Bearing Fruit
Series: Abundant Life
Speaker: Ash Kwok
Date: 11th August 2024
Passage: John 15:1-17
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 What is success in your life?
00:00:02 --> 00:00:06 What does it look like to be fruitful in your life?
00:00:07 --> 00:00:14 I wonder what businesses you work at or even the communities you are in and are a part of,
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 what is fruitfulness?
00:00:16 --> 00:00:19 Would fruitfulness look like more income for the company?
00:00:19 --> 00:00:23 Would it look like happy customers, happy stakeholders?
00:00:24 --> 00:00:29 Perhaps in your key performance indicators, it looks like insurance procedures are followed,
00:00:29 --> 00:00:33 managing a growing team, having more and more sales.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:39 And maybe even DJ Khaled's song captures what fruitfulness and success is like,
00:00:40 --> 00:00:45 which I'm sure will bring some blank faces in the room, but just have a listen to the lyrics.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:50 All I do is win, win, win, no matter what.
00:00:51 --> 00:00:55 Got money on my mind, I can never get enough.
00:00:55 --> 00:00:55 Enough.
00:00:55 --> 00:01:04 You see, the human condition has always been chasing for the outcome to make something bigger
00:01:04 --> 00:01:10 and better, to add more software updates, to bring a new iPhone.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 We are all like that.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:17 We are people who want to see success and outcomes in our life.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:23 And even if we're not, even if we're not the ambitious kind of person, we still want success.
00:01:24 --> 00:01:25 We still want outcome.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:29 It might not be as grandiose, but it might just sound like,
00:01:30 --> 00:01:33 if there was just one thing or one challenge in my life,
00:01:33 --> 00:01:37 and if that one thing was sorted, then I'd be happy.
00:01:37 --> 00:01:45 The common human experience is this outcome-shaped hole in our heart, and we keep trying to fill it.
00:01:46 --> 00:01:53 John 15 gives us the grandest vision of fruitfulness and success in life that is all-consuming,
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 glorious, and majestic.
00:01:55 --> 00:02:03 But unlike any KPI, unlike any success criteria, the one in this passage is satisfying.
00:02:03 --> 00:02:12 Friends, I'm convinced that this passage that we have just read answers those age-old existential questions
00:02:12 --> 00:02:16 that we are either consciously or unconsciously asking ourselves.
00:02:17 --> 00:02:18 So let's pray.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:23 Father God, we are thankful that we can just gather and praise you.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:28 If there are stresses in our life that repeatedly trample over our minds,
00:02:28 --> 00:02:34 may your peace and comfort intercede for us right now, so we can just hear from you.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:39 For we know in 2 Timothy 3.16 that your word enables us to be teachable,
00:02:39 --> 00:02:46 to be corrected and encouraged, and to point us to the life and salvation found in Jesus.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 So help us listen to your word.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:51 Amen.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:57 So we're currently in a series called Abundant Life, looking at the Gospel of John.
00:02:57 --> 00:03:04 And for the last and the next few weeks, we are in what Bible teachers call the farewell discourse,
00:03:05 --> 00:03:11 which is the message Jesus gives to his disciples, preparing them for when he says, well, farewell.
00:03:12 --> 00:03:18 Last week in John 14, Dan encouraged us in Jesus' promise of future hope
00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 and his ongoing presence through his spirit.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:27 And so this week, Jesus continues in particularly that ongoing presence aspect.
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 It's more of the, now what?
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 If Jesus goes away, what does that mean day to day?
00:03:34 --> 00:03:35 What's our purpose?
00:03:36 --> 00:03:39 Which is in fact our first point, our purpose.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:44 If you're taking notes or have the St. Paul's app to follow along, I have three points.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 Number one, the purpose.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 Number two, the attributes.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 And number three, the means.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 So let's jump into verse one.
00:03:57 --> 00:04:01 I am the true vine and my father is the gardener.
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:11 While every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:24 We are made clear here that Jesus makes an exclusive statement that he is the true vine that the fruit grows off.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 Jesus is the true vine.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:31 The previous place I was living in, it had this vine that was all-consuming.
00:04:31 --> 00:04:35 It would cover the brickwork to the point that it would even start nestling in.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:39 I don't know if you've got those windows that have like panes and so it had like little gaps.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:45 And it was healthy because it was growing, growing inside the house, which is not what we wanted.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:51 And there's something unique that we must hear when we look at this image, this all-consuming vine,
00:04:51 --> 00:04:55 that Jesus is the vine and that we are his branches.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 So let's keep looking at this extended metaphor.
