Podcast appearances and mentions of christ following

Summary In this episode of Coffee and Christ, Robert discusses various aspects of living a transformed life through following God's example and walking in the way of love. He emphasizes the importance of inner richness and humility, and cautions against the pursuit of material wealth and excess. Robert encourages listeners to focus on their character and the preservation of their life, rather than accumulating possessions. The episode concludes with an invitation to join the Coffee and Christ community and continue the journey of faith. Takeaways Follow God's example by knowing Him and spending time with Him. Walking in the way of love involves being kind, helpful, and serving others. True richness comes from inner character and living a purposeful life. Choose a good name and prioritize humility over material wealth. Avoid the paths of the wicked and stay true to your faith. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Setting 01:28 Following God's Example 03:08 Walking in the Way of Love 07:09 Rich and Poor in Spirit 09:02 Living with Excess 10:41 Born and Die with Nothing 13:01 Inner Richness 14:36 Choosing a Good Name 18:16 Humility and Motives 20:04 Avoiding the Paths of the Wicked 21:04 Conclusion Want to know more about our community? Maybe, become a part of it? https://www.life-transformed.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-bolden/message

Sermon #591 We conclude our brief Epiphany series on Transfiguration Sunday and we hear the words of God the Father as he declares to the disciples, "This is my beloved son; listen to him."  But what does it mean to listen to Christ?  Since 2007 there has been a movement among Christians called "Red-letter Christianity," which emphasizes the words that Christ spoke over all else.  This declaration might seem to affirm that theology, but in reality, the words of Christ carry the same weight as all the word of God, all 66 books of the Bible, which we understand is inspired (God-breathed) and inerrant (without contradiction or error).  Jesus, as the second Person of the Trinity, could not contradict scripture, and so we listen to him AS we listen to the rest of Scripture, because he carries the authority of the word of God in the flesh. Mark 9:2-9 Recorded at Hudson UMC on February 11, 2024 Watch on YouTube S.D.G.

Sermon #590 As we continue to follow Christ in our Epiphany series, we see Jesus healing many and casting out many demons.  Then early in the morning, he goes out to pray.  It might surprise some to know that Jesus prayed to the Father.  Yet what we see in Jesus' model of prayer for us is that prayer, communication with the Father, was a priority for Christ.  He rose early in the morning to pray.  He got alone with God the Father.  He prayed before great ministry and after great spiritual victory.  In Jesus we see our Good Shepherd showing us how we are to pray, and we can learn much from him.   Mark 1:29-39 Recorded at Ebenezer UMC on February 4, 2024 Watch on YouTube S.D.G.

A new MP3 sermon from Redeemer Presbyterian Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Seek Christ-Following Servant Leaders Subtitle: Titus Overview Speaker: Larry Wilson - OPC Broadcaster: Redeemer Presbyterian Church Event: Sunday - AM Date: 7/9/2023 Bible: Titus 1 Length: 38 min.

Ever wondered how your journey raising an autistic child as a Christ-following parent can bring glory to God?Join us as we explore "The Five Stages of Discovering Autism: For the Christ-following Parent." Have you experienced denial before or after receiving your child's autism diagnosis? Did you face grief and eventually come to acceptance? How did you navigate changing family dynamics to this new normal? What is your life like now as you learn more and advocate for your autistic child? These are the stages that we walked through as parents of an autistic child. In this episode, we'll dive deep into each stage, sharing relatable stories, insights, and point each other to the truth of the gospel.Discover how God's purpose and glory are intricately woven into your unique path of raising autistic disciples. Whether you're seasoned or new to this journey, this series will equip you with the tools and perspective to raise autistic disciples for God's Kingdom.

The gift of the Holy Spirit is integral to our growth as Christians. What we find in the surprising and encouraging words in John 16 is that the Holy Spirit is promised to us and he is exactly what we need to follow Jesus, but do we trust the Holy Spirit to work in our world and in our lives the way Jesus does?  ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletters here. Visit us on our website to learn more. Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.

The gift of the Holy Spirit is integral to our growth as Christians. What we find in the surprising and encouraging words in John 16 is that the Holy Spirit is promised to us and he is exactly what we need to follow Jesus, but do we trust the Holy Spirit to work in our world and in our lives the way Jesus does?  ________ Sign up for Central’s newsletters here. Visit us on our website to learn more. Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.

From those wild teenage years spent smokin' and drinkin' all night to singing in the church choir the next morning to finding Jesus thanks to a sweet lady named Lynn, we begin to unpack the story behind this massively successful music business executive, songwriter, performer, author, blogger, podcaster, entrepreneur, and creative coach.With a career spanning almost forty years, John Chisum knows how to draw the best out of songwriters, artists, team members, and the people around him. For John, helping people break free from their self-imposed boundaries comes naturally, flowing from his own life's struggles as he's learned to survive and thrive throughout each decade of his own creative journey.John Chisum's story, although wild and crazy at times, really isn't much different from the rest of us. He's experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. He's been forced to reinvent himself while also seeking out a deeper meaning to life.At the end of the day, John has come to understand that whether our neighbor next door or a stranger on the other side of the planet, we're all united by love. At the base of it all is simply love. And this simple, yet powerful understanding is a part of what makes John Chisum so remarkable.FREE Life Roadmap Strategy SessionMapout Your 2023 GoalsWork 1-On-1 with Kevin!Let's create a Roadmap designed to take you from where you are, to where you want to be! It's NO COST! 30-Minute One-On-One Coaching Call that will leave you with a step-by-step roadmap designed just for you!CLICK TO SIGN-UP!TODAY'S SPONSORNAKED Warrior RecoveryUse Promo Code LOWE for 20% OFF when shopping @NW-Recovery.comTODAY'S GUESTJohn ChisumPODCAST: All the Best with John ChisumWEBSITE: JohnChisum.comINSTAGRAM: @johnchisumofficialFACEBOOK: @johnchisumofficialLINKS FOR THE PODCASTGrit, Grace, & InspirationHosted By Kevin LoweWEBSITE: www.GritGraceInspiration.comPINTEREST: @GritGraceInspirationINSTAGRAM: @GritGraceInspirationFACEBOOK: @GritGraceInspirationCOACHING SERVICES: Work with KevinGuided by Faith. Inspired by life itself.Podcast artwork © 2022 Kristen Girard of Radiance and Grit and Used with Permission by Lowe Down Media LLC

MID-SEGMENT GUEST: Steve Harling Ministry: Compel Global #3 of 3-part series: This series on ageism has discussed what ageism looks like in our own lives and how it shows up in our world today. But just because ageism exists doesn't mean we have to let it rule us! This final episode in the series of Ageism and the Christ-Following Retiree focuses on how our faith can help us to overcome age discrimination. You'll have a sunnier outlook on aging, which can help improve your overall quality of life. So what are you waiting for? Join us as we refute stereotypes and promote the message that God wants to use YOU in all seasons of life – especially during retirement! www.RetirementReformation.org

MID-SEGMENT GUEST: Saskia Van Helden Ministry: Wake Up Deborah #2 of 3-part series: Last episode in this series, we focused our discussion on understanding ageism. Today we will focus on how ageism impacts the world around us. So, why are we talking about ageism anyway? As we talk about throughout this series, ageism has serious and wide-ranging consequences for people's health and well-being. And the Retirement Reformation, through the iRetire4Him Podcast, wants to give you biblical solutions to the issues that aging and ageism brings. Join us as we refute stereotypes and promote the message that God wants to use YOU in all seasons of life – especially during retirement! www.RetirementReformation.org 

MID-SEGMENT GUEST: Sue Ruddick Prior Workplace Ministry: DaySpring #1 of 3-part series: Today we begin a series on Ageism and the Christ-Following Retiree. Why? We believe how we see ourselves is directly related to the messaging we absorb on a daily basis. If that messaging isn't from a biblical worldview that honors and values the participation of retired folks, that messaging can be harmful. Our 3-part series on Ageism and the Christ-Following Retiree will focus first on understanding ageism, then on how ageism impacts the world around us, and finally in our third podcast we will focus on how our faith can help us overcome this age discrimination.  www.RetirementReformation.org

In our final Philippians episode, we tackle three short but powerful themes: our true citizenship, knowing Christ, and following examples in our faith.

