19 July 2020 - 7pm Service

Fruitfulness

We're continuing our FRUITFULNESS series during July and Matt Dobson will be sharing a special message on abiding from John 15. April and the Woodlands worship team lead us in some great live worship and Nigel and Amy host the service.

STUDY NOTES

To go deeper with the topic of abiding, our 7pm team have come up with some resources for our 'take two’. This week, Tim Stephenson from the student community shares some thoughts on abiding in a short video along with some additional questions for you to take into your group. You can also look at Dave's study notes below…

Introduction
Here are some questions you might want to reflect on about 'fruitfulness' - read John 15:4-12.

Spiritual connection is vital to spiritual health, just as relational connection is vital to relational health. Jesus had such a strong understand of abiding in the Father and 'only doing what I see the Father doing'. He calls and invites His followers to have that sort of relationship with Him.

How do I remain in Christ, or rather what might cause me to cease abiding in Christ, as a Church community or an individual? ( For the early Church their Christ Centred, Cross Centred 'abiding' focus was key to them not slipping back into fruitless legalism. But modern Churches can become centred on a cause rather than centred on Christ and like the Church in Ephesus in Revelation 2, lose their first love).
As an individual how do spiritual disciplines help me live out a moment by moment abiding, connecting with Christ?
How does the work of and presence of the Spirit keep me abiding in Christ?
Can good things be the enemy of the best, or can temptation and idolatry pull me away? The parable of the sower is a metaphor for abiding; the good soil 'retains' the seed.
Abiding sounds peaceful. How can meditation and Christian mindfulness play its part in an abiding life?
How can we abide when things are busy, crazy or scary?