAITHFULNESS

AND CHURCH, GOD IS NOT JUST LOOKING FOR BUSY PEOPLE.

HE IS LOOKING FOR FRUITFUL PEOPLE.

BECAUSE THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACTIVITY AND PRODUCTIVITY.

SOME PEOPLE ARE BUSY IN CHURCH…

BUT STILL SPIRITUALLY IMMATURE.

BUT CONNECTED PEOPLE GROW.

CONNECTED PEOPLE CHANGE.

CONNECTED PEOPLE BECOME FRUITFUL.

AND HEAR ME:

FRUIT DOES NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

GROWTH TAKES TIME.

THAT IS WHY PSALM 1 SAYS:

“HE SHALL BE LIKE A TREE PLANTED BY RIVERS OF WATER…”

PLANTED PEOPLE SURVIVE DRY SEASONS.

PLANTED PEOPLE REMAIN STABLE UNDER PRESSURE.

PLANTED PEOPLE CONTINUE GROWING EVEN DURING DIFFICULT SEASONS.

AND CHURCH, IF YOU STAY CONNECTED TO JESUS LONG ENOUGH, FRUIT WILL EVENTUALLY SHOW UP IN YOUR LIFE.

🔄 EXPANDED TRANSITION TO POINT IV - DISCONNECTED PEOPLE CANNOT THRIVE

JESUS CLOSES THIS SECTION WITH

ONE OF THE STRONGEST STATEMENTS IN THE ENTIRE PASSAGE.

BECAUSE AFTER TALKING ABOUT CONNECTION, PRUNING, AND

FRUITFULNESS, JESUS MAKES IT PLAIN:

APART FROM HIM, NOTHING WORKS SPIRITUALLY.

AND CAN I TELL YOU WHERE THE REAL DANGER IS?

👉 “THE DANGER IS NOT THAT PEOPLE STOP COMING TO CHURCH.

THE DANGER IS PEOPLE KEEP COMING WHILE SLOWLY DISCONNECTING FROM JESUS.”

STILL ATTENDING… BUT NO INTIMACY.

STILL SERVING… BUT SPIRITUALLY DRY.

STILL SHOWING UP… BUT NO LONGER ABIDING.

AND THE SCARY THING ABOUT DISCONNECTION IS

IT USUALLY HAPPENS SLOWLY.

NOBODY WAKES UP ONE MORNING COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED.

IT HAPPENS LITTLE BY LITTLE.

PRAYER BECOMES INCONSISTENT.

WORSHIP BECOMES ROUTINE.

CONVICTION GETS QUIETER.

PASSION STARTS FADING.

AND BEFORE LONG, PEOPLE CAN MAINTAIN CHURCH APPEARANCES

WHILE DYING SPIRITUALLY ON THE INSIDE.

THAT IS WHY JESUS SAYS:

“WITHOUT ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING.”

IV. DISCONNECTED PEOPLE CANNOT THRIVE

JESUS SAYS:

“WITHOUT ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING.”

CHURCH, THAT STATEMENT CONFRONTS HUMAN PRIDE.

BECAUSE WE LIKE INDEPENDENCE.

WE LIKE SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

BUT JESUS SAYS: “WITHOUT ME…”

NOT: “WITHOUT ME YOU CAN DO A LITTLE.”

NOTHING.

AND IN FIRST-CENTURY JEWISH CULTURE, DEPENDENCE UPON GOD WAS CENTRAL TO SPIRITUAL LIFE.

ISRAEL UNDERSTOOD THAT APART FROM GOD’S PROVISION, SURVIVAL ITSELF WAS IMPOSSIBLE.

RAIN CAME FROM GOD.

HARVEST CAME FROM GOD.

PROTECTION CAME FROM GOD.

AND JESUS REMINDS HIS DISCIPLES:

“YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE DEPENDS COMPLETELY ON ME.”

CAN I HELP SOMEBODY?

YOU MAY HAVE TALENT…

BUT WITHOUT JESUS THERE IS NO LASTING FRUIT.

YOU MAY HAVE RESOURCES…

BUT WITHOUT JESUS THERE IS NO SPIRITUAL LIFE.

YOU MAY HAVE CHURCH ACTIVITY…

BUT WITHOUT JESUS THERE IS NO TRANSFORMATION.

AND CHURCH, SOME PEOPLE ARE EXHAUSTED

BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING TO PRODUCE SPIRITUALLY WHILE DISCONNECTED FROM CHRIST.

TRYING TO LOVE WITHOUT ABIDING.

TRYING TO SERVE WITHOUT ABIDING.

TRYING TO LEAD WITHOUT ABIDING.

