Abide in Me | A Sermon on John 15:1-11

Introduction
I am so ready for Spring to be here.  I’m ready to get my garden going.  I want to try out my luck with this red Georgia clay in Jackson, Georgia. 

Jesus told many parables about farming and gardening.  He also had a fondness for spending time in gardens.  The Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives was one place he frequenting for quiet reflection and prayer.  And it was a contrast to another garden from the beginning of the Bible, The Garden of Eden.  In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had everything they needed, but they chose to disobey God's one command not to eat the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.  Jesus also had a choice in the Garden.  He didn't want to die the painful death on the cross, and He prayer, "Lord if it is possible for this cup of suffering to pass for me, let it.  But not my will, but Thine be done..."  Jesus chose His Father's will over His own.

I want to share a gardening story Jesus told.  

John 15:1-11
¹ “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. ³ You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. ⁴ Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

⁵ “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. ⁷ But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! ⁸ When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

⁹ “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. ¹⁰ When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

A Simple Lesson, Hard to Live
You don’t have to be a master gardener to understand what Jesus is saying.  If you cut a branch off a plant, it won’t bear fruit.  It will die.  

Jesus is saying if you don’t stay connected to Him, you cannot bear worthwhile fruit.  Just like those branches, you will dry up and die.  

For me, that is simple to understand, but hard to live because I often feel pressure to perform. And there’s often this nagging anxiety in the back of my mind:   “Am I doing enough?  Am I successful?”  And I often feel like I have to prove myself to others.  Do you ever feel like that? 

That’s often the way you feel when you are doing things in your own strength.  You feel the heavy burden because whether you succeed or fail is all up to you.

But that has never been God’s plan–not from the beginning of the Bible until the end.

Scripture has always been about trusting God to make it happen while we are faithful to Him.

What did Adam and Eve do to survive in the Garden of Eden?  Nothing.  Everything was provided.  They just had to be faithful to God.

How did the Israelites escape slavery in Egypt?  Was it by their own might?  No.  It was by the mighty hand of God who brought 10 plagues on the Egyptians.

How did the walls of Jericho fall down?  Was it a great battle plan?  No!  It was a ludicrous battle plan. (Walk around the walls of the city a bunch opf times and then blow trumpets.)  God is the one who did the fighting.

How did Israel survive as a kingdom?  Was it because they had a mighty army? No!  They were an insignificant, tiny kingdom surrounded by superpowers.  But they thrived when they were faithful to God and suffered when they weren't.

Psalm 33:16-17 - “The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.  Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—for all its strength, it cannot save you.  But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love."

Zechariah 4:6 - “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

Are you Abiding?
What about you?  Are you abiding in Jesus or trying to do everything on your own power?

When we try to do things in our own power:

• There is pressure to perform
• A subtle anxiety about outcomes
• A need to prove fruitfulness
• An inward heaviness, even while doing “good” things

But when we Abide in Jesus:

• There is peace beneath the activity
• Freedom from comparison
• Openness to interruption
• A quiet confidence that Jesus is at work

Jesus wants us to grow spiritually and be fruitful for His Kingdom.  But we cannot grow or really be fruitful by our own effort apart from Christ.  We must abide in Him.

Jesus said in John 15:5 - “Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”

How Do You Abide in Jesus?
So how do we stay connected to Jesus?  There are a number of Holy H.A.B.I.T.S. that can help us stay connected (to abide) in Jesus.         

Hang Time with God - We need to spend time with God and prayer & Scripture are 2 essential ways we spend time with Him.

Accountability with Other Christians - We need other people to keep us in check.

Bible Study - Scripture is the most reliable and unchanging revelation of who God is.  We need to study  Scripture to really know God. 

Involvement in the Church - A true relationship with God requires relationships with other people.

Tithing - Tithing is the spiritual practice of financial giving God gave us to strengthen our trust in Him.

Service - Jesus said He came not to be served, but to serve and that we should follow His example.

Back to the Garden
Imagine you are in a garden working.  You have just planted some seeds.  You hope these seeds will grow to become a healthy patch of sunflowers 5-6 feet tall with beautiful broad yellow flowers and a dark brown center.

See the dark garden soil at your feet where you just planted the seeds.  Can you make those seeds grow?  Suppose you concentrate really hard, can you make flowers grow just by gritting your teeth and willing them to grow?

Of course not.  We can’t.  Only God can make flowers grow and bloom.  We can plant the seeds, but only God can make them grow.  However, there are things you can do in your garden that will create an environment where growth is more likely to happen.  

What can you do?  You can water your garden.  You can fertilize the soil.  You can tend the garden every day and pull out any weeds.  You can protect the young flowers from bugs and pests and disease. But it is God who makes a garden grow.