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Today on Simply HIS our guest Nancy Dickerson shares the terrible story that lead to her adult child's suicide. This is a very real and heart wrenching tale. Grab a box of tissues and walk this journey with us as Nancy walks us through the circumstances and impact one chose can make. Depression is a frightening reality, that we all need to be aware of.

Bruce Bruinsma is a central figure in the "Retirement Reformation" movement. As the Founder and CEO of Envoy Financial, a retirement provider that serves those in ministry, Bruce has encouraged men and women for over 25 years to look at retirement as a "Future Funded Ministry" where they will have the time and financial freedom to apply a life's worth of talent and experiences to God's Kingdom. In addition, Bruce is the co-founder of several businesses that financially support ministries and communities in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Bruce is also the author of several books (including Retirement Reformation released in 2018), consults with Christian ministries worldwide, and is an energetic, sought-after presenter. Currently, he lives in Colorado with his wife Judy. In this podcast, Bruce shares how God wants those in their senior years to be a much-needed light in a dark world. While modern culture belittles senior citizens, God is calling them to use their wisdom and resources to help bring the revival and awakening American so desperately needs.

Bruce Bruinsma is a central figure in the "Retirement Reformation" movement. As the Founder and CEO of Envoy Financial, a retirement provider that serves those in ministry, Bruce has encouraged men and women for over 25 years to look at retirement as a "Future Funded Ministry" where they will have the time and financial freedom to apply a life's worth of talent and experiences to God's Kingdom. In addition, Bruce is the co-founder of several businesses that financially support ministries and communities in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Bruce is also the author of several books (including Retirement Reformation released in 2018), consults with Christian ministries worldwide, and is an energetic, sought-after presenter. Currently, he lives in Colorado with his wife Judy. In this podcast, Bruce shares how God wants those in their senior years to be a much-needed light in a dark world. While modern culture belittles senior citizens, God is calling them to use their wisdom and resources to help bring the revival and awakening American so desperately needs.

Episode 01. Stuart Brooking 9/1/22

In Christ, you are free to live not as the flesh desires, but as the Spirit leads.

AND DULY NOTE: This is not for the Culture of Christ Following who likes it easy and breezy. It's meaty. and not a lot of light hearted "Reward and Achievement" focus...So heads up area warning. BUT as the Church goes. so goes the nation and our nation is in the tank. And maybe that parallels at least pART of the Clannish Critical Church. ALSO...NOTING THAT IT'S NOT TIME TO HOOK LINE AND SINKER, AUTOMATICALLY, UNQUESTIONING FOLLOW THE FAMOUS WELL KNOWN LOCAL, NATIONAL LEADER but to stand alone, where necessary in order to FOLLOW THE LIVING ONE TRUE LORD. as YOUR eternal LIFE may depend upon YOUR doing that.. (C)2021 DFW Leader Ministry Fellowship All copyrights reserved

Maybe you realize that NOW IS the time to pursue what God has put on your heart. Right here in the middle of motherhood with little kids, you're going to pursue this dream. But you don't want to pursue it in a way that creates anxiety and overwhelm. Not in a way that's driven by comparison of what someone else is doing or guilt for "not being enough" for your children OR in your business. Good news. There's a better way. And my guest this week, Mary Kathryn Tiller, shares her heart for encouraging mom entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams in a way that "moves at the pace of Jesus". Mary Kathryn is a mom of two and a writer. Her passion is helping entrepreneurial mamas connect more deeply with Christ so they can find the strength they need to thrive in all He’s called them to do.  Mary Kathryn is full of wisdom and encouragement. We talk about: How we can embrace motherhood AND our calling without “hustling harder” WHY it's important for moms to pursue what's on their heart in the middle of motherhood  That if Jesus is the center of everything we do, we can move at His pace and trust that He'll unfold our dreams in a way that gives us life- not anxiety. THIS is SO good! And her free resource Five Pockets of Time and How to Make Them Work for You as an entrepreneur and mom with young kids You're going to walk away from this conversation feeling lighter and inspired. I know I did! Connect with Mary Kathryn: https://www.instagram.com/marykathryntiller https://www.facebook.com/marykathryntiller www.marykathryntiller.com www.newmerciesformoms.com   For show notes and resources mentioned: http://www.gotchamama.com GOTCHA MAMA INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/gotchamama/ GOTCHA MAMA FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/gotchamama/

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So often we start our year with new years resolutions and promises to ourselves to live a different, more meaningful life. Martha and I do that too. In 2021 we want to be interviewed on lots of platforms to encourage the 55 million Christ Following workplace believers to know their work matters to God. We … Continue reading iWork4Him on Kurt & Kate in the Mornings on Moody Radio Florida

So often we start our year with new years resolutions and promises to ourselves to live a different, more meaningful life. Martha and I do that too. In 2021 we want to be interviewed on lots of platforms to encourage the 55 million Christ Following workplace believers to know their work matters to God. We … Continue reading iWork4Him on Kurt & Kate in the Mornings on Moody Radio Florida The post iWork4Him on Kurt & Kate in the Mornings on Moody Radio Florida appeared first on iWork4Him Podcast.

Today we are discussing what Jesus meant when He said, "Let the dead bury their dead."    Shop the new YHWH t-shirt design today: www.p40ministries.com/shop

We will end our all church study with a review of the Ten Commandments as given to Moses on Mt. Sinai. The first four of these “ten words” gave guidelines for vertical relationship (us to God) and the next six helped us understand horizontal relationships (us to one another). Jesus would later summarize these Ten Commandments with two words: Love God and Love People. By reviewing these ten laws we will encourage the people of Eastview in their respective relationships with God and others as he designed it.

This sermon will cover the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea on dry ground. Once again, God displays his greatness by doing what no one could expect. He provides a way out of trouble in a way that the people of God could not have imagined. At the same time, he completely destroys the enemies of the Hebrews giving us a glimpse of all Jesus has done for us. The main teachings of this text will focus on our great God providing a way when we don't see it, and how we should have faith when we face impossibilities in our lives.

How quickly we forget the greatness and power of God to meet our everyday needs. Not long after the triumphant delivery from slavery, and the miracle of the Red Sea crossing, the people complained against God for food. Of course, God had a plan, and that plan was to send bread from heaven to sustain them on their journey to the Promised Land. In this way, God fed the children of Israel for 40 years with manna each morning. This teaching will focus on God giving us our daily bread and Jesus as the bread of life.

In our second teaching we will join Moses on the sacred mountain at the burning bush to discover that God speaks to his people. This important lesson encourages us to know that God initiates the conversation (“…the angel of the Lord appeared to him…”) and knows us each by name (“Moses, Moses!”). This is a picture of Jesus who was literally God with man calling us into his ministry and mission through the Living word. While most of us will never experience a literal burning bush, God speaks to us still through the life of his Son, the presence of his Spirit, and his “breathed out” written word – the Bible.