BUT JESUS SAYS: “YOU NEED ME.”

WE NEED JESUS IN OUR HOMES.

JESUS IN OUR MARRIAGES.

JESUS IN OUR MINDS.

JESUS IN OUR CHURCHES.

JESUS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

BECAUSE DISCONNECTED PEOPLE CANNOT THRIVE SPIRITUALLY.

AND CHURCH, THE DANGER IS YOU CAN STILL LOOK ALIVE FOR A WHILE AFTER DISCONNECTION.

A BRANCH CAN STAY ATTACHED EXTERNALLY WHILE DYING INTERNALLY.

AND THAT IS WHERE SOME PEOPLE ARE TODAY.

STILL ATTENDING.

STILL SMILING.

STILL FUNCTIONING PUBLICLY.

BUT SPIRITUALLY DISCONNECTED PRIVATELY.

BUT I CAME TO TELL SOMEBODY: JESUS IS CALLING YOU BACK TO CONNECTION.

BACK TO PRAYER.

BACK TO INTIMACY.

BACK TO WORSHIP.

BACK TO DEPENDENCE.

BECAUSE CONNECTED PEOPLE GROW.

🔄 EXPANDED TRANSITION TO CELEBRATION

AND CHURCH, WHEN YOU REALLY SIT IN THIS TEXT, IT FORCES ALL OF US TO EXAMINE OUR SPIRITUAL CONDITION HONESTLY.

NOT OUR CHURCH ACTIVITY.

NOT OUR PUBLIC IMAGE.

NOT OUR ROUTINES.

BUT OUR CONNECTION.

BECAUSE JESUS IS NOT IMPRESSED WITH APPEARANCES

IF THERE IS NO ABIDING.

AND IF WE ARE HONEST, ALL OF US HAVE HAD SEASONS WHERE LIFE TRIED TO DISCONNECT US.

DISAPPOINTMENT TRIED TO DISCONNECT US.

PAIN TRIED TO DISCONNECT US.

BUSYNESS TRIED TO DISCONNECT US.

WEARINESS TRIED TO DISCONNECT US.

SOME PEOPLE ALMOST LOST THEIR PRAYER LIFE.

ALMOST LOST THEIR PASSION.

ALMOST LOST THEIR CONSISTENCY.

ALMOST LOST THEIR JOY.

HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS……

EVEN WHEN WE DRIFT….. JESUS STILL INVITES US BACK INTO CONNECTION.

THAT IS GRACE.

GRACE SAYS:

“YOU CAN COME BACK.”

“YOU CAN GROW AGAIN.”

“YOU CAN BE RESTORED AGAIN.”

AND I BELIEVE GOD IS SPEAKING OVER FRIENDSHIP IN THIS SEASON:

“THIS WILL NOT BE A SEASON OF SPIRITUAL DRYNESS.”

NO.

THIS WILL BE A SEASON OF RECONNECTION.

A SEASON OF DEEPER PRAYER.

DEEPER WORSHIP.

DEEPER DISCIPLESHIP.

DEEPER GROWTH.

BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE STAY CONNECTED TO JESUS,

TRANSFORMATION WILL HAPPEN

CELEBRATION CLOSE

YOU CANNOT GROW DISCONNECTED FROM JESUS.

YOU NEED HIM EVERY DAY.

EVERY HOUR.

EVERY MOMENT.

BECAUSE JESUS IS THE SOURCE.

HE IS THE VINE.

HE IS THE STRENGTH.

HE IS THE LIFE.

HE IS THE PEACE.

HE IS THE POWER.

AND CHURCH, WHEN YOU STAY CONNECTED TO JESUS:

DRY PLACES BEGIN TO LIVE AGAIN.

WEAK PLACES BECOME STRONGER.

BROKEN PLACES BEGIN TO HEAL.

FRUIT BEGINS TO GROW.

THE REASON WE CAN STAY CONNECTED TO JESUS

IS BECAUSE JESUS FIRST CONNECTED HIMSELF TO OUR SUFFERING.

ONE FRIDAY HE CARRIED AN OLD RUGGED CROSS UP CALVARY’S HILL.

THEY NAILED HIM IN HIS HANDS.

PIERCED HIM IN HIS SIDE.

HUNG HIM HIGH AND STRETCHED HIM WIDE.

HE DIED AND THE EARTH SHOOK BENEATH HIM.

DIED UNTIL THE VEIL TORE IN TWO.

THEY BURIED HIM IN A BORROWED TOMB.

BUT EARLY SUNDAY MORNING…

JESUS GOT UP WITH ALL POWER IN HIS HANDS.