00:04:58 --> 00:04:58 Verse eight.
00:04:58 --> 00:05:07 This is to my father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 And he says it again, verse 16.
00:05:11 --> 00:05:19 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21 Then again in verse two.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:27 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:37 While every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
00:05:37 --> 00:05:46 Fruitfulness is so important to God that he even prunes the branches that are already fruitful
00:05:46 --> 00:05:50 because he wants them to flourish and abound in even more fruit.
00:05:51 --> 00:05:57 And it is crystal clear that the purpose that we have been made for, the purpose that you have been made for,
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 is to bear fruit.
00:06:00 --> 00:06:01 There are no two ways about this.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:06 It cannot be that, oh, I'm connected to Jesus.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:11 I'm connected to Jesus, the true vine, but because of the season of life I'm in,
00:06:11 --> 00:06:14 I'm just going to take a break from Jesus and bearing fruit.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:20 You cannot disconnect the follower of Jesus from the bearing of fruit.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 It was what you were made to do.
00:06:24 --> 00:06:36 If a vine bears fruit, through his branches, and if Jesus is the vine, his disciples are to bear fruit.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 And so it makes sense that in verse six, Jesus says,
00:06:40 --> 00:06:46 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers.
00:06:47 --> 00:06:51 Such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire, and burnt.
00:06:51 --> 00:06:57 A vine is meant to grow fruit as roses need petals.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:03 You know that junk drawer that you have collecting all the odd bits and bobs like nails that fall out,
00:07:04 --> 00:07:09 miscellaneous furniture, old batteries, items that don't have a home,
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 maybe some pen lids, all of that kind of thing.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:16 And you're like, just one day, just one day, there'll be a need for it.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 But ten years later, it's still collecting dust.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:23 It's called a junk drawer for a reason.
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25 It's junk.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:29 It's no longer filling its purpose.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 It's useless.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 And if this is the purpose of all people,
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 if fruitfulness is the purpose for all people,
00:07:37 --> 00:07:40 then we ought to ask,
00:07:41 --> 00:07:45 are you living out the purpose of the creator?
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 Do you even know your creator?
00:07:47 --> 00:07:50 Are you fruitful?
00:07:52 --> 00:07:56 The thing is, we've already established that in all spheres of life,
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 our success measures can be different.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:06 And unfortunately, we as Christians and even our churches are impacted by the culture around us
00:08:06 --> 00:08:09 rather than responsive to our culture.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:13 And sometimes we say, fruitfulness must look like a big building
00:08:13 --> 00:08:16 or a large number of resources.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:23 But even worse, we can have really dangerous thoughts creep in our community,
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 such as,
00:08:25 --> 00:08:29 I know I'm a fruitful Christian because God is blessing me with lots of money,
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 happy kids, and a smooth sailing life.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 And to this I want to say,
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 God does not promise any of those things.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 Nor is that the reality of humanity.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:45 For suffering at all levels is the common experience.
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 So to say that,
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 that would be a lie.
00:08:50 --> 00:08:57 We will all have different opinions on what it looks like to be fruitful in your life.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:04 And so what we really need to do is we need to pull apart what Jesus is saying here in John 15,
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 Jesus the truth vine.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 What does he mean by fruitfulness?
00:09:09 --> 00:09:12 What is fruit according to John 15?
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 What are the attributes of fruit?
00:09:14 --> 00:09:18 Well, let's look at verse again slowly.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:23 This is to my Father's glory,
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 that you bear much fruit,
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 showing yourselves to be my disciples.
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 By bearing much fruit,
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 glory is given to the Father.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:38 The purpose of fruit is to give glory to God.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:41 Fruitfulness is when God is being made big in your life.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:44 It's when he is made supreme.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 If Jesus is the vine,
00:09:47 --> 00:09:50 the fruit that you bear is all-consuming,
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 majestic and glorious,
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 because it points to him.
00:09:55 --> 00:10:00 It might be different to what our world might expect God's fruitfulness to look like.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 In fact, I think this reality is actually comforting.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 It's a comfort,
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 because you can glorify God
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 and be fruitful,
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 even when your child is screaming at you.
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 You can be fruitful
00:10:13 --> 00:10:16 when the trials of life come,
00:10:16 --> 00:10:21 because fruitfulness is not on the account of your measure,
00:10:22 --> 00:10:25 but the glorification of God.
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 So you can rest easy.
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 It's to make him great,
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 not to make you look good.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:36 Fruitfulness is not about your success
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 or your glory,
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 but about Jesus' glory.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 And in the process of trials,
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 he is refining you
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 to make you more like Jesus.
