At Home to Love

Bible Introduction (2m)

Falling into and resting in the love of Jesus

Video: Trust Fall

What it means to abide/remain in J. Trust him. He will catch/keep us afloat whether we’re in dangerous waters or drifting in a calm bay.

John 15:1-17 (Christina).

Introduction (5m)

Not (only) singular but collective abiding

John 15:4 NLT

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

Explanation (5m)

Our Corps must remain in Jesus or produce nothing

John 15:5 NLT

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

Jesus is Wrong!

Worship, read Bible, pray, enjoy fellowship, lead, preach, teach young people, play/sing music, help people find work, count money, complete admin, counsel all without abiding. But J says it will count for nothing.

Going through motions, soulless, dry, powerless, fruitless.

Fruitfulness not by own effort but because remain in vine

Fruitfulness not something to attain/achieve but just gloriously unavoidable result of remaining in vine.

But remaining does not happen automatically, we must continually intend to remain

Must set our hearts on remaining in Jesus. Our purpose/mission. But not about persistence but about a person. About genuine relationship with Jesus. We give of ourselves to Jesus, he promises to remain in us.

How do we remain?

Thinking personally

prayer and worship in our own lives.

But remember: corporately

Remain and grow in a community that loves him and proclaims him as Lord. Spend as much time with them as possible. Bond together (small groups):

Application (5m)

Do we want to our corps to produce fruit and grow? Then personally and collectively, we must remain in Jesus’ love and love each other

John 15:12 NLT

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

How? By remaining in Jesus and obeying him

Not merely listening and understanding what he says but hearing and obeying. Unloving corps can bear fruit, because God can choose to use flawed vessels, but his express will is we should love each other and grow our relationships together.

How? By remaining in Jesus and praying

Remaining bears much fruit. That fruit comes through answered prayer. Can pray for corps to grow, more people, more opportunities, etc. but if not remaining then prayers will remain unanswered.

How? By remaining in Jesus and sacrificing for each other

May not be called to actually lay down lives, but remaining helps us to make those little daily sacrifices to each other that are part of being in community. (e.g. folder, stands, etc.).

This is not inward-looking, but outward-looking

John 15:16 NLT

You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.

Commissioned to love God and love others

Cannot separate one from other. Jesus’ promise is that if we remain in him, if we love each other as he loves us, then we will bear much fruit. We will grow.

Will you draw nearer to God?

Nearer to each other? Draw others in? By remaining in Jesus.

Next Steps

Video: Draw Me Nearer

Video: Draw Me Nearer | 4:00