Remain In Me

This last week we laid to rest Dianna Folland and during her memorial service I spoke of her and her daughter Jenny’s love for gardening. Why does someone plant a garden? Certainly for pleasure but the whole goal of gardening is to produce the fruit. 

If gardens did not produce a yield how many of us would go through all the trouble of planting? The goal of the garden is the fruit. And so it is with God.

God is a gardener. God has planted us His people in His garden, and He too wants to produce fruit for his own pleasure. You and I were created by God for a purpose—to produce fruit for Him.  But what kind of fruit is God looking for? He is looking for obedience, righteousness, worship, and multiplication of his family.  

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit… John 15:5

The only way we can fulfill our God given purpose (bear much fruit) is to remain (abide) in Him. We accomplish this by being in His word, being responsive to His Spirit and being connected to His church. 

This Sunday we will all have a great opportunity to bear fruit for God by inviting a friend, neighbor, co-worker or relative to join us at our Easter Sunday Services at Beach Schmidt performing Arts Center at 8:30am, 10am and 11:30am.

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle