Scripture Passage: John 15

A. Resting in Christ’s Love is My Only Job (John 15:9)

• What does “abide” mean? Rest, Remain, Stay Put.

• This is the hardest part of Christianity to accept, but when we abide in God’s love, we change. In the moment that we allow God to work through us and in us, life transformation begins.

St. Augustine wrote: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you, God.” What does it look like to rest in God’s love? Is resting in God’s love achieved by developing external actions or by cultivating inward dispositions? Both?

B. My Understanding of His Love Calls Me to Obedience (John 15:10-11)

• This does NOT contradict point #1. God is not interested in obedience for its own sake. He is interested in our obedience because He is interested in our joy.

• When we abide in His love, we will obey God’s commandments out of joy. Obedience is the passage to joy.

In your own day-to-day life, what does it look like to obey God? Does this bring you joy?

C. I Am Most Like God When I’m Loving (John 15:12)

• When we abide in God’s love, we obey God. When we obey God, we experience joy. And when we experience joy, we can’t help but love others.

• The only eternal lasting fruit that we have in this life comes from learning to abide in The Power Source, learning to make ourselves at home in the love that God has for us.

The symbol that we most often associate with God’s love is a cross. A cross, however, is a sign of death. How does the symbol of the cross inform your understanding of what it means to love?