The Art of Abiding

A sermon summary based on this teaching from Luke Best

Scripture: John 15:1–5

The Invitation to Abide

Luke's sermon with the "simple but not easy" invitation from Jesus: "Abide in me." While the concept of making one’s home in Christ is straightforward, many believers experience a "disconnect" or a sense of resistance. This resistance is often rooted in fear—fear of letting go of old habits, fear of the unknown, or the ego's desire to remain in control.

Understanding Resistance

The speaker identifies two ways we resist God’s invitation to rest:

• Active Resistance: Direct defiance or running away from God’s instructions (exemplified by Jonah).

• Passive Resistance: A more subtle and dangerous form where one appears cooperative on the outside but remains "tensed up" internally. This looks like going through the motions of religious life (praying, attending service) without actually submitting or trusting.

  
  

The Shift: From Effort to Reality

A major theme of the sermon is that for the Christian, abiding is the new default position. * Before Christ, we had to rely on our own resources.

• Now, Christ abides in us. Abiding is not something we "achieve" through hard work; it is a reality we remain in.

• Sin was redefined not just as bad behavior, but as seeking God-given needs (love, security, acceptance) in ungodly ways or outside of Christ.

  
  

The Pruning Process

Growth requires change. Using the illustration of an apple tree, the speaker explains that God acts as the vinedresser who prunes us. This pruning isn't a punishment but a necessary process to remove "dead wood"—our independent works and distractions—so that we can bear more fruit. The goal is "more of Him, less of us."

Conclusion: Stop Resisting, Start Resting

The sermon concludes with a call to move away from "moderate" Christianity.

• Work vs. Rest: Abiding is not about praying more or doing more; it is about trusting Christ’s work within us.

• Community: To overcome passive resistance, believers are encouraged to "shed light" on their struggles by talking to trusted friends or elders.

• The Goal: To stop depending on ourselves and fully lean into the life and light that Jesus provides.