00:10:47 --> 00:10:52 It was great that our Boom Holiday Kids program
00:10:52 --> 00:10:55 more than doubled our numbers last year,
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 but I did have to ask myself,
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 would I be all right
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 if we didn't grow?
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 Or even less?
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 Would we still be fruitful?
00:11:05 --> 00:11:09 And the answer is yes,
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 because we got to present lives
00:11:11 --> 00:11:15 that heard the gospel and responded.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:19 The number and the success is up to God.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 It's not up to me.
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 In fact, the Bible uses the term fruit
00:11:24 --> 00:11:27 in a range of different ways,
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 and they all lead to the glory of God.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 So there's three that I'd like to mention.
00:11:31 --> 00:11:34 The first one is actually in God's very,
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 very first call of humanity
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 as he created the world.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:39 In Genesis 1, 27 to 28,
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 it says on the screen,
00:11:41 --> 00:11:45 so God created man in his own image.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 In the image of God, he created them.
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 Male and female, he created them,
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 and God blessed them,
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 and God said to them,
00:11:53 --> 00:11:56 be fruitful and multiply.
00:11:57 --> 00:12:00 This is the fruit of resemblance.
00:12:00 --> 00:12:02 You glorify God when you live out your purpose
00:12:02 --> 00:12:05 of resembling God who created you in his image.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:08 You are an image bearer.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 You are his representative on earth.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:16 But resembling God from just the knowledge of God
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 is like when you read a book.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 Think Harry Potter.
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 It's been turned into a movie.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 You watch and you see Hermione Granger
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 and one of the characters,
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 and you think,
00:12:26 --> 00:12:30 okay, that's not quite what I had in mind
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 when I first read the book,
00:12:31 --> 00:12:35 I was thinking more of this than this.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 The director tried their best,
00:12:38 --> 00:12:41 but not quite when I was reading the pages off the screen.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:45 In the same way, we can't get it right.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 We can't get resembling right on our own merit.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 Our view of God
00:12:50 --> 00:12:53 is like looking through a sheer curtain.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 It's obscured.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:55 It's obscured.
00:12:56 --> 00:12:59 But there is a perfect image of God
00:12:59 --> 00:13:02 who we are called to become more like.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 In Colossians 1.15,
00:13:04 --> 00:13:08 it describes Jesus as the image of the invisible God,
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 the I am of the true vine.
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 That I am is his declaration
00:13:14 --> 00:13:17 that he is the same God who created you.
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 He's the same God who was,
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 who is, and will always be.
00:13:21 --> 00:13:25 Fruit is when we start becoming more like Jesus.
00:13:27 --> 00:13:29 His character, his obedience,
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 his way of being.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 The second one is the fruit of the harvest.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:38 In fact, it is what God commands
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 and created man for the beginning
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 after the fruitfulness,
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 which is to multiply.
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 And it's not just an,
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 all right, let's have five more kids.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 Please, I would love more Christian kids.
00:13:49 --> 00:13:52 There is a shift for multiplication
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 in Jesus' commissioning of his followers
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 in Matthew 28.
00:13:56 --> 00:13:59 It's not just more children,
00:13:59 --> 00:14:02 but actually to go and make disciples
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 of all nations.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 Fruitfulness is when more disciples
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 are made for Christ.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 It's the fruit of the harvest.
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 Think of that wonderful verse
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 that Jesus says in Matthew 9.
00:14:16 --> 00:14:19 The harvest is plentiful,
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 but the workers are few.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:26 Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest
00:14:26 --> 00:14:28 to send out workers into his harvest.
00:14:30 --> 00:14:36 Does your fruitfulness look like seeing new followers of Jesus?
00:14:36 --> 00:14:39 Are you a prayer warrior for the harvest?
00:14:39 --> 00:14:41 Are you one of the harvest workers?
00:14:43 --> 00:14:45 At St. Paul's, we encourage you to do this
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 by praying one plus one plus one.
00:14:48 --> 00:14:52 Pray for one person for one minute each day
00:14:52 --> 00:14:54 that God might transform their life
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 to be able to hear God's good news
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 and follow Christ.
00:14:57 --> 00:15:02 The final one is the fruit of the Spirit
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 in Galatians 5.
00:15:04 --> 00:15:06 And what this is really
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 is it captures a renovation
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 and a transformation
00:15:09 --> 00:15:11 of the inner heart by the Spirit.
