Abide with Christ
REVIEW
• The purpose of the series
• Real Life’s vision, mission, methods, and making disciples (with the help promised by the Holy Spirit).
• The definition of a disciple (Matthew 4:19): someone who is following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and committed to the mission of Jesus.
• The relational vehicle, the road (SCMD), and the destinationmaturity in Christ, the five spheres.

God is the Architect, the Power Source

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV) 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The Book of Ephesians
• Overview, and the point of the book: maturity in every area of our lives.
• God begins to teach us through the Holy Spirit of God. The scriptures are given to us by the Holy Spirit via the Apostles. The people of God shape us in every area of our lives.
• God is the architect of every area of our lives.

Matthew 7:24–28 (NLT) 24Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.

Ephesians 1: Paul starts with abiding.
• Abiding in Christ because of Christ.
• Like a cell and its nuclei, Jesus holds the directions for everything else that happens within us and in our lives.

Ephesians 1:1–14 (ESV) 1To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

“In Christ” is written 10 times in 14 verses!
• Blessing in Christ (verse 3)
• Reconciliation and redemption (verse 7)
• Wisdom in Christ (verse 8)
• Under authority of Christ, including the future (verses 10 and 21)

The power that comes through the Holy Spirit living within us.
Ephesians 1:18–21 (ESV) 18having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Paul is explaining Jesus’ teachings:

John 15:1–8 (NLT) 1I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

What is abiding? Faithful-faith.
• Learning about and knowing Christ through His Word, and obeying Him.
• Trusting God and obeying even in the pruning.
• Prayer
• Time with other believers including accountability, support, and encouragement.
• Which all leads us to obeying and trusting Jesus in every part of our lives.

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND DISCUSS:
Passages to consider: Ephesians 1-2:10; John 15:1-8; Romans 12:1-2

Icebreaker: Tell about a time when you or a friend ran out of gas. If you have never run out of gas, share about losing power like electricity or battery life.
• What stood out to you from the sermon this week?
1. Read John 15:1-8 & Romans 12:1-2. What do these passages tell you about a relationship with God? A) Help each other define the word “abiding.”
2. What helps you connect with Jesus? A) What can be a factor in you being disconnected from Jesus?
3. What’s it like when you spiritually run out of gas?
4. What encourages you to be consistent in pressing into your relationship with Jesus? A) What do you do when you have been inconsistent?
5. Key ways to grow in an abiding relationship include: interacting with the word, prayer, worship, and community with other believers. Share how you practice 1-2 of these areas. As you listen to each other, pick out a couple things someone else does that you want to try.
6. What other practices help your heart and mind listen and respond to God?
Passages to prepare for next week, The Journey (Week 3) Church:
Read these passages a couple of times this week. Ephesians 2:10-4:16; Acts 2:37-47

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. [emphasis added]