Sermon Based Small Group Lessons

Abide: Our Present Reality

2008 August 3

Matt Haines

Westwood’s Pastor of Congregational Care

Opening Question

(New groups: Share your name and the answer to the following question.)

Tell about your best or worst “gardening” or plant related experience.

Just like plants need water and nourishment, we need to stay connected with Christ. Today, we’ll look at how important it is to stay connected with Christ constantly.

Focus Passages

John 15:1-8

1"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. 3Already 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. 5I 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. 6If 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. 7If 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.

Digging for Truth

1. Matt said that living on past religious experiences will provide little to my present spiritual nourishment. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

2. A quote from John Piper said this: “A transaction with Jesus in the past that has no ongoing expression in our lives was a false transaction. When Jesus said, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples’ (John 8:31), he meant that if we don’t abide, we are not truly his disciples.” (Ref: John Piper, What Jesus Demands from the World, p. 62.)

Do you think that many who attend church on Sunday morning have a “false transaction” with Christ? Why?

3. Have you ever talked with someone who used their past experiences as “spiritual altars” and doesn’t seem to presently abide in Christ? (Don’t share names.) Why is this dangerous?

4. Have you ever been guilty of thinking of God as a spiritual accountant, keeping up with our good and bad deeds?

Galatians 2:16 says “know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.”

5. One of the life-changing lessons states that “I should stop trying to be religious in order to please God.” What is the difference in religion and relationship?

6. Matt said, “God is more interested in my present intimate communion with Him than my activity for Him.” Do we sometimes focus too much on activity and too much on relationship? How can we avoid this?

7. When we stay connected with God, He does things in us that are not from us or within our power. Have you had any experiences like this when God has worked through you?

8. One truth is that “If I abide in Christ, it will be evident to those around me.” How would those around us describe our walk with Christ?

They would probably define it based on what they see… our fruit. Fruit is an outward evidence of an inward reality. A tomato is evidence of the connectedness of the vine. What type of fruit would those around you see?

9. Matt said that if my fruit focuses more on me than on God, it’s worthless and a waste of my time. No nourishment comes from fake fruit.

How can our fruit focus more on us than on God?

10. Read the fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5:22. Are these increasing or decreasing in your life. If we are continually connected with God, we should be seeing increases in these fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22 – The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Are we seeing these increase?

11. Here are some additional spiritual walk indicators:

a. Do I have a growing appetite for God’s Word? (If you abide in me and my words abide in you…If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples. John 15:7, 8:31)

b. Do I find that my prayers, when I pray, are more God-focused or me focused? (If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7)

c. Do I feel like God is speaking to me about significant changes I need to make in my personal life, habits, or attitudes? (Every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. John 15:2)

Closing Thought

What is God calling you to do this week as a result of this study? What am I going to do to be more connected with God?

(Suggestion: Choose a Bible reading plan from BiblePlan.org. It will be emailed to you daily.)