00:15:12 --> 00:15:14 It's the character of love,
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 joy, peace,
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 forbearance.
00:15:17 --> 00:15:19 It's a heart that is becoming
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 more like the heart of Christ.
00:15:21 --> 00:15:23 And that's what we want to actually see
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 in our community.
00:15:24 --> 00:15:28 You can see those characteristics are not private.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 They are not solely for the self,
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 but they are deeply relational.
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 If we are all growing in fruitfulness,
00:15:37 --> 00:15:40 what a mutually loving community
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 as we forbear with one another,
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 as we are patient and caring
00:15:43 --> 00:15:45 and kind with one another.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:49 That's the picture back in John 15, 17.
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 These things I command you
00:15:52 --> 00:15:55 so that you will love one another.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 Growing in fruitfulness
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 leads to a wonderful,
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 other-centered community,
00:16:01 --> 00:16:03 but it's also mutual.
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 Look in verse 11.
00:16:07 --> 00:16:10 It says that this fruitfulness
00:16:10 --> 00:16:13 should lead to our joy as well.
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 Because fruitfulness
00:16:15 --> 00:16:17 has always been
00:16:17 --> 00:16:20 about God's glory
00:16:20 --> 00:16:23 and our joy.
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 Glorification of God
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 leads
00:16:26 --> 00:16:29 to our joy.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:34 If you're in the room
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 and you're uncertain about
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 whether Jesus and his fruit
00:16:36 --> 00:16:38 is worth living for,
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 I really would love
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 genuinely to know
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 a success marker
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 that is as joyful,
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 glorifying,
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 and eternal.
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 Come chat to me after.
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 Because if you're looking
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 for efficiency
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 in terms of more bang
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 for your buck,
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 let's just say
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 you put 80 hours of work
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 each week.
00:17:02 --> 00:17:04 All the results of that,
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 even the earthly
00:17:06 --> 00:17:08 and financial security
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 that you gain from that,
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 ceases eventually.
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 it's fleeting.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 You can't take it
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 with you beyond the grave.
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 But,
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 if we can take Jesus
00:17:19 --> 00:17:21 at his word,
00:17:21 --> 00:17:23 if he is trustworthy,
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 his fruitfulness
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 will be like no other,
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 just like in verse 16.
00:17:30 --> 00:17:32 His fruit will last
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 forever.
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 But it is a fruitless
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 exercise
00:17:37 --> 00:17:40 for you and I
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 to try to be fruitful
00:17:41 --> 00:17:43 on our own merit.
00:17:44 --> 00:17:46 As much as I have encouraged you
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 to pray for the harvest,
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 I want to see
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 a desire
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 for transformation
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 in my life,
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 we need to listen
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 very carefully
00:17:54 --> 00:17:56 to Jesus' words
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 in verse 5.
00:17:57 --> 00:18:00 I am the vine
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 and you are the branches,
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 whoever abides in me
00:18:03 --> 00:18:05 and I in him.
00:18:06 --> 00:18:08 He it is
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 that bears much fruit,
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 for apart from me
00:18:11 --> 00:18:15 you can do nothing.
00:18:16 --> 00:18:18 Jesus is the agent
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 of bearing much fruit.
00:18:21 --> 00:18:23 Remember in verse 1,
00:18:23 --> 00:18:25 the father
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 is the gardener.
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 He is the one
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 who prunes,
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 not us.
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 So we must be careful
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 to think
00:18:31 --> 00:18:33 that fruitfulness,
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 success comes
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 from the voice within
00:18:36 --> 00:18:39 because it doesn't.
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 So how does someone
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 bear fruit?
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 What is it,
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 the means
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 by which we bear fruit?
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 It's in verse 4.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 Remain
00:18:49 --> 00:18:51 in me
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 as I also
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 remain in you.
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 No branch
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 can bear fruit
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 by itself.
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 It must
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 remain
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 in the vine.
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 Neither can you
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 bear fruit
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 unless
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 you
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 remain
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 in me.
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 If you want
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 to bear fruit,
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 it starts
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 in remaining
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 in Christ.
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 It's this image
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 of being
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 deeply rooted
00:19:16 --> 00:19:18 in the true vine,
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 unmoving,
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 steadfast
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 in the beauty
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 and ever-growing
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 nature
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 that comes
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 from being
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 a part
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 of a vine
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 that will
00:19:25 --> 00:19:27 always produce
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 fruit.
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 And John's
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 usage of
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 remain here,
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 it's a relational
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 sense of remain,
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 the remaining
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 in him.