AND BECAUSE HE GOT UP…

WE NOW HAVE LIFE

WE NOW HAVE PEACE

WE NOW HAVE JOY

AND I HEAR THE LORD SAYING OVER FRIENDSHIP:

“YOU ARE ENTERING A SEASON OF GROWTH.”

NOT SHALLOW GROWTH.

NOT TEMPORARY GROWTH.

BUT SPIRITUAL GROWTH.

HEALTHY GROWTH.

FRUITFUL GROWTH.

PEOPLE GROWING IN PRAYER.

GROWING IN LOVE.

GROWING IN DISCIPLESHIP.

GROWING IN FAITHFULNESS.

BECAUSE CONNECTED PEOPLE GROW.

CAN SOMEBODY SHOUT YES LORD!

PROPHETIC CLOSE

I DECLARE IN THIS SEASON: EVERY DRY BRANCH IS COMING BACK TO LIFE.

THE ENEMY TRIED TO DISCONNECT YOU

THROUGH DISCOURAGEMENT,

DISAPPOINTMENT,

AND DISTRACTION.

BUT GOD SAYS: “I AM RECONNECTING MY PEOPLE TO THE SOURCE.”

AND WHEN YOU STAY CONNECTED TO JESUS:

YOU WILL NOT DRY UP.

YOU WILL NOT FALL APART.

YOU WILL NOT LOSE YOUR PURPOSE.

BECAUSE THERE IS LIFE IN THE VINE.

AND I PROPHESY ….

FRUIT IS COMING.

GROWTH IS COMING.

STRENGTH IS COMING.

REVIVAL IS COMING.

BECAUSE CONNECTED PEOPLE GROW.

**************************************************

ALTAR CALL

EVERY HEAD BOWED. EVERY EYE CLOSED.

MAYBE YOU ARE HERE TODAY AND IF YOU ARE HONEST, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE DRIFTED SPIRITUALLY.

YOU STILL COME TO CHURCH.

STILL GO THROUGH ROUTINES.

BUT DEEP DOWN YOU KNOW:

“I’M DISCONNECTED.”

DISCONNECTED FROM PRAYER.

DISCONNECTED FROM INTIMACY WITH GOD.

DISCONNECTED FROM SPIRITUAL GROWTH.

HEAR ME CLEARLY:

JESUS IS NOT CONDEMNING YOU.

HE IS CALLING YOU BACK.

HE SAYS: “ABIDE IN ME.”

THAT INVITATION IS STILL OPEN TODAY.

IF YOU NEED SALVATION…

COME.

IF YOU NEED RESTORATION…

COME.

IF YOU NEED TO RECONNECT WITH GOD…

COME.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A CHURCH HOME WHERE YOU CAN GROW SPIRITUALLY…

COME.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO STAY DISCONNECTED.

JESUS IS READY TO RESTORE YOUR CONNECTION AND REVIVE YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE.

THIS ALTAR IS OPEN.

PASTORAL PRAYER

FATHER, IN THE NAME OF JESUS,

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORD TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR REMINDING US THAT REAL GROWTH COMES FROM STAYING CONNECTED TO YOU.

LORD, FORGIVE US FOR EVERY MOMENT WE DRIFTED.

EVERY MOMENT WE BECAME DISTRACTED.

EVERY MOMENT WE ALLOWED BUSYNESS, PAIN, OR PRIDE TO DISCONNECT US FROM YOUR PRESENCE.

RECONNECT US TO YOU.

REVIVE OUR PRAYER LIVES.

REVIVE OUR HUNGER FOR YOUR WORD.

REVIVE OUR WORSHIP.

REVIVE OUR FAITH.

LORD, PRUNE EVERYTHING IN US THAT IS HINDERING GROWTH.

CUT AWAY FEAR.

CUT AWAY PRIDE.

CUT AWAY DISTRACTION.

CUT AWAY BITTERNESS.

CUT AWAY COMPLACENCY.

AND PRODUCE FRUIT IN OUR LIVES.

LET FRIENDSHIP BECOME A FRUITFUL CHURCH.

A PRAYING CHURCH.

A GROWING CHURCH.

A DISCIPLESHIP CHURCH.

STRENGTHEN EVERY FAMILY REPRESENTED HERE.

HEAL EVERY HURTING HEART.

ENCOURAGE EVERY WEARY BELIEVER.

AND WHEN THIS SERVICE ENDS, LET NOBODY LEAVE THE SAME WAY THEY CAME.

WE DECLARE GROWTH IN THIS SEASON.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH.

HEALTHY GROWTH.

KINGDOM GROWTH.

AND WE THANK YOU FOR IT NOW.

IN JESUS’ NAME, AMEN.