It is the same with your spiritual life.  You cannot make yourself grow spiritually–even if you grit your teeth and try real hard.  Only God can make you grow.  However, you can create an environment in your life where growth is more possible.  You can pray.  You can read the Bible.  You can worship and spend time with other Christians, and tithe, and volunteer.  These things help you abide in Christ.  And then Christ can make you grow.

Jesus Calls Us to Follow | A Sermon on Mark 1:16-20

Introduction
Donnie Thaxton shared an interesting story on Facebook this week.  He shared how when he married Maxine in 1969, they moved to Dekalb County.  But they missed home, so they came home to Butts County almost every weekend to stay at the Redman House (Maxine's childhood home) where they had a 1.5-acre fishing lake.

The lake was full of bass and brim.  They would catch them all the time and save them up and have fish fries throughout the year.  They were delicious, but you had to be careful not to get a bone stuck in your throat--those fish were very boney.  Eventually, someone had the great idea to drain the whole lake, get rid of the brim and bass, and restock the lake with catfish.  Catfish could grow much bigger and then you could just fillet the fish and not have to deal with bones.

I have another fishing story for you today.  It’s about the day Jesus went fishing and He caught 4 fishermen!

Mark 1:16-20
¹⁶ One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon^[g] and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. ¹⁷ Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” ¹⁸ And they left their nets at once and followed him.

¹⁹ A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. ²⁰ He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.

Fishing for a Living
Many people like to fish for recreation.  I do that sometimes.  But Simon and Andrew fished for a living.  James and John were also fishermen by trade and worked for their father’s fishing enterprise.  Zebadee porbably had numerous boats out fishing on the Sea of Galilee.  Then they would sell the fish at the market for a profit.  

Fishing and tradition go hand in hand.  Many fishing techniques are handed down generation to generation.  And in a traditional enterprise like fishing, change is hard.  Many people don't like change.  I don't like change.  But for fishermen, change may be especially hard.

But when you fish for a living, sometimes you have to put success ahead of tradition.  If a new technique comes a long that is more effective than your old tradition, then you may need to adapt and evolve, or else your business may not succeed.

I Was Called to be a Methodist Minister
When Kelly and I got married, we were young. We started dating in high school at Southwest High School in Macon. I graduated in 1992, she graduated two years later in 1994, and we got married when she was 18 and I was 20.

And we had a plan.  We wanted to follow God. We were going to church. We were trying to live faithfully.  But our dream was simple: go to college, start a career, move back to Macon, stay there our whole lives, be good people in the community, and make a difference.  And I liked that plan—because it didn’t involve much change.

But God has a sense of humor.  Instead of letting me stay put, He made me a Methodist minister and moved us from town to town to town. And I’ve come to realize something over the years: His vision was just bigger than mine. I may not have stayed in one town, but I’ve stayed in one community—the North Georgia community—my entire married life.

In Mark 1, Jesus called Simon—later called Peter—along with Andrew, James, and John. He called them to leave their traditional careers as fishermen and follow Him. And He told them what they would do instead: fish for people.

And in His own way, Jesus called me to do the same.  When Kelly and I were in college, we attended East Cobb United Methodist Church in Marietta during our young adult years. As graduation got closer, I realized I was going to need a résumé. I’d need interviews. And I thought, You know what would look good on a résumé? Volunteering at church.

So I started volunteering.  I told Kelly one day, “I think I’m going to sing in the choir.”  She said, “You can’t sing.”  She was right. My voice cracked like a 13-year-old—but I joined anyway.

Then I started volunteering with the youth ministry. Eddie Bradford was the youth minister, and I helped out under him. I thought I was padding my résumé—but something happened. I fell in love with it.

I loved being at church. I loved working with the youth. I loved singing in the choir. If the church doors were open, I was there. Ski trips? I went. Events? I helped. I even started going to church council meetings for fun.  (Now that’s crazy!)

As graduation approached, I realized something troubling: I was sad. Not because I was graduating—but because I wouldn’t have as much time to volunteer at church.  And that’s when God started planting a seed in my heart.  What if you’re not called to be a textile engineer?  What if you’re called to work in the church?

The problem was—I didn’t talk to Kelly about it. I prayed about it. I thought about it. I wrestled with it in my own heart, but I didn’t talk to her for about a year.

I kept asking God for a sign. “Lord, if you want me to be a pastor, give me a sign.”  And one day—quietly, in my heart—God said, You don’t need a sign. You already know. The only reason you want a sign is so you can show it to other people… especially your wife.