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 When you engage
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 with someone
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 relationally,
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 you really get
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 to know them,
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 whether it's
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 your spouse,
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 a friend,
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 even your barista.
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 Hopefully you get
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 to know their heart,
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 they love coffee,
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 their will,
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 they want to make
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 coffee,
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 and their mind,
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 they know how
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 to make good
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 coffee.
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 And you really
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 want to listen
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 to them.
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 That's what it
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 is to remain
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 in Jesus,
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 to know his
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 heart and love
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 for you,
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 to know his
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 will over your
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 life,
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 to know his
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 mind.
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 Remaining in
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 Jesus produces
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 much fruit.
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 That's our role.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 That's our key
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 responsibility.
00:20:13 --> 00:20:15 I wonder if you've
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 ever been in a
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 pattern where there
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 is a sin or an
00:20:17 --> 00:20:19 idolatry that you
00:20:19 --> 00:20:21 just want to stop
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 happening in your
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 life.
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 You don't want it
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 to define you.
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 And there is a
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 character trait that
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 just isn't growing.
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 And instead,
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 you might be growing
00:20:29 --> 00:20:31 in jealousy or
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 envy.
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 And it's all well
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 and good to know
00:20:34 --> 00:20:36 that we're called
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 to bear fruit.
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 But you feel like
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 constantly you are
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 conforming to the
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 image of the world
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 rather than the
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 image of Christ.
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 Christ.
00:20:45 --> 00:20:47 Friend, your
00:20:47 --> 00:20:49 call is to
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 remain in
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 Christ.
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 The fruitfulness
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 comes with
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 wholeheart commitment
00:20:55 --> 00:20:57 to remaining.
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 What we must
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 reconcile here is
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 actually in verse
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 10.
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 It says,
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 if you keep my
00:21:06 --> 00:21:08 commands, you
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 will remain in my
00:21:08 --> 00:21:10 love, just as I
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 have kept my
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 father's commands
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 and remain in
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 his love.
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 The way to
00:21:14 --> 00:21:16 understand this
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 verse is that in
00:21:17 --> 00:21:19 the extended
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 metaphor of Jesus
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 being the true
00:21:20 --> 00:21:25 vine, we need
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 to understand that
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 his vine is not a
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 vine of a former
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 glory that failed
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 to grow and bear
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 fruit.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 He is the vine that
00:21:32 --> 00:21:34 grows unstoppably on
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 that brick wall.
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 Because remaining
00:21:37 --> 00:21:39 is not behaviour or
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 sin management.
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 I'm going to say
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 that again.
00:21:43 --> 00:21:45 Remaining is not
00:21:45 --> 00:21:47 behaviour or sin
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 management.
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 It's a total
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 transformation of
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 your being.
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 Because if you
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 remain in the true
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 vine, your
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 obedience, your
00:21:54 --> 00:21:56 fruitfulness is
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 purely the natural
00:21:57 --> 00:21:59 result of a heart
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 that loves and
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 remains in Jesus.
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 And you see, Jesus
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 doesn't call us to
00:22:04 --> 00:22:06 something to which
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 he has not modelled
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 himself.
00:22:08 --> 00:22:10 He's calling us to
00:22:10 --> 00:22:13 keep his commands in
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 the same way he has
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 kept his fathers.
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 And he calls us to
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 remain in his love.
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 And he describes that
00:22:20 --> 00:22:22 love in verse 13.
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 Greater love has no
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 one than this, to lay
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 down one's life for
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 one's friends.
00:22:29 --> 00:22:32 You are my friends if
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 you do what I command
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 you.
00:22:33 --> 00:22:36 Jesus is saying that
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 out of all the
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 experiences of love,
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 all the greatest love
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 stories and songs ever
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 written, better than
00:22:41 --> 00:22:43 anything Taylor Swift or
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 Shakespeare can write,
00:22:45 --> 00:22:47 is a love story of
00:22:47 --> 00:22:50 someone who remains and
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 obeys his father's
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 will.
00:22:52 --> 00:22:54 When Jesus obeys his
00:22:54 --> 00:22:56 father in laying down
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 his life, he literally
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 does it for God's
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 glory and our joy.
00:23:02 --> 00:23:04 It's because you are
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 the friend he died
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 for.
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 You're the friend.
00:23:09 --> 00:23:11 Jesus' pure, unwavering
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 commitment to you and
00:23:12 --> 00:23:14 God the father led to
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 the restoration of what
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 would have been a
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 broken branch from the
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 vine.
