In this message Pastor Scott teaches from John 15:5. There is a way to arrange our lives around abiding in Christ that will result in us bearing much fruit and being transformed. That is what we explore in this sermon.
Rhythms of grace, or spiritual practices are ways that we arrange our lives in such a way where we create time and space to abide in Christ and be transformed by the Spirit.
Our lives are the product of 3 things…
What God has done in our lives
What other people have done in our lives
Our habits
First, we make our choices and then our choices make us.
Every system is perfectly designed to get the results it's getting.
“People often complain that they are not who they should be, but they take no action to change.” Klyne Snodgrass
SERMON IN A SENTENCE:
There is a way to arrange our lives around abiding in Christ that will result in us bearing much fruit and being transformed.
“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.” John 15:5
JESUS IS THE VINE; WE ARE THE BRANCHES.
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
“The sooner we as believers discover that we are but branches, the better we will relate to the Lord; for we will know our own weakness and confess our need for His strength.” Warren Wiersbe
WE ABIDE IN HIM; HE BEARS FRUIT.
FRUIT: The life of the vine being pressed out through the branches.
“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…” Romans 8:29
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
“Transformation happens in our lives incrementally with occasional breakthrough.” Matt Chandler
There is a way to arrange our lives around abiding in Christ that will result in us bearing much fruit and being transformed.
A vine without a trellis will bear a fraction of the fruit because it is not supported correctly.
“[A rule of life is] a set of practices to guard our habits and guide our lives.” Andy Crouch
“In the most simple of terms, a rule of life is a plan for how an individual plans to orient their life around abiding in Jesus.” Pete Scazzero
Is the structure of your life supporting or suppressing the fruit that God desires to bear in and through your life?
“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.” John 15:5