Eventually, I did talk to Kelly. And she wasn’t ready yet. So we waited.  I graduated, got a great job as Director of Quality Assurance at 1888 Mills in Griffin. We made towels. It was a good job—better than I expected to get right out of college.  

But there was a catch.

We lived in Lithia Springs near Six Flags, and I worked in Griffin—an hour drive each way. That’s a lot of windshield time. You can only listen to so much music and so many audiobooks before you’re just alone with God.

And for a year, that drive became a prayer.  “I like this job,” I told God. “But this isn’t what I’m supposed to be doing.”

After a year, I talked to Kelly again. And she said something I’ll never forget. She said, “Every day when you leave for work and kiss me goodbye, I think about it too. And I know God has called you to be a pastor. And if that’s what He’s called you to do, I’ll support you.”

In 1999, I gave up my career as a textile engineer and began the process of becoming ordained in the Methodist Church. It took nine years. I worked at the plant for two more years while serving in ministry. Then I left completely and became the youth minister at Lithia Springs United Methodist Church.

And I have no regrets.  Because when you do what God has called you to do—even when it involves change—it fits.  And it feels right.

We Are All Called by Christ
But Christ’s calling isn’t just for me.  And it isn’t just for the people who were in the Bible.  We are all called by Jesus.  

Remember my message from last week? What did Jesus say?  He said, “Come to me all of you…” The call is for all. And He said, “Take my yoke upon you…”

Jesus invitation is for everyone who realizes we’re lost with out Him. Everyone is lost (just some haven't realized it yet).  So, we’re all called by Jesus.  But what are we called to do?  Well, according to the Bible, there are several things we are called to do.  Let me share some.

What Are We Called to Do?
We are called to follow Jesus.  (Mark 1:17)
Before anything else, we are called to: Walk with Jesus.  Listen to His voice.  Shape our lives around Him.  Christianity is not just believing in Jesus—it’s following Him.  Are you following Him?

We are called to leave what keeps us from following. (Mark 1:18)  We are called to let go of:
Anything that defines us more than Christ.  Anything that keeps us from obedience.  Anything we trust more than Jesus.  Not everyone leaves the same “nets,” but everyone leaves something.  What “nets” do you need to lay down?

We are called to be changed by Jesus.  Jesus said, “Let me teach you…” (Matthew 11:29)  The Apostle Paul said in Romans 12:2 “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  Jesus reshapes our hearts.  We are called to grow, learn, and become more like Christ.

We are called to love God and love others.  (Matthew 22:37–39)  This is the heart of the Christian life.  It’s what we were created for.  We are to Love God with everything we are.  And, love people the way Christ loves us.

We are called to fish for people.  Jesus said, “I will make you fishers of people.” (Mark 1:17)
How do we fish for people?  We share hope, point people to Jesus, and live in a way that draws people toward Christ.

I’ve only been at Stark Methodist for a couple weeks, but I can already tell this church loves missions & outreach.  You have been very, very active, and it’s wonderful.  I love hearing about your River of Life missions event, your blood drives, your helping hand neighbor program, and all the many things you do.

But there can be a danger in this too.  Because sometimes we forget the most important thing people need:  People need Jesus.  When we look around at a world of people in need, we see:  they need home repairs, food and clothing, maybe a ride to work; and the list of needs goes on and on.  But the greatest need—and the one that helps address all the others—is they need Jesus.

Jesus saw a world full of needy people too.  There were the blind and deaf, the lame, the sick.  He healed some of them.  But He knew their greatest need went deeper than these surface issues.

Our Deepest Need
The deepest problem in the human heart is we want to live life on our own terms.  We’re OK with a little God, a little Jesus, in our life as long as we get to keep living our lives pretty much the way we want.

But you see, that’s the problem.  Our lives are not our own.  We belong to God.  He is Lord.  

Jesus didn’t come to help Peter, Andrew, James, and John be more successful fishermen.  He said, “Leave your nets behind.  Come follow me.”

And Jesus comes and says the same to us.  “Leave your old life behind.  Come follow me in a new life.”  And that’s what He wants to say to our neighbors in Jackson through us:  “Come follow me.  Leave your old life behind (because it wasn’t working anyway).  Come follow me and I will give you a new life.”

I think about that old pond at the Redman House.  Do remember what they did?  They drained it.  Got rid of all the bass and brim.  And restocked the pond with catfish.  The brim and bass were too boney.  The catfish were bigger and you could make filets.

That’s sort of what Jesus says we need in our life.  We need to let Him drain it all out and start over fresh.  That’s what our neighbors in Jackson need too.  Sure, we can help with a power bill or rent. 
We can try and help with the practical physical needs they have.  But these are just the surface issues. The real needs go way down deep in the heart.  And we’ve got to invite them to come follow our Savior, our Lord, because He knows how to get down deep in their heart where the real change has to happen.

