Abiding in the Vine IV

Abiding in the Vine IVWednesday 06/10/15

 

Series: Abiding in the Vine IV

 

Message – Abiding in the Vine IV.mp3

Click here for the Video

 

This week we have a treat, Steven Grossl, a man in our church and a personal friend of mine lead a small group while my wife and I were out of town. His wife Stephanie recorded the discussion group with her phone so the recording is not the normal quality, but I think  you will enjoy the more casual, discussion type format of this lesson as Steven leads it. So sit back and join us in the living room as we discuss Abiding in the Vine.

 

This is a statement the group began with in order to “prime” their hearts towards listening and retaining what was discussed.

“Blessed am I because my eyes do see and my ears do hear!

I anticipate God’s revelation in my life!”

There were two topics presented to the small group for discussion in encourage them to think through the topic and facilitate growth.

Topic #1. Abiding in the Light = Abiding in Him

Discuss how believing into Christ and placing the whole of our relational trust in Him in our every moment is the same thing as both abiding in Him AND abiding in the light.

In our very first teachings on Abiding in the Vine, Mark brought up this verse,

“I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me would not abide in darkness.” ~ John 12:46

Not abiding in darkness is the same thing as “abiding in the light or abiding in Him”.

First John tells us, “God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.”

Our verse in John 12:46, however,  tells us that the purpose for Christs coming – as a Light into the world – was so that, upon seeing the Light, we may believe and as a result NO LONGER abide in darkness (or so that we WOULD abide in the light…in Him).

 

When this verse says “believe” it can mean to believe INTO Christ for initial salvation, but it can also mean to place all of our relational trust in Him in our every moment as believers.

 

 

 

So often Christians approach “abiding in the Vine” as something we do automatically since we are already “in Him”. However, the abiding this verse is talking about is not one of position (like the fact that the branch is connected to the vine), but one of interaction (where the branch is completely dependent upon the vine and draws all of its life from that source ALONE).

 

Abiding in the light is to abide in an ever increasing relationship of knowing and trusting Him. “THE LIGHT” is an expression for immediate and increasing understanding. It means to know Him – by way of experience – IN THE NOW.

 

This is NOT knowledge of the past (like a memory) it is living and vital – just like a branch with a vine.

 

Here are a few verses for connective tissue…

“But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another…” ~ 1 Jn. 1:7

Remember that “fellowship” means co-partnership. We are lock-armed with Him in the Kingdom work of bearing fruit and encouraging growth in others as we are walking (abiding) in the light.

 

“(19) …this is the condemnation, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the Light, because their deeds were evil.  (20)  For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  (21) But he who practices truth comes to the Light so that his works may be revealed, that they exist, having been worked in God. ~ Jn. 3:19-21

 

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  (15)  Nor do men light a lamp and put it under the grain-measure, but on a lampstand. And it gives light to all who are in the house.  (16) Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.” ~ Matt. 5:14-16

 

In this last verse WE are called the light of the world – a city of refuge. Our light is likened to our fruit (or good works which come from abiding) which glorifies our Father.

 

 

Learning how to flow with the Spirit is essential to Abiding!

I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

You have a special place in God’s family & kingdom. If you do not know Him, please use our ‘Contact Us‘ page and reach out so we may have the privilege to introduce you to the Lord. Attendance at our church will NOT even be mentioned nor will money.

If you have been spiritually fed by this ministry and wish to give to its ministry, we appreciate that and you may do so here, but all outreaches of this ministry are FREE for you and anyone to enjoy at no cost.

 

Blessings!

 

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!