Next we move to the power of God which will be a general overview of the plagues that God powerfully sends against Pharaoh and Egypt in order to rescue his people. In each plague, the one, true living God shows he is more powerful than each of the false, Egyptian gods. They worship the Nile and he turns it to blood. They worship the sun and he brings darkness. They worship frogs and cows and he overwhelms them with frogs and strikes their cattle with death. This eventually causes Pharaoh's magician to declare, “this is the finger of God.” The finger, hand, and arm of God is still as powerful today as then. He is more powerful than our fears, our enemies, our circumstances, our pasts, and our futures. And he has proven all authority by the death, burial and resurrection of his Son Jesus.

The first big idea is that God rescues us. The story of Exodus begins with the people of Israel groaning because of their slavery in Egypt. According to Exodus 2:23, they were crying for rescue and God heard their prayers. This teaching will encourage people that God hears and knows of the things that enslave us and bring us pain. And he has rescued us through his Son Jesus, first from the slavery of our sin and death, and then through every trial and temptation we experience in our journey of faith.

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There is a distinct difference between the Christ follower and the People pleaser. In this message, by Pastor Nick, you will find out that you can’t be both.

Recovering Reality Founder Erik Frederickson talks with Pastor Aaron Minard as he shares his wild journey from darkness to Light.

We can "press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ." There is a Kingdom RSS Feed -- Royal Spirit Syndication. Straight from Jesus. Listen to discover 4 practical action steps to stay connected with that feed and elevate your Kingdom Experience. >> Go to the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com Get the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases Podcast Archive >> JesusSmart.com/category/podcast  

You can find additional, longer audio teaching content from me by becoming a Partner of the Morning Mindset. Find out more at https://CareyGreen.com/Partners  Once you become a Partner, you may need some help getting the podcast feed added to your podcast player. Here's a video to show you how to do that! https://youtu.be/stC_MjIdVWg 

The famous atheist, Friedrich Nietzsche, once said, 'He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.' Ironically, Nietzsche who warned that philosophers have killed God, himself died in the demented darkness of insanity at a mental asylum in the year 1900. Yet it is true that the 'why to live', when reconnected to the living God, provides a powerful purpose for the life of each one of us. The same is true for a church. A church on purpose is a powerful entity, helping each of us to ‘bear almost any how'. More than ever, as our nation is fractured and divided by mass shootings, racism, hatred and politics, we need to unite and know why Cornerstone exists. We can understand our purpose that God has given to us, and together live it out in a powerful, effective, and satisfying way.

The famous atheist, Friedrich Nietzsche, once said, 'He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.' Ironically, Nietzsche who warned that philosophers have killed God, himself died in the demented darkness of insanity at a mental asylum in the year 1900. Yet it is true that the 'why to live', when reconnected to the living God, provides a powerful purpose for the life of each one of us. The same is true for a church. A church on purpose is a powerful entity, helping each of us to ‘bear almost any how’. More than ever, as our nation is fractured and divided by mass shootings, racism, hatred and politics, we need to unite and know why Cornerstone exists. We can understand our purpose that God has given to us, and together live it out in a powerful, effective, and satisfying way.

This is part 4 of a series we’ve been doing on raising mature, internally motivated, Christ-following children. In this session we talk about Good theology, Strategy and technique and how the techniques we use should flow out of a well planned strategy that is based on Good theology. Then we look at getting from our starting point of where we are with our child to the destination where we want them to be in terms of their heart tendencies. We also look at some starting points for beginning to transfer responsibility to our children and the role the conscience and Holy Spirit play in their development. Show notes and resources as well as past sessions can be found at https://dadhackers.us/078-2

This is part 3 in our Raising Kids Series. Be sure to listen to the previous sessions if you're just joining us for the first time.        After you've had the initial meeting with your child to let them know that some new things are going to take place, it's imperative that you develop a specific plan and strategy for training the heart of your child.      In this session we'll look at the 5 steps you need to take in order to begin developing a specific, targeted strategy for eliciting heart change in your child.      Get the show notes and resources at https://dadhackers.us/077-2

Guest Overview Massachusetts born, a psychiatrist father and minister mother, drove his ambition to be a priest, but evolved to being an actor, musician, author and expert on the ethics of Artificial Intelligence is this week's guest John C Havens. oh he's also a wicked harmonic player -John is currently the Executive Director of The IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems (A/IS). Over the past three years The Initiative produced, Ethically Aligned Design, a free, creative commons book over 250 pages long written by 600 global experts created to ensure A/IS honors human rights and end user values while prioritizing human wellbeing and ecological sustainability. John is the author of Heartificial Intelligence: Embracing Humanity to Maximize Machines, a frequent contributor to Mashable and The Guardian, a former EVP of a top ten PR firm, founder of a non-profit called The Happathon Project, and a former professional actor for over fifteen years. You can find John on twitter @johnchavens.John's views are his own on the show and don't necessarily represent and formal positions of the IEEE.In part one of this 2 parter John and I discuss his upbringing, parental impact, the role of introspection on his journey and his early experiences acting alongside some of Hollywood's finest. In part two we will dive deep into the ethics of AI and Johns vision for a more sustainable future society. I hope you enjoy Part One and an insight into vision, passion and faith of John C Havens.What we discussHis early years Growing up overweight His father's impact IntrospectionCathartic impact of music His relationship with Christ Following his parents guidance Worth and lovePlay and acting in early development Attending a Christian college On recognizing truth and love Empathy and kindness The influence of a theatre professorAttending WilliamsTown Summer theatre His explanation of the craft of actingSteel Pier How he became involved in IEEE and developing AI Code of Ethics Asimov Laws of RoboticsFollow on Social TwitterLinks In The Show See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When parents begin a heart-based approach to parenting, it's crucial that the focus on one area for one child.  One of the first things you'll need to do is to pick one area to focus on and then have a meeting with your child. It doesn't matter if they are 4 or 14 this first meeting (the first of many) is VERY important.  In this episode we talk about the dos and don'ts of the first meeting and we walk through how to conduct it so that things go as planned. Get the show notes at https://dadhackers.us/072-2

     One of the things dads often struggle with is confidence that the work they're doing to raise their children is actually effective and correct.      Often a behavior modification approach to parenting is used, but this approach has limited effect and doesn't create lasting change.      Heart-based solutions are the best and most lasting. A heart based approach to parenting creates an internal drive in the child to do what's right instead of relying on the external constraints of parents.      In this episode I share with you some introductory thoughts on beginning a heart based approach to teaching and training your children.      Get the show notes at https://dadhackers.us/071-2

Apostolic main TV influenced Bible., True/Untrue doctrines are diversely spreading and affecting big grass Christ Following roots

All Kingdom life flows from the heart. Isaac and Silvia Rowe are pastors and business people. They value authentic relationships and deeper discipleship as Christ-Followers. Self awareness, accountability and trust, and advancing in faith are their quest -- for themselves and those they lead. It's more than church meetings and programs. Full-spectrum Christ-following is total life transformation. Listen to Part 2 of this conversation with Isaac & Silvia CLICK! >> See the show notes page for this episode at JesusSmart.com Get the Jesus Smart eLetter and keep current with podcast episode releases

Be Bible organic..without human synthetic additives. .Dr T discusses Isaiah 11:2-3 Acts 2 and God's 7 mature Spirits and candidly addresses race in ministry,OT Law and Being Righteous big iheavy ssues

