Abide in Christ
John 15:1-8
Rev. Dr. Mary Alice Mulligan
St. Andrew United Church of Christ has a long history of faithful worship, fellowship, and service to the world in the name of Jesus Christ. We are grateful for those who founded this congregation and helped us grow into who we are as St. Andrew today. In addition to those early members, we are also connected to the denomination, the United Church of Christ. We support the Florida Conference and the National Church, which in addition to leadership in Cleveland includes thousands of UCC congregations across the country. The conference and the national church also support us. For instance, we give a portion of our offerings to the UCC Wider Church Ministries to support UCC ministries in this country and around the world. Then, when we need their assistance, with curricula, or a loan, or guidance in a pastoral search, or a grant after a hurricane, all we have to do is ask. We might say we “abide” in a denomination which strengthens our ability to witness and serve. Today’s sermon scripture is a part of Jesus’ final discourse from the Gospel of John. We might ask ourselves as we listen: “what does it mean to abide in Christ?” From the 15th chapter of the Gospel of John, listen for the word of God.
”I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
On first hearing, Jesus’ words seem easy enough. “Abide in him.” Abide, meaning to live in, like we live in air, which flows into our bodies, every breath, touching every cell. Air is intimately a part of our life. So we exist in Christ, as a branch is thoroughly joined to the rest of the vine. Life flows to the branch from the vine and roots. So Christ flows into us; holy life flows into us from him. We abide in him; he is our abode, our home, our source. We want to live in him; to be filled with his life-giving presence. So how do we do that? How do we abide in Christ?
Christians need a physical Jesus connection. If we are to be disciples, our day-to-day living requires closeness to Jesus. But since he is not physically present with us, the way to get close is by physically following his will; his teachings. Now most of us have a hint of what physically obeying Jesus looks like. Right? We direct our bodies to behave as Jesus commanded, which we discover from reading the Bible. We financially support each monthly mission; we bring food items for All Faiths, and diapers for Family Promise, because Jesus tells us to care for the needy. As we go through the week, we commit to treating each person with divine respect, because scripture tells us each person is lovingly created by Almighty God and is precious to Jesus.
As our bodies physically do as Jesus directs, we feel connected; we are becoming like Christ. Reports of needs in the world stir our hearts. We want to alleviate others’ pain, but we cannot possibly do it all. God wants the whole world to be covered in love, justice, and respect. Which is why our connection both to this congregation and our Florida Conference is so important. Our faith benefits from a physical connection to St. Andrew and to our Conference. A recent issue of our Conference quarterly newsletter, Celebrate, contained information on ways to be physically connected through Children’s programs, Pride events, book groups, women’s groups, and art exhibits around the conference; webinars and zoom conversations on faith, spirituality, conflict management, and strengthening congregations; invitations to Earth Day activities; Racial, equity, diversity, and inclusion training is required of all ministers. The newsletter also invited us to save the dates: October 17-19, to attend the UCC Florida Conference Annual Gathering. All of this helps us get physically connected to Jesus Christ. We abide in Christ when we physically learn and follow the ways of Jesus.
But we also need spiritual connection. Abiding fully in Christ must involve our spiritual lives. Our faith is not just about what actions we perform. Connecting spiritually with Jesus can be more difficult, but crucial. A branch connected to the vine in a truly healthy way receives nourishment from the roots, carried through the vine to the branches. If we are not connected to the spiritual source which is the Christ, our faith shrivels up and dies. Then, metaphorically speaking, we aren’t good for anything except to stoke the hearth fire.
But how can we abide in Christ spiritually? We seek to connect our life with the Spirit of Christ. We open ourselves to breathe in Christ’s Spirit. In our innermost being, welcome God’s presence. Arab mystic al-Ghazzali bluntly says: “Listen my friend, if you do not want to be with God, it is not because you are too busy; but because you do not like him, do not want him and you had better face the fact.”[1] There are people, inside and outside the church, who are not interested in being spiritually connected to Christ Jesus, the true vine. They don’t want their souls, their inmost being, changed.
However, those who desire to become disciples open themselves to being spiritually connected. Jesus says, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” Metaphorical branches, spiritually disconnected from God, might look alive. They may walk around, mow the lawn, put food on the table, but inside they may be spiritually dead, if they are disconnected from the source of life.
But when we are abiding in Christ, our souls are connected to the holy; we spend time each day open to the presence of God around and within us, which brings us to life. We bloom with generosity, bubble with joy, and bear the fruit of encouragement all around. Christ becomes visible through us because we are spiritually connected. Healthy disciples are branches connected spiritually to the true vine, which is Jesus.
Then together we abide in Christ. Our connection to Jesus connects us to each other. If we are all branches, we are connected to the same life-giving vine. We aren’t like carrots, a single plant growing completely separate from the next carrot. Most of us were raised, actually, to be like carrots: rugged individuals.
But Jesus calls us to look, see how we are all connected to him. He is the vine, so we are inseparable from each other. Of course we have different gifts, but our differences work together to bear fruit for the world. In fact, only branches attached to a vine can bear fruit, so fruitbearing tells where we abide. With all our varying styles and gifts, we share the same Vine’s nourishment; the same sap of God flows through each of us, or else we aren’t connected to the vine.
But here’s the tough part. Even the healthy, most productive branches must be pruned. Why? Because none of us is done yet. We still have lots to prune (unlearn) and learn, each of us and together as a congregation. God has new lessons to teach, which is why we are having Team Fest at coffee hour today. A little like speed dating (but no bell, no required moving), coffee hour today will share how the 4 major Teams are active and open to new people joining. I say it often, “Different people, different gifts.” St. Andrew will put to use whatever gifts we have, to spread God’s love, to strengthen our faith, to care for others. Make sure and come, because as part of the St. Andrew family, member or not, we choose to connect to Jesus Christ through this congregation. We choose to study, fellowship, and worship together. We work together on projects in Teams or committees. We choose each other, no matter who walks in the door, or sits next to us at coffee, or volunteers for the same project. We commit to our connection here. And Jesus promises, when we are connected together to the true vine. we bear fruit together. Look around. We are in this together. Together, we abide in Christ.
[1] Quoted in David Buttrick, Speaking Parables (Westminster John Knox, 2000), 160.