00:23:18 --> 00:23:20 Remaining in his love
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 looks like the
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 constant retelling of
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 this story to
00:23:23 --> 00:23:25 yourself again and
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 again.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 It's like having this
00:23:26 --> 00:23:29 childlike wonder who
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 wants to read the same
00:23:30 --> 00:23:32 story over and over
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 again because it brings
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 them so much joy.
00:23:35 --> 00:23:37 It's in every moment,
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 sorrow or praise that
00:23:38 --> 00:23:40 you remember the gospel
00:23:40 --> 00:23:42 story to remind
00:23:42 --> 00:23:44 yourself that you
00:23:44 --> 00:23:46 remain in Jesus because
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 he has already
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 remained.
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 Church,
00:23:51 --> 00:23:53 keep remaining in his
00:23:53 --> 00:23:55 love, keep remaining in
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 his story.
00:23:58 --> 00:24:00 So what does remaining
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 look like day to day?
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 It doesn't look like
00:24:03 --> 00:24:05 going to find that vine on
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 your wall and attaching
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 yourself and tying a knot.
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 Self-help books,
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 ministry strategies,
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 knowing your star sign or
00:24:14 --> 00:24:16 your personality type, a
00:24:16 --> 00:24:18 diary, productivity tools,
00:24:18 --> 00:24:20 although some being more
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 helpful than others,
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 none of those are the
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 start to fruitfulness.
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 Striving and working hard
00:24:27 --> 00:24:29 is not the solution to your
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 outcome-shaped hole.
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 Fruitfulness starts in
00:24:33 --> 00:24:36 remaining in his story and
00:24:36 --> 00:24:38 his love and sometimes you do
00:24:38 --> 00:24:41 actually a disfavor to
00:24:41 --> 00:24:43 yourself when you think you
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 need to move past the story of
00:24:44 --> 00:24:47 the gospel because you've
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 heard it a million times.
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 And then you start some
00:24:50 --> 00:24:52 self-improvement in just
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 becoming a better person in
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 your life.
00:24:54 --> 00:24:56 But the passage is clear.
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 We don't move on.
00:24:58 --> 00:25:00 We just abide in the gospel
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 even deeper.
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 So if you've come away from
00:25:04 --> 00:25:06 this talk thinking you need
00:25:06 --> 00:25:08 to be more successful or you
00:25:08 --> 00:25:10 need to try hard at being
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 fruitful, I have really done
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 you a disservice.
00:25:12 --> 00:25:14 And I apologise profusely.
00:25:16 --> 00:25:18 If there is anything as a
00:25:18 --> 00:25:20 church that we need to
00:25:20 --> 00:25:22 focus on, it is the
00:25:22 --> 00:25:24 heartbeat of remaining and
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 abiding in Christ.
00:25:26 --> 00:25:29 For example, have you thought
00:25:29 --> 00:25:32 that the reason why you
00:25:32 --> 00:25:34 might not see in your own
00:25:34 --> 00:25:36 heart a mission urgency for
00:25:36 --> 00:25:40 the gospel is because you
00:25:40 --> 00:25:42 aren't in Christ's love and in
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 his story?
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 It's because you're not in it
00:25:45 --> 00:25:47 regularly, day in and day
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 out.
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 If you think of the month
00:25:49 --> 00:25:52 calendar and each month
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 having 30 days approximately,
00:25:54 --> 00:25:56 each day having 24 hours,
00:25:57 --> 00:25:59 there would be 360 waking
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 hours.
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 For the more extreme, maybe
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 like 480.
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 I'm going to be honest.
00:26:04 --> 00:26:08 I don't know if nearly two
00:26:08 --> 00:26:10 hours each Sunday is helping
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 us remain.
00:26:11 --> 00:26:13 Out of those waking hours,
00:26:13 --> 00:26:17 that's just 2% of a month.
00:26:17 --> 00:26:19 If we even came for every
00:26:19 --> 00:26:22 single week, just 2%.
00:26:22 --> 00:26:25 And if that's the amount that
00:26:25 --> 00:26:28 we are remaining, we must
00:26:28 --> 00:26:30 wonder if that gives us an
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 unwavering and steadfast
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 devotion to Jesus.
00:26:32 --> 00:26:34 How about the 98%?
00:26:35 --> 00:26:37 How about all the other days,
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 minutes, and hours?
00:26:39 --> 00:26:41 What is consuming our brains,
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 our hearts, and our thoughts?
00:26:44 --> 00:26:46 What are you actually remaining
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 in?
00:26:47 --> 00:26:49 As if Sunday is the only time we
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 carve out space for Jesus.