Being not without controversy, there are two dominant interpretations of Jesus’ teaching on the “Vine and branches.” First, those branches that do not “bear fruit” (John 15:2), who are “thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned” (John 15:6), are considered those who are pseudo-Christians, being without genuine faith, as those who had never truly believed.[1]The second view sees those who do not bear fruit and who are eventually burned as genuine believers, having a union with Christ, but who are failing in their communion with Him. Such believers are justified. However, their intimacy and fellowship with Him is not growing because they are not “abiding” in Christ. The idea of being “burned” speaks to discipline, and not the Lake of Fire.[2]It is this last view that holds the greatest credibility, both in John’s Gospel and within the bounds of Scripture as a whole. Therefore, it is the viewpoint that will be endorsed and explained here.John 13-16 finds Jesus teaching His disciples and encouraging them before His betrayal and arrest. Soon He would be gone, and they would need to carry on. But how? The Lord’s explanation of the indwelling Holy Spirit would certainly be of some comfort to them. But when a flood of emotions rush upon a person unexpectedly, much of what is valued can be quickly forgotten. When our emotional state has been heightened into a “fight or flight” condition, rational and steadfast truths can easily fade into the background. This is most certainly true for the eleven disciples of our Lord.In troubled times, obedience is paramount. This is a theme that carries the reader into John 15, with Jesus stating “but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me” (John 14:31a). Obedience testifies to the world system about the love that we have for God. This was Jesus’ greatest desire, seeing that He was always in submission to the Father. In disputing the two possible viewpoints of this text, Jesus’ words bring clarity. Jesus “abides” in the Father. Therefore, believers should abide in Him as well. While further justification for the “fellowship/communion” view will be supplied as we work through the text, it is clear that Jesus has love on His mind, which He has shown to be demonstrated through obedience (John 14:15, 21). John 15:1-3.Jesus begins this significant teaching by stressing two designations in the form of an analogy. First, Jesus describes Himself as the “true vine,” with the surrounding context giving us little in understanding the necessity of Jesus using the adjective “true” in distinguishing Himself. Many have referred to the comparison made of the nation of Israel to a vine in the Old Testament (Jer 2:21). This is quickly followed up with the idea that Jesus, in His perfect obedience, is everything that Israel should have been unto God the Father. But this association seems forced, being without much merit when considering the context and the events that would soon follow. Since this pericope is focused on the importance of “abiding,” Jesus’ words may be a “setting apart” from other possible competing influences that would seek to draw away the devotion of the eleven. If the believer is to “abide” in anything, let their abiding be in Christ! The second designation refers to the Father as the “vinedresser.” This is geōrgosin the Greek, being a compound word with ge meaning “land, soil,” and ergonmeaning “work.” Literally, this word speaks of God the Father as One who is working with the soil, or in this case, a worker of the vine. The importance of the Father as the vinedresser is a designation that encompasses more than what might be readily understood by the reader. Jesus’ analogy is deliberate and no point of consideration is wasted. The weight of this description is captured well by Derickson and Radmacher: “A vinedresser is more than a mere farmer. His work is not like the typical farmer, who simply plows up a field, plants a crop, harvests it, and waits for next season (We are speaking simplistically here). Grapes are more than an annual crop. They are individuals. A husbandman must know all about grapes, how they grow, what they need, when they need it, and what produces the best health as well as production in the plant. But, to be effective, they not only must know the right things, but they must nurture their plants with loving care.The vinedresser’s grapevines remain with him for decades. He comes to know each one in a personal way, much like a shepherd with his sheep. He knows how the vine is faring from year to year and which ones are more productive or vigorous than others. He knows what they respond to and what special care certain one’s need. Every vine has its own personality. And the vinedresser comes to know it over the years. The vinedresser cares for each vine and nurtures it, pruning it the appropriate amount at the appropriate times, fertilizing it, lifting its branches from the ground and propping them or tying them to the trellis, and taking measures to protect them from insects and disease.So, when Jesus calls His Father the Vinedresser, He is describing Him in terms of His relationship and attitude as well as His actions in the lives of the disciples… To call Him a vinedresser is to tell them He cares for them personally and is wise to know exactly what to do to make them fruitful. With such a Vinedresser, the branches can experience complete confidence and security.”[3]Thus established, the Father works through the Vine (Jesus) for the health and productivity of the branches in bringing forth fruit. In 15:1-11, we see the idea of bringing forth fruit of some kind (whether “much fruit” or “more fruit”) or not bringing forth fruit six times. From this we can conclude that the Father’s skilled and loving involvement in seeing that the branches are bearing fruit is a dominant theme.In 15:2, Jesus addresses the product, or lack thereof, of the branches. He begins by stating “every branch IN ME” (emphasis added) demonstrating the location of the branches at the time of expected productivity. This argument alone should be enough to dismiss the notion that fruitless Christians are not really saved. While the comparison of the branches being representative of the eleven is not made clear until 15:4, the fact that the location of the branches being “in Me,” with Christ being the One speaking, does not change. Hart notes that “elsewhere in the New Testament, nonbelievers are never said to be ‘in Me (Christ)’ in any sense of the term.”[4]Jesus’ words are clear that both the productive and unproductive branches in 15:2 are in Him, dismissing the idea of pseudo-believers. One of the greatest evidences promoting the “pseudo-Christian” interpretation is that the branch that “does not bear fruit” is taken away (John 15:2a), which is the rendering of every major English translation of the Bible with “cuts off” (NLT) and “removes” (HCSB) being some of the variants available. However, this is not the onlyway to understand the Greek word airō, and most certainly not the way to understand how a vinedresser would initially deal with a branch that is not fruit bearing. It would seem that many of the presumptions that stem from the meaning of being “burned” in John 15:6 have controlled the decision to translate airōas “takes away,” as can be seen in the study notes of the NET translation.[5]Noting this bias, Boice writes “Undoubtedly, their translation has been made to conform to what they know or believe is coming in verse 6, but the translation is not the best or even the most general meaning of the Greek word airowhich lies behind it.”[6]At this point, the deliberate nature of Jesus describing the Father as the “vinedresser” becomes essential to understanding the text properly. The word airōis shown to have the following meanings, which are mostly decided upon by the surrounding context of the passage in question. Note the following:1.to raise up;a.to raise from the ground, take up: stones, Jn. 8:59; serpents, Mk. 16:18; a dead body, Acts 20:9.b.to raise upwards, elevate, lift up: the hand, Rev. 10:5; the eyes, Jn. 11:41; the voice, i. e. speak in a loud tone, cry out, Lk. 17:13; Acts 4:24, (also in prof. writ.); to raise the mind, i. q. excite, affect strongly (with a sense of fear, hope, joy, grief, etc.); in Jn. 10:24 to hold the mind in suspense between doubt and hope, cf. Lücke [or Meyer] ad loc.c.to draw up: a fish, Mt. 17:27 (Hab. 1:15); Acts 27:17; anchors from the bottom of the sea, Acts 27:13, where supply; cf. Kuinoel ad loc.; [W. 594 (552); B. 146 (127)].2.to take upon one’s self and carry what has been raised, to bear: Mt. 4:6; Lk. 4:11, (Ps. 90 (91):12); a sick man, Mk. 2:3; Mt. 11:29 (Lam. 3:27); a bed, Mt. 9:6; Mk. 2:9, 11 sq.; Lk. 5:24 sq.; Jn. 5:8–12; Mt. [10:38 Lchm. mrg.]; 16:24; 27:32; Lk. 9:23; Mk. 8:34; 10:21 [in R Lbr.]; 15:21; Rev. 18:21; to carry with one, [A. V.take]: Mk. 6:8; Lk. 9:3; 22:36. Both of these ideas are expressed in classical Greek.3.to bear away what has been raised, carry off;a.to more from its place: Mt. 21:21; Mk. 11:23, (be thou taken up, removed [B. 52 (45)], sc. from thy place); Mt. 22:13 [Rec.]; Jn. 2:16; 11:39, 41; 20:1.b.to take offor awaywhat is attached to anything: Jn. 19:31, 38 sq.; to tear away, Mt. 9:16; Mk. 2:21; to rend away, cut off, Jn. 15:2.c.to remove: 1 Co. 5:2 (cast out from the church; tropically: faults, Eph. 4:31, Jn. 1:29, [36 Lchm. in br.], to remove the guilt and punishment of sin by expiation, or to cause that sin be neither imputed nor punished; but in 1 Jn. 3:5 is to cause our sins to cease, i. e. that we no longer sin, while we enter into fellowship with Christ, who is free from sin, and abide in that fellowship, cf. vs. 6.d.to carry off, carry away with one: Mt. 14:12, 20; 15:37; 20:14; 24:17 sq.; Mk. 6:29, 43; 8:8, 19 sq.; 13:15 sq.; Lk. 9:17; 17:31; Jn. 20:2, 13, 15; Acts 20:9.e.to appropriatewhat is taken: Lk. 19:21 sq.; Mk. 15:24.f.to take away from another what is hisor what is committed to him, to take by force: Lk. 6:30; 11:52; Mt. 13:12; 21:43; 25:28; Lk. 8:12, 18; 19:24, 26; [Mt. 25:29]; Mk. 4: (15), 25; Jn. 10:18; 16:22.g.to take and apply to any use: Acts 21:11; 1 Co. 6:15.h.to take from among the living, either by a natural death, Jn. 17:15 (take away from intercourse with the world), or by violence, Mt. 24:39; Lk. 23:18; Jn. 19:15; Acts 21:36; with the addition of Acts 22:22; of a bloody death inflicted upon one, Acts 8:33 (Is. 53:8).i.of things; to take out of the way, destroy: Col. 2:14; cause to cease: Acts 8:33 (Is. 53:8).