The Abiding Life – John 15

Sermon Notes:

• New Foundations:
  • New Social Construct: John 13:13-15
  • New Commandment: John 13:34-35
  • New Resource: John 14:15-17
  • New Relationship: John 15:1-17
• John 13-17: Jesus Institutes New Foundations for Life in the Kingdom of God
• New Social Construct: John 13:13-15 – You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.  If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
• New Commandment: John 13:34-35 – A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
• New Resource: John 1 – 4:15-17 – “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
• New Relationship: John 15:1-17 – Our new relationship with Christ is characterized by deep, secure connection and perfect union, that God supports and causes to grow.
• Fruit: An Active Expression of the Life of Christ That Nourishes Those Around Us
• Meno (abide): To Remain, Stay
• God is committed to working in and around us so that we live fruitful and influential lives
• Levels of fruit bearing:
  1. No fruit
  2. Fruit
  3. More fruit
  4. Much Fruit
• Airo:
  1. to raise to a higher place or position, lift up, take up, pick up
  2. to lift up and move from one place to another
  3. to take away, remove, or seize control without suggestion of lifting up, take away, remove
• God sometimes uses pain in our lives to remove what seems good in order to produce what is best.
• Am I resting in the truth that God is for me?