Read: Psalm 1:1-3 SOAP: Psalm 1:1-3"How blessed is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand in the pathway with sinners, or sit in the assembly of scoffers! Instead, he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord's commands; he meditates on his commands day and night. He is like a tree planted by flowing streams; it yields its fruit at the proper time, and its leaves never fall off. H...  Read More

Read: John 15:6 SOAP: John 15:6"If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown out like a branch, and dries up; and such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and are burned."  A Living RelationshipA simple fact: a branch that is not connected to the vine has no life flowing through it, so it withers and dies. Without a true connection to Jesus, a person is like that branch, dead and u...  Read More

Read: John 15:5 SOAP: John 15:5"I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me—and I in him—bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing." Abiding in Jesus to Bear Much FruitI love how Jesus says, "bears much fruit…" It's as if He's gently reminding us that our lives are meant to overflow with Spiritual Fruit. But here's the best part. We aren't expected to pr...  Read More

Read: John 15:3-4 SOAP: John 15:4"You are clean already because of the word that I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me." Abiding in Jesus to Bear FruitWhen I read John 15:3-4, I imagine Jesus leaning in and looking each of the disciples in the eyes. "Rem...  Read More

Read: 1 John 1:6 SOAP: 1 John 1:6"If we say we have fellowship with Him and yet keep on walking in the darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth." Walking in the Light Through ConfessionAbiding in Christ means choosing to walk in His Light, live transparently before Him, and allow His Truth to shape every part of our lives. But sin disrupts this fellowship and creates a distance between ...  Read More

Read: Matthew 5:16 SOAP: Matthew 5:16"In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven." Letting Our Light Shine Before OthersThe Light that we are called to shine through our lives is not for others to better see us, but to better see Christ. When we abide in Jesus, our lives begin to reflect His Light, shining in a ...  Read More

Read: Philippians 2:12-13 SOAP: Philippians 2:12-13"So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence, for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort—for the sake of his good pleasure—is God." The God Who Works Within UsFriend, God is always at work in your life...  Read More

Read: John 15:2 SOAP: John 15:2"He takes away every branch that does not bear fruit in me. He prunes every branch that bears fruit so that it will bear more fruit." Trusting the Gardener’s Pruning"He takes away every branch that does not bear fruit in me. He prunes every branch that bears fruit so that it will bear more fruit." (NET)Into the TextI'll never forget the day our new lawn company came ...  Read More

Have you ever wondered what it means to abide in Jesus? To live so closely connected to Him that His Love, Strength, and Wisdom flow into every area of your life? In a world that pulls us in many directions, Jesus offers us something better. He offers life rooted in Him where His Strength becomes our own, His Love fills our hearts, and His Wisdom guides our days. In Abiding in Jesus: Bearing Fruit that Lasts, you’ll embark on a journey into the Heart of Jesus’ Call to remain in Him.  Read More

Read: 1 Corinthians 13Hebrews 8:7-13 Seeking God’s Kingdom Right NowSo what does living in Jesus’ new way of life actually look like?We learn how to seek the Kingdom of God when we choose to enter the unique story of God, which has a lot to do with exposing the deception used to build human empires, lies that end up justifying neglectful or violent actions toward others. We learn to trust that God...  Read More

Read: Luke 12:22-34Ephesians 2:13-22 Where True Safety and Security Come FromNormal empires and kings tell their citizens that safety and satisfaction result when one has money, stuff, and power over other people. Once we have secured ourselves with these things, then we can serve others.But Jesus, the King of God’s Kingdom, tells us that safety and satisfaction result when we love God and others ...  Read More

Read: Acts 2:42-471 John 3:11-24 Seeking First the Kingdom in a Dangerous WorldTo get a good definition of “Kingdom of God,” it’s helpful to first understand what “kingdom” meant for the biblical authors. In Jesus’ first-century Jewish context, kingdom meant a tangible, real world on Earth, including real citizens, a real king, and a way of life governed by that king. When kings embraced harmful w...  Read More