[7]Notice that the idea of “taking away” (#3, b.) stems from the understanding “to bear away what has been raised” (#3), and does not assume a negative connotation. The instances before this speak of being “raised up” or “to take up or carry for one’s self,” all of which happen to fit the cultural, historical, and contextual implications of this passage in likening the Father to a vinedresser. Viticulture, being the cultivation and care of grapevines, is a meticulous calling, as described above in Derickson and Radmacher’s comments. But the specifics of bringing a branch that is not bearing fruit into a place where fruit can be produced is often overlooked or totally dismissed as a course of action that the vinedresser would take, opting instead to dismiss the branch into the Lake of Fire.In viticulture, a branch of the vine that was not bearing fruit was usually due to the branch coming off the trellis and resting on the ground. Being on the ground, the branch now has a disruption in receiving the nourishment that is needed to be productive. Desperately in need, the branch develops sprigs that plug into the ground seeking moisture for nourishment. Now the branch is dependent upon the ground for its sustenance, and though inferior, has attached itself as the sole means of getting nourishment. That which is produced from this inferior source is worthless at best. The vinedresser must get involved personally in order to give the opportunity for maximum production to the fallen branch. However, this is not an easy, or immediate process.Caring for the branch, and wishing to restore it to its greatest source of nourishment from the vine, the Father slowly begins separating the fallen branch from its inferior dependency. To do this, the branch is lifted only slightly without breaking the sprigs attached to the ground. He then places a small rock under the branch in order to keep it lifted, slowly weaning the branch from its inferior source of nourishment. Over the next few days, the separation of the branch from the ground becomes more gradual until all dependency is removed and the branch can once again be restored to the trellis where a maximum flow of nourishment can occur, being provided from the vine. This illustration shows the Father’s loving care in slowly separating the believer from inferior sources of nourishment so that they are fully dependent upon Christ alone.This is not a novel understanding. Hart explains, “The verb translated takes awaycan just as easily be translated ‘lifts up,’ denoting the Vinedresser’s action in stimulating growth in a fruitless branch (God helping a fruitless believer to produce fruit). In the viticulture of Israel, late fall was the season for removing dead branches (v.6). The springtime (the time of the upper room message and Jesus’ death) was the season to ‘lift up’ fruitless branches from the ground to encourage productivity.”[8]Being on the move (John 14:31b), it very well could have been that Jesus and His disciples were passing a vineyard at the time of this illustration. They could easily see the difference between those branches that had fallen to the ground and those who had remained on the trellis and were bursting with production. The Father takes those who are in a position of fruitlessness and gives them the opportunity and provision to grow. This is an opportunity that should not be wasted, but is a grand invitation to draw near to the Father and to be used for His purposes, ones that will display astriking testimony (John 14:31a), bringing Him great glory and honor before men.The second point in John 15:2 speaks of those branches that are bearing fruit and being productive. Such branches are “pruned” in order to have a greater productivity. This word is kathairōand is an obvious wordplay off of airō(“lifts up”) in the previous clause. It means, “to cause something to become clean, make clean, literally of a place that has been swept,… to remove superfluous growth from a plant, clear, prune of a vine.”[9]This is similar to the English word “catharsis” and is understood as a cleaning that takes place. Some have associated this cleansing of the productive branch as divine discipline,[10]but this hardly makes sense. Why would the Lord discipline a branch that is properly plugged into the vine, remaining steadfast in where it was placed, and receiving the correct nourishment so that production is rightly occurring? Instead, this “cleansing” would be better understood as divine “testing” that is being introduced into the believer’s life. Trials are God’s means of developing His people into mature saints. Note James’ words when he writes, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (Jas 1:2-4). Notice that the outcome of letting “endurance have its perfect result” is that the believer becomes “perfect and complete” (“mature” and “blameless”), having all that he or she needs. Hodges notes, “James is referring to the way trial and testing apply ‘fire’ to our faith, so that it can come through the ‘furnace’ of trouble cleansed of any dross or impurity from the flesh. Like gold that has been refined, faith can be purified from the selfish motives and misguided perceptions that often distort and weaken it. God can use trouble to accomplish justthat.”[11]Such testing always asks the question of belief or unbelief of the believer. Trials can rid the believer of the self-life and move us into a greater dependency on Him. Those who choose to believe God’s Word in the midst of their trials are those who will “bear more fruit” (John 15:2b). In John 15:3, Jesus states that the eleven are “already clean” (katharos- “being clean or free of adulterating matter, clean, pure”[12]) and this is because of the word that He has spoken to them. This may seem to be an out-of-place comment, but it finds its connection in John 13:10which states, “Jesus said to him, ‘He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.’” The following verse records John’s commentary that the one who is not clean is the betrayer, Judas (John 13:11). Having left the group in John 13:30, Judas’ absence allowed for Jesus to give a much more concentrated teaching to those who were justified. Their being “clean” in 15:3 speaks to their justification, having been declared righteous by God after responding in faith to Christ. Justification had placed them in a position of unconditional acceptance before the Father, connecting them to the Vine, Jesus Christ. Now their responsibility would be to abide in that Vine in order to experience Life to the full.John 15:4-6.With 15:4 the word “abide” is introduced for the first of ten mentions in this passage. “Abide in Me, and I in you.” In Greek, the word “abide” is menōmeaning “to remain in the same place over a period of time—‘to remain, to stay.’”[13]That to which the disciples are told to “abide” is in Christ. This imperative draws theimmediate implication that abiding is not automatic, even though the eleven are “already clean” (15:3). Jesus clearly delineates between one’s justification and their sanctification. His call to abide “in Me” is to explain the means for having a beneficial experience in the here and now by bearing fruit that will give God glory. This nourishing communion is a means of total blessing to the believer in Christ, having the power of God’s provision flowing to them and producing fruit through them. Augustine writes, “The relation of the branches to the vine is such that they contribute nothing to the vine, but from it derive their own means of life; while that of the vine to the branches is such that it supplies their vital nourishment, and receives nothing from them. And so their having Christ abiding in them, and abiding themselves in Christ, are in both respects advantageous, not to Christ, but to the disciples.”[14]In understanding what is meant by “and I in you” (John 15:4b), we should not attempt to understand this apart from the preceding context either. In the previous chapter, Jesus was clear about how to cultivate an intimate fellowship with Himself and the Father. John 14:21finds Jesus stating, “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose (emphanizō-revealing clearly in detail; moving from the sensory to the cognitive in being fully known) Myself to him.” It is obeying that equates to abiding, and it is by abiding that one bears fruit. Such obedience is what cultivates intimacy with the Father and the Son. This is synonymous with “fellowship.” “To abide in Christ is, on the one hand, to have no known sin unjudged and unconfessed, no interest into which He isnot brought, no life which He cannot share,” states Scofield. “On the other hand, the abiding one takes all burdens to Him, and draws allwisdom, life and strength from Him. It is not unceasing consciousness of these things, and of Him, but that nothing is allowed in the life which separates from Him.”[15]Such a view is in complete alignment with everything that the New Testament espouses in “walking in the Spirit” (Gal 5:16, 25), “walking in a manner worthy” of our calling in Christ (Eph 4:1), and “walking in love” (Eph 5:2). All known sin must be confessed and every hinderance must be laid aside to ensure that “abiding” is a constant condition of the branch. This example is seen again in Jesus’ response to Judas (not Iscariot) in John 14:23when He says, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” In essence, abiding is the believer remaining intimate with the Father and the Son in obeying the Word of Christ, keeping what has been commanded (John 14:15, 21, 31). The Word of Christ is central and paramount to intimate fellowship with the Godhead. In abiding, the Word must abide in us (15:7a). When this happens, not only is greater intimacy experienced, but “more fruit” is produced!The example that accompanies this truth in John 15:4b is plain: A branch cannot produce anything if it does not abide in the vine in order to receive the provision for such production. Neither can a believer produce anything of benefit if he or she is not abiding in Christ. A believer is not self-nourishing. As the Scriptures clearly state, the flesh profits nothing (John 6:63; Rom 8:8). Just as absurd as it is to expect for a branch to produce fruit while separated from the vine, so is it equally absurd to expect the believer in Christ to produce fruit when we are not operating in connection with Christ. Independence from Christ in any situation, at any time, is sin.John 15:5 clarifies the intended parties in this analogy. Jesus is the vine, the eleven (and being that this is a truth that is true of the Church Age believer as well, all believers in Christ would be included) are the branches. By abiding in Christ, one produces “much fruit.” The opposite of this is very much true as well. Jesus states, “apart from Me you can do nothing” (15:5b). “Nothing” here is ou oudeiswith ou being a negative adverb and oudeis meaning “no.” One should expect absolutely nothing if they are not abiding in fellowship with Christ. Such disconnection leaves the believer in a barren state. Robertson succinctly concludes, “There is nothing for a broken off branch to do but wither and die.”[16]This is precisely what is concluded by Jesus in John 15:6.Jesus unfolds the consequences of those who do not abide in Him. The analogy is consistent, seeing that branches that have been separated from the vine and are no longer “abiding” are not good for anything other than kindling. Their sole purpose is to bear fruit, and once that has been rendered obsolete, they are no longer able to be used. Those branches that are not bearing fruit, after having been carefully and lovingly separated from their inferior means of securing self-nourishment and given the grand opportunity to become exceedingly productive only to spurn it, eventually dry up. Since nourishment is no longer flowing through them, they are only a sad representation of what they could have been had they remained in Christ.Again, it must be stated, fruit bearing is the sole purpose of the disciple of Christ. Having denied themselves that purpose by refusing to abide, they are gathered and burned, for that is the only thing that they are good for. With many, the analogy of being “burned” immediately conjures disturbing images of hellfire and brimstone, and forces a theological conclusion on many that the lack of fruit in abeliever’s life is grounds for eternal damnation. Such conclusions are unbiblical for two reasons. First, salvation is based on the finished work of Christ and whether one has believed in Him or not (John 3:16-18; 5:24; Acts 16:31). Second, if hellfire were the result of not bearing fruit, salvation becomes ultimately contingent upon one’s works or lack thereof, and the work of Jesus performed on the cross would have to be considered insufficient to save, which violates Romans 3:21-28, Titus 3:5, and 1 Peter 3:18, just to name a few.Since damnation is not in view, how should we understand this? Dillow writes, “a fruitless branch is lifted up to put it into a position of fruit-bearing. This does not contradict verse 6, which states that a branch that does not abide is ‘thrown away,’ literally ‘cast out’ (ballō exō). This would suggest that the heavenly Vinedresser first encourages the branches and lifts them in the sense of providing loving care to enable them to bear fruit. If after this encouragement, they do not remain in fellowship with Him and bear fruit, they are then cast out.”