Scripture Reference: John 15:1-17
Teaching Pastor: Matt Zainea
Title: Abide
BIG IDEA: Jesus wants to spend time with you. This truth is best emphasized as we read John 15 when Jesus calls us to ABIDE in him. This is deeply personal and tender for each of us to know that we find life and life to the full in Christ himself.
Discussion Questions:
- Who do you consider a close friend? Why do you feel that way?
- What makes a friend a “close friend”?
In John 15, Jesus uses the metaphor of a vinedresser (the Father), a true vine (Jesus) and a branch (us). He says his Father does 2 things: removes unfruitful branches and prune fruitful ones.
- Do you bear fruit? Are you open to being pruned?
The word “Abide” appears 11 times in 17 verses, making it one of the most dense sections of Scripture that a single world is used. This is a POWERFUL connection for us to understand: we must abide with him!
Abiding = Stay, Live, Dwell, Remain
- Of these words, which resonates with you most? Why?
- Have you ever considered what it means to “abide” in Christ in your daily life?
What does an “Abiding Life” require?
- Time
- Presence
- Authenticity
- Obedience
- Faithfulness
This is not only true of our relationship with God, but with each other.
If we grasp for these out of selfishness, we will seek to control and manipulate each other with these.
If we look to Jesus, we will be filled with joy and will invite others in!
- What do each of these things look like in your life RIGHT NOW in your relationship with God? How do you think you’re doing?
- How about in your relationships?
- What does loving others in our time mean?
- What would it look like for you to be more present with others?
- What does Authenticity look like? Who would you describe as being genuine and authentic?
- How can you be obedient to God in your relationships?
- What does it mean to be faithful in friendship?
The Key Enemies of these are Fear and Pride
Fear sounds like:
… pruning will be too hard and hurt too much
… God won’t come through for you
… whatever he calls you to is worse than what you’re giving up
… God wants to kill your joy and just make you follow strict rules
Pride sounds like:
… you are doing fine without pruning
… you can handle it on your own
… do whatever you feel is right
… you know better how to run your life than God does
“What if God wants to prune something in me that I like?”
“What if God wants to prune something in me that I don’t want him to?”
“What if God asks me to do something hard?”
- How would you answer these questions that Pastor Matt posed during the service?
- How can you have assurance, strength, and courage in him if he does ask you to do something challenging?
Jesus demonstrates the perfect example of what it means to ABIDE with the Father.
If Jesus’s word abides in us and through the Spirit we come to him, he makes sense of it all for us. We are both made alive and sustained through the word, by the Spirit, because of the Father.
We can be found in the middle of this loving relationship if we are IN Christ.
THIS IS WHY CHRIST CAME!
Have you embraced this reality in your life? Do you abide daily in him?
What is most confusing, challenging or driving anxiety in you to step into this full, abiding life?
Pastor Matt: “When we abide in Christ, we can love like him”
John 15:4 “Apart from me, you can do nothing”
- What does this mean for you in your life? Do you believe this is true?
- What does life look like when you try to love others apart from abiding in Christ? How do you feel when this happens?
- Are you a fruitful or fruitless vine? How do you know? What evidence from your life and from Scripture can you point to, to examine rightly your life?
- Are you open to pruning? What might pruning look like for you today?
How can your small group help you be fruitful and be open to pruning? How can you help them?