00:26:51 --> 00:26:53 But all time is the Lord's.
00:26:54 --> 00:26:56 We sing, O great God of highest
00:26:56 --> 00:26:59 heaven, occupy my lowly heart.
00:26:59 --> 00:27:01 But don't occupy my time.
00:27:03 --> 00:27:05 Every action, every rhythm of
00:27:05 --> 00:27:07 life, every practice builds a
00:27:07 --> 00:27:09 heart and will that remains in
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 something.
00:27:10 --> 00:27:12 Whether consciously or unknowingly,
00:27:13 --> 00:27:15 you are building a heart that
00:27:15 --> 00:27:17 remains in something.
00:27:18 --> 00:27:20 It's just whether you remain in
00:27:20 --> 00:27:22 Jesus' vine or a fake vine.
00:27:23 --> 00:27:25 And I'm going to say that I have
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 admitted to many people that I do
00:27:26 --> 00:27:28 my best work in strategic planning
00:27:28 --> 00:27:30 in the setting of late nights
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 and Maccas.
00:27:31 --> 00:27:33 Or so many times, like, I do my
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 best work.
00:27:34 --> 00:27:36 But I wonder if I've trained
00:27:36 --> 00:27:39 myself to do that over years
00:27:39 --> 00:27:41 and years of practice.
00:27:41 --> 00:27:43 Now, I'm not saying that's bad.
00:27:44 --> 00:27:46 I'm just saying that regular
00:27:46 --> 00:27:48 practices that you do shape you.
00:27:49 --> 00:27:51 They can shift your being where
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 your heart chooses to remain.
00:27:52 --> 00:27:56 And the best way to grow in this
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 sense of remaining and abiding is
00:27:58 --> 00:28:00 setting up our life in a way that
00:28:00 --> 00:28:02 helps us remain in the true vine.
00:28:02 --> 00:28:05 Just even small little steps to get
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 there.
00:28:06 --> 00:28:09 So where in your life do you need to
00:28:09 --> 00:28:12 start remaining so that you can be
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 fruitful?
00:28:14 --> 00:28:16 Where can you redeem moments of your
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 day for the Lord Jesus?
00:28:18 --> 00:28:20 Submit those wills and times to
00:28:20 --> 00:28:23 Jesus so that you can remain steadfast
00:28:23 --> 00:28:27 to hearing his words and his story.
00:28:28 --> 00:28:30 I wanted to capture that in a really
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 memorable way.
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 And all I could think about is maths.
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 Three simple operations.
00:28:36 --> 00:28:38 Subtract, add, and multiply.
00:28:38 --> 00:28:40 It's very Ed Sheeran.
00:28:40 --> 00:28:42 And I really did try to put divide,
00:28:42 --> 00:28:44 but that's not going to work.
00:28:45 --> 00:28:48 Subtract, add, or multiply will help
00:28:48 --> 00:28:50 you remain in Jesus.
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 Firstly, subtract.
00:28:54 --> 00:28:56 Maybe there is something that you do
00:28:56 --> 00:28:59 that is not helping you remain in
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 Jesus.
00:29:01 --> 00:29:03 Something that is taking your time and
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 attention from remaining.
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 Subtract it.
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 Cut it out.
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 Remove it.
00:29:09 --> 00:29:12 If that's the case, come chat with me.
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 Get some wise counsel with someone who
00:29:13 --> 00:29:15 can mentor you and help you grow in
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 godliness.
00:29:16 --> 00:29:18 Chat with someone with a lanyard.
00:29:19 --> 00:29:22 Number two, add.
00:29:23 --> 00:29:25 Outside of subtracting, there are
00:29:25 --> 00:29:27 actually other things that maybe you've
00:29:27 --> 00:29:29 never considered in your life that
00:29:29 --> 00:29:32 perhaps aren't necessarily bad, but it
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 just takes the mic off Jesus.
00:29:34 --> 00:29:37 Have you thought about curating your
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 media intake?
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 What is it that you read?
00:29:41 --> 00:29:43 What are the podcasts that you listen
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 to?
00:29:43 --> 00:29:45 Music, TV, YouTube, social media.
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 And I'm not saying subtract all these
00:29:47 --> 00:29:50 things completely from your life, but
00:29:50 --> 00:29:52 instead let's add value.
00:29:54 --> 00:29:56 Why don't you add and follow social
00:29:56 --> 00:29:58 media sites that help you see Jesus'
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 love and his story?
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 I've got a ton if you want.