[17]God does not force obedience upon His children. He will direct them, even lead them, educate them, implore them, exhort them, and challenge them, but He does not force them. When such beckoning and education is not met with a favorable response, the Lord has no problem disciplining His children (Heb 12:5b-11). As the Vinedresser, the Father is longsuffering with His children, desiring what is best for them and setting them up for maximum success with all that has been provided for them in Christ. But there are many Christians who spurn the Lord’s loving care by clinging to the self-life. Such consequences are disastrous and can range from loss of intimacy with the Father and Son (John 14:24), physical death (1 Cor 5:5; 11:28-30), and loss at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Cor 3:15). To be “cast out” and “burned” is not to lose one’s salvation, otherwise the promises of Jesus would be a lie (John 3:16; 10:27-30).John 15:7-11.In v.7 we are given greater revelation as to what Jesus meant when He stated “I in you” in v.4. As stated previously, the Word of God is paramount. It is how Christ abides in us. Our abiding and His Word “dwelling richly” in us (Col 3:16) is followed up by a fantastic statement: “ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7b). Jesus has just handed His disciples the keys to an effective prayer life; one that actually brings results with God’s fingerprints clearly shining along the way. The Word of God is the will of God, and when one is abiding in Christ and His Word is abiding in them the result is “the effective prayer of a righteous man” which “can accomplish much” (Jas 5:16b). The concept of abiding is now better understood as a life being marked by practical righteousness (sanctification) and not only positional righteousness (justification).John 15:8 explains that the Father is glorified in the abiding disciple because they are bearing much fruit. Is this not the chief end of all of history? Ryrie notes that “Scripture is not man-centered as though salvation were the main theme, but it is God-centered because His glory is the center.”[18]Some have stumbled over Jesus’ words here in stating that one would “prove to be My disciples” (John 15:8b). The common approach is to conclude that the one who does not bear much fruit is not truly saved, with the absence of fruit being the deciding factor. The word “prove” is ginomaimeaning “to become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being.”[19]The issue that is often overlooked is the difference between a believer and a disciple. This is plain because all that surrounds this teaching is with a strict emphasis upon those who are already believing. When the branch bears much fruit, the Life of the Vine is plainly seen by all. Thus God is glorified when the believer in Christ has forsaken thatwhich hinders his or her growth and has embraced God’s Word for living one’s daily life. No one can speak against the fruit with an honest conscience because it has its origin in the Vine!Whereas the abiding of Christ’s Word was brought forward in John 15:7a, so now the theme of “love” is reintroduced in John 15:9. Five times in v.9 and 10 do we find the mention of “love.” Leading off this series is the example of the Father’s love for the Son. Divine intimacy is the first picture offered. Such an image draws the mind back to John 14:10 with the Father abiding in Christ, John 14:20 which speaks of the “already” loving communion that the Father and Son experience perpetually, and John 14:31 where Jesus speaks of His personal obedience to the Father’s will so that a testimony is promoted to the world. Every verse shows this communal love that is a daily experience between the Father and Jesus. In the same way, Jesus has loved His disciples, teaching them, leading them, bearing with them, guiding them, healing them, and demonstrating for them the sacrificial service that they are to have.Jesus then issues the imperative to “abide in My love” (John 15:9b). Where else would they go? Where would be a better place than remaining in the love of Christ? Following up this command is the “how” of abiding in Christ’s love. John 15:10a states, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in My love.” This harkens back to John 14:15 and 21, showing that love is truly demonstrated because the commands of Christ are valued as being the ultimate truth, and therefore worth rearranging one’s life in order to experience a fullness of Life in the here and now.The second half of John 15:10 draws the reader’s attention back to the truth of John 14:31. Jesus sets the tone for what it is to abide; to be walking in intimate fellowship with the Father. While the world has defined many things as “love,” Jesus defines it as obedience. To love the Lord is to obey Him. To demonstrate that one does not love the Lord is to not keep His Word (John 14:24). It is impossible to abidein Him if we are not keeping His Word. While obedience has no bearing on one’s justification, it has everything to do with whether a believer in Christ is experiencing the saving power of God in their daily life. This only comes about by pursuing intimacy with Him daily, moment by moment.In John 15:11, Jesus gives the reason for this indispensable principle of abiding in Him. “Joy” is a word that is far fetched in this day and age. Few of us experience genuine joy. By and large it is a word that is absent from our vocabularies and our lives. Unless we are singing “Joy to the World,” we have little to do with “joy.” Abiding in Christ accomplishes two things. First, it establishes the joy of Jesus Christ in the disciple. It is a joy inexpressible. It is joy divine! Second, the joy of Jesus Christ makes our joy “full,” meaning that it is a supernatural joy that is abounding in our being. It is this truth that led John to pen the epistle of 1 John. In it he writes, “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete” (1 John 1:1-4, emphasis added).Notice the interplay between “fellowship” and “joy.” John was experiencing in his daily life the fellowship that exists between the Father and the Son, and such wonderous fellowship produces joy! John’s desire is that every believer would experience this great joy and so have fellowship together with them as they fellowshipped with the Father and the Son. The entire epistle of 1 John is written to tell the believer in Christ how they can have fellowship with Christ so that they would experience this inexpressible joy! This is seen plainly in John’s borrowing of the “abide” concept in 1 John stretching from 2:6 to 4:16. The call is to abide, for in doing so, sin become a non-issue and intimacy with the Lord abounds! Are we experiencing inexpressible joy; such that is radiating through us, where God is glorified and we are made full? Are we abiding in Christ? An uncertain response is confirmation that we are not. If this is the case, what have we allowed to move us out of the abiding communion that the Father has so gracious given to us? Where are the areas of unbelief that are keeping us from bearing much fruit?In pondering all of this, J. Oswald Sanders offers a cogent statement for the Christian to ponder: “It is a sobering thought that we… are as close to Christ as we really choose to be.”[20]What better place is there to be than abiding in Christ?Jesus’ call to “abide” is only made clearer in the use of the vine/branch illustration. Ponder this relationship for a moment: Contact is essential. Proper nourishment comes about from consistent contact with the Vine. The Vinedresser assures that every care and precaution is taken so that the greatest opportunity for fruitfulness can be experienced by the branch stemming through the Vine. When contact stops, nourishment stops. The flow is meant to encourage total dependency. This is what it is to abide in Christ; a total dependency on Him where whatever needs to be accomplished in our lives is accomplished because His supernatural nourishment is flowing through us with the Father helping it along. In this way, the branches are understood to be seamless with the Vine. This is Christ living His Life through us! Again, Sanders offers his thoughts, writing “It would seem that admission to the inner circle of deepening intimacy with God is the outcome of deep desire. Only those who count such intimacy a prize worth sacrificing anything else for are likely to attain it. If other intimacies are more desirable to us, we will not gain entry to that circle.”[21][1]See John MacArthur Jr., ed., The MacArthur Study Bible, electronic ed. (Nashville, TN: Word Publishers, 1997), p. 1615, and David J. Ellis, “John” in The International Bible Commentary,ed. F.F. Bruce (England/Grand Rapids: Marshall Pickering/Zondervan 1986), p. 1255-1256.[2]See Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology, vol. 7 (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1993), p. 3–6, and Joseph C. Dillow, “Abiding Is Remaining in Fellowship: Another Look at John 15:1–6,” Bibliotheca Sacra147 (1990): 44–53.[3]Gary Derickson and Earl Radmacher, The Disciplemaker: What Matters Most to Jesus(Salem, OR: Charis Press, 2001), p. 152–153.[4]John F. Hart, “John” in The Moody Bible Commentary, ed. Michael Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham(Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2014), p. 1649.[5]NET Notes on John 15:2, “takes away” with emphasis added- “In Johannine usage the word occurs in the sense of ‘lift up’ in 8:59 and 5:8–12, but in the sense of ‘remove’ it is found in 11:39, 11:48, 16:22, and 17:15. In context (theological presuppositions aside for the moment) the meaning ‘remove’ does seem more natural and less forced (particularly in light of v. 6, where worthless branches are described as being “thrown out”—an image that seems incompatible with restoration).-Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible; The NET Bible(Biblical Studies Press, 2005).[6]James M. Boice, The Gospel of John, vol. 4 (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1978), p. 227[7]Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon, p. 16–17, with the Greek elaborations removed for ease of reading.[8]Hart, “John,” Moody Bible Dictionary, p. 1649.[9]BDAG, p. 488.[10]See Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible(Galaxie Software, 2003), Jn 15:2.[11]Zane C. Hodges, Arthur L. Farstad, and Robert N. Wilkin, The Epistle of James: Proven Character through Testing(Irving, TX: Grace Evangelical Society, 1994), p. 19.[12]BDAG, p. 489.[13]Louw and Nida, Greek-English Lexicon,p. 728.[14]Augustine of Hippo, “Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel according to St. John,” in St. Augustin: Homilies on the Gospel of John, Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Soliloquies, ed. Philip Schaff, trans. John Gibb and James Innes, vol. 7, A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, First Series (New York: Christian Literature Company, 1888), p. 345.[15]C. I. Scofield, The Scofield Study Bible(New York: Oxford University Press, 1996), Jn 15:4.[16]A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament(Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), Jn 15:5.[17]Dillow, “Abiding Is Remaining in Fellowship”: 51.[18]Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Dispensationalism, Rev. and expanded. (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1995), p. 48.[19]Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon, p. 115.[20]J. Oswald Sanders, Enjoying Intimacy with God(Chicago: Moody Press, 1980), p. 18.[21]Ibid.

