“The Secret of Abiding”

Sermon Notes

John 15:1-18

15 “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 does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Christian Growth does not come by adding things to our lives, but by growing in our awareness of what God has already given to us. In other words, we don’t grow in Christ by growing beyond the gospel, but by growing deeper into it.

Notes, Quotes & Scripture References:

“The gospel is not just the ABC’s of Christianity; it’s the A-Z of Christianity.” (The Centrality of the Gospel by Tim Keller)

The gospel is not just the diving board off of which we jump into the pool of Christianity. It is the pool itself.

^5 “because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, ⁶ which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth” [Colossians 1:5-6 ESV]