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 Have you thought about listening to
00:30:04 --> 00:30:06 podcasts that make you chase Christ
00:30:06 --> 00:30:08 rather than chase what the world
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 offers?
00:30:09 --> 00:30:12 Instead of just listening to music
00:30:12 --> 00:30:16 like, all I do is win, when you're
00:30:16 --> 00:30:19 going for a run, play some pump-up
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 worship tunes.
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 We've got a St. Paul's playlist.
00:30:24 --> 00:30:27 How can you add moments that help you
00:30:27 --> 00:30:30 embrace the gospel in your existing
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 structures?
00:30:31 --> 00:30:33 Because I wonder if half the battle
00:30:33 --> 00:30:36 here isn't this striving to do more and
00:30:36 --> 00:30:39 more, but rather just redeeming what we
00:30:39 --> 00:30:43 are already doing and adding eternal
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 value.
00:30:45 --> 00:30:48 And lastly, multiply.
00:30:49 --> 00:30:52 Maybe we need to multiply rhythms that
00:30:52 --> 00:30:55 God has graciously given us that we know
00:30:55 --> 00:30:57 are tools to experience his presence and
00:30:57 --> 00:30:59 work in our life.
00:30:59 --> 00:31:03 Looks like abiding in his word, in prayer,
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 and community.
00:31:06 --> 00:31:08 We keep talking about personal devotional
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 life because we're convinced that is part
00:31:09 --> 00:31:13 of you embracing the love of his story and
00:31:13 --> 00:31:15 of Christ in your life.
00:31:16 --> 00:31:18 It's a part of remaining in him.
00:31:19 --> 00:31:21 So multiply the amount that you're in the
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 Bible.
00:31:22 --> 00:31:25 Maybe instead of once a month, it becomes
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 once a week.
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 Then it becomes daily.
00:31:28 --> 00:31:30 Then it becomes day and night.
00:31:30 --> 00:31:33 Read the Bible with your spouse, your
00:31:33 --> 00:31:35 housemate, your best bud.
00:31:37 --> 00:31:39 Increase your church attendance.
00:31:39 --> 00:31:41 Not so you can tick a box, not so that other
00:31:41 --> 00:31:44 people will be happy, but to genuinely hang
00:31:44 --> 00:31:47 out with people who are encouraging you to
00:31:47 --> 00:31:49 abide in Jesus.
00:31:50 --> 00:31:53 Maybe there's someone you love chatting to at
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 morning tea or in your community group.
00:31:56 --> 00:31:58 At morning tea, grab their number.
00:31:58 --> 00:32:00 Give them a call or a text during the week and
00:32:00 --> 00:32:05 see how they're growing and going and how
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 you can be praying for them.
00:32:08 --> 00:32:14 Church, imagine just if we all chose one
00:32:14 --> 00:32:19 thing, not all just one thing, taking one
00:32:19 --> 00:32:19 little step.
00:32:20 --> 00:32:22 I'm imagining a church that is genuinely
00:32:22 --> 00:32:25 shaping their life to remain in the goodness
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 of Christ's words and his commands.
00:32:27 --> 00:32:31 And what overflows is a community that deeply
00:32:31 --> 00:32:35 loves, cares, and is sacrificial like the image
00:32:35 --> 00:32:38 of Christ who remains with his church.
00:32:38 --> 00:32:44 I can see that God would use this to stand out
00:32:44 --> 00:32:48 this community in Chatswood for his glory and the
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 joy of all people.
00:32:49 --> 00:32:52 And I really want to pray that this is the trajectory
00:32:52 --> 00:32:56 of the journey for you as individuals, but for us as a
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 whole community.
00:32:58 --> 00:33:01 So why don't you join me as we talk to the Lord?
00:33:03 --> 00:33:08 Father God, unite us as brothers and sisters in Christ
00:33:08 --> 00:33:12 who delight in hearing, obeying, and embracing your word.
00:33:12 --> 00:33:16 We thank you that your words contain the sweetest voice of Christ
00:33:16 --> 00:33:21 who remains on the cross for your glory and our joy.
00:33:22 --> 00:33:26 So we too pray that we might remain in Christ.
00:33:27 --> 00:33:32 May you convict us of the reality that we must remain in his love
00:33:32 --> 00:33:37 and his story to be unwaveringly devoted to our Lord and Savior.
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 God bless you, Savior.
00:33:38 --> 00:33:43 Grant us the will and desire to take one little step that helps
00:33:43 --> 00:33:48 us choose to remain rooted in your love and your saving story for us.
00:33:49 --> 00:33:49 Amen.