CONTACT CAREY AT LIVE BUILD CHANGE (tap the image below)  Join the LBC Community On Facebook  Follow Carey on Facebook | Follow Carey on Twitter SUBSCRIBE on iTunes SUBSCRIBE on Google Play   Ethical principles in business are an easy thing to talk about - TALK ABOUT - and not so easy to actually PULL OFF. But that’s the hard work that makes them worthwhile. It’s what sets you apart from both your competition and in the eyes of your clients and customers. You’d think that for Christ-followers applying ethical principles to a business should be a walk in the park. Think again. It’s never easy for anyone to consistently, wisely, compassionately do the right thing when there are plenty of people and organizations out there just looking for someone to cast stones at. Christians seem to be a favorite target. On this episode I dive into one example - from my business - of how we Christ-followers need to not only think through the ethical principles that should distinguish our business from others, but also how we need to carefully navigate the waters of applying them. There are legal things to consider. Moral things to consider. Faith things to consider. Consider that for a while. :) We’ll cover an example or two, look at a specific scenario I’ve had to deal with on multiple occasions, and look to the scriptures for principles that apply to both our business practices and the perspective we have on people - who are the objects of service any business is aimed toward. Ethical principles are vitally important in business. For a Christ-follower, times 10. What you’ll hear in this episode about: Ethical Principles in Business [0:47] The interesting tensions that come up because of ethical principles in business. [2:12] How do you maintain your Christian standards as you run your business? (the Gay wedding cake issue - again) [4:02] How and why I began thinking about ethical principles as they apply to my business. [9:44] Realize that the money WILL have a pull on you, no matter who you are. [12:03] How I’ve had to deal with clients that need to be “fired.” [14:14] Taking a page from Apple when it comes to not working with certain content. [18:03] Why creating something that explains your company values is not enough. [21:36] How have potential clients responded? Only a few have been angry, believe it or not. [23:52] What does it mean to hold to ethical principles in business in a way that makes Christ look good? [27:34] The benefits that come from responding to anti-Christian customers and clients in love and with understanding - but clear conviction. [29:31] Why we Christ-followers must stand when everyone else bows. A matter of faith. www.PodcastFastTrack.com The iTunes page that shows what is allowed or NOT in the iTunes directory The “Why” page I created - www.PodcastFastTrack.com/why Get the Morning Mindset and these weekly episodes every morning via Facebook Messenger https://manychat.com/l2/LiveBuildChange ***************** Get Daily Email Encouragement every morning in your Inbox http://careygreen.com/DE-List ***************** Find out more about Christian Life & Business Coaching http://CareyGreen.com ***************** Connect with the LIVE BUILD CHANGE Movement and Community Website: www.LiveBuildChange.com Facebook Community: www.LiveBuildChange.com/FB Email: Carey@LiveBuildChange.com  

Author and mentor Darren Shearer is back on the program to talk about a complicated and nuanced subject in handling competition in the workplace as a Christ follower.  And Darren argues that our roles as Christians in the employment arena is ultimately to act as a disciple to our competition.     The post Christ Following In The Business World appeared first on iWork4Him Podcast.

Every church houses several different generational followers within their walls, which is the focus of author Haydn Shaw's book, Generational IQ; an exhaustively researched work that dissects the different generations viewing of Christ following, and what we can learn from their unique perspectives. [replay] The post Generational Christ Following appeared first on iWork4Him Podcast.

Every church houses several different generational followers within their walls, which is the focus of author Haydn Shaw's book, Generational IQ; an exhaustively researched work that dissects the different generations viewing of Christ following, and what we can learn from their unique perspectives. The post Generational Christ Following appeared first on iWork4Him Podcast.

This week, Emma  is blessed to welcome Christ Following and Kingdom Working couple for Christ, Stephen Mobley and Dr. Feben Girma, MD for Part 2 of an incredible interview last week. They will share how Kingdom Work for Christ can happen in Science today. Feben currently serves as an internal medicine physician providing care to the medically underserved population within a clinic associated with Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.  Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia as the youngest sister to her six older brothers, she moved to the States when she was 6 years old and grew up in Stone Mountain, GA. She attended Tucker High School where she graduated Valedictorian of her class. Subsequently, she attended Duke University as a pre-med and psychology major. She later was accepted into Morehouse School of Medicine where she graduated with her M.D. and completed her internal medicine residency at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Stephen currently works as a research engineer intern for Qorvo, a technology company focused on developing devices for the cell phone industry.  Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, he later attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, majoring in computer engineering.  He was accepted to graduate school at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA.  His research focus was in the development of biosensors for medical screening applications and this semester he will be graduating with his Ph.D. in electrical & computer engineering. More on this ministry at www.kingdomworkforChrist.com. A very special thanks to Alyce Metallo for her arrangement of Blessed Assurance (My Story), our opening song! Check her out at www.alycemetallo.com.

This week, Host Emma Boa-Durgammah is blessed to welcome Christ Following and Kingdom Working couple for Christ, Stephen Mobley and Dr. Feben Girma, MD. They will share how Kingdom Work for Christ can happen in Science today as an internal medicine Doctor and an Electrical and Computer Engineering PHD Candidate. Stephen currently works as a research engineer intern for Qorvo, a technology company focused on developing devices for the cell phone industry.  Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, he later attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, majoring in computer engineering.  He was accepted to graduate school at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA.  His research focus was in the development of biosensors for medical screening applications and this semester he will be graduating with his Ph.D. in electrical & computer engineering. Feben currently serves as an internal medicine physician providing care to the medically underserved population within a clinic associated with Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.  Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia as the youngest sister to her six older brothers, she moved to the States when she was 6 years old and grew up in Stone Mountain, GA. She attended Tucker High School where she graduated Valedictorian of her class. Subsequently, she attended Duke University as a pre-med and psychology major. She later was accepted into Morehouse School of Medicine where she graduated with her M.D. and completed her internal medicine residency at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. More on this ministry at www.kingdomworkforChrist.com. A very special thanks to Alyce Metallo for her arrangement of Blessed Assurance (My Story), our opening song! Check her out at www.alycemetallo.com.

Do Christ followers have an advantage over their non-Christ following business counterparts?  Dr Jim Harris believes so, and lays out why in his new book – Our Unfair Advantage – and talks on the show today about how, and why, the Holy Spirit should be a part of your everyday work life. The post Advantageous Christ Following in the Workplace appeared first on iWork4Him Podcast.

Maybe you remember the story which chronicles the encounter between Jesus and a man we know as the Rich Young Ruler. The privileged young man came to Jesus and asked an eternally important question, "How do I make it into Heaven?" Before Jesus could answer, he presented his impressive pedigree which included a nearly perfect record in commandment keeping. He was, by his own reckoning, a nearly perfect candidate for Heaven. However, Jesus offered a different perspective. He congratulated the young man for his morality and clean slate. Then He said, "But, if you want to see Heaven, you need to go and sell all you have and give it to the poor. Then, you need to follow me." In reality, he was simply asking the young man to make the pursuit of faith his number one priority. The Bible says, "that he went away sad" because he felt the cost was too high. May I ask if there is anything in your life so valuable that it takes priority over Jesus? It's very easy to choose the material over the spiritual and the temporary over the eternal. When you make the easy choice, you will rarely be following Jesus. Truth is following always involves sacrifice; certainly not one of our favorite words. I'm much more interested in the benefits of Christ-Following than in the sacrifices. But as soon as the Rich Young Ruler departed, Jesus turned to his disciples and explained an extraordinary mathematical truth, WHATEVER YOU SACRIFICE IN MY NAME WILL BE RETURNED TO YOU 100X OVER. Now, that's a deal you can't pass up! Support the show (https://onrealm.org/burlingtonbaptist/-/give/XVSXTRONUP)

Call of Duty- Authentic Christ Following  by Pastor Jeff Baker on Jan. 5, 2014

This passage reminds us of how important it is to be open and receptive to someone or something new. The life Jesus’ followers left behind was superseded by the life they experienced with Jesus. The post Finding Christ – Following Christ (John 1: 40 – 51) first appeared on The Oasis.

Luke 14:34-35

Luke 14:34-35

Luke 14:33

Luke 14:15-35

Luke 14:15-33

Luke 14:15-33

II Cor 4-5

Luke 14:25-33