Jesus Is Still Calling Us To Follow Him
Church, the most important thing I want you to hear today is this:  Jesus didn’t stop calling people in Mark chapter 1.  He is still walking along the shoreline of ordinary lives.

He is still calling people who are busy trying to make life work.  And He is still saying the same simple words:  “Come. Follow Me.”

For some of you, that call may sound familiar.  You remember a time when Jesus first called you—maybe years ago.  Today, I’m inviting you to remember your calling and renew your commitment to live it out.

For others, this may feel new.  You’ve heard about Jesus. You’ve admired Him from a distance.  But today, you sense He may be calling you to a deeper relationship.

Peter, Andrew, James, and John didn’t have all the answers.  They didn’t know where Jesus would lead them.  They just knew who was calling.

And that’s still the question for us today—not: Do I have everything figured out?  but:  Do I trust the One who is calling me?  Jesus is not calling you to add Him to your life.  He is calling you to follow Him with your whole life.

Invitation / Reflection
I invite you to bow your heads and close your eyes for just a moment and reflect on a few questions:

• When did Jesus first call you?
• Are you still following Him—or just believing in Him?
• What “nets” might Jesus be asking you to lay down?
• Is Jesus calling you to take a next step of obedience today?

If you feel Jesus calling you to follow Him for the first time, or calling you back to a deeper walk with Him, I want you to know—you don’t have to have it all together.  You just have to say yes.

Final Gospel Invitation
Jesus left heaven to come to us.  He lived the life we couldn’t live.  He died the death we deserved.  And He rose again to offer us new life.

And today, He simply says:  “Come. Follow Me.”

If you’d like to respond to that call—whether for the first time or in a fresh way—I’ll be here after the service. I would love to pray with you.

Church, may we be a people who don’t just hear His call,
but who are willing to leave our nets and follow.

Amen.

 

Jesus Gives Us Rest | A Sermon on Matthew 11:28-30

Introduction Well, we finally have all our stuff moved down to Jackson. Now the fun begins - unpacking.

All this moving got me thinking about the burdens we carry in life.  We all have stuff to carry.  Even people in Jesus’ day had stuff to carry.  Jesus knew it and invited them to make sure they were carrying the right stuff.

Matthew 11:28-30
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens” (v. 28)
Everyone is carrying something.  Some burdens are self-imposed (expectations, guilt, control, pride). Some burdens are imposed on us by the world (work, grief, injustice, trauma, pressure). Some burdens are spiritual (sin, shame, fear, striving to prove ourselves). All these burdens weigh us down and wear us down.  They make us weary.

We decided to downsize our home when we moved, because we're now empty nesters. No need for as much space as we had when we were parents with three young kids. So we got rid of a lot of stuff before we moved. But not enough. We still have too much for our smaller home. So we'll be giving more away--donating, selling, or throwing away.

In life, you can’t carry everything; it’s too much.  Before we become Christian, we carry all the things the world tells us to carry. And then, when we decide to follow Jesus, if we try to carry all our former stuff and all our Christian stuff too, it's just too much. What are you going to set aside so you can follow Christ?

Jesus comes to us and says: “If you’re weary from carrying heavy burdens, come to me!” He doesn’t want to add guilt to your already heavy load.  He doesn’t scold us by chiding, “Try harder!  Put your back into it!  You’re doing it wrong!” He just says:  “Come to me.”  And He says:

“Take My yoke upon you” (v. 29)
A yoke is a farming implement used to attach a heavy load for oxen, mules, or horses to pull. Jesus uses the image to indicate the work he has for us to do.

I don’t want you to miss this:  Jesus isn’t offering a burden free life.  He says, “Take My yoke upon you.”  So there’s still something to carry. Following Jesus still involves responsibility.  There is still obedience.  There is still work, sacrifice, and faithfulness.  But Christ’s yoke is something different we carry.

Christ’s yoke is:

• Shared - We don’t carry it alone.  We work with other Christians. (Oxen work in teams,)

• Guided - Oxen don’t decide where they go, they are guided by a plowman.

• Purposeful - So much of life seems to have no meaning.  If you ask someone, "Why are you doing that?" Can they give you an answer? Unfortunately, the answer is often simple "It's what everyone else is doing" or "I guess it's just what everyone says you're supposed to do."

Most importantly—carrying Christ’s yoke assumes a relationship with the Master. Jesus doesn’t hand us a yoke and walk away.  He says:  “I am gentle and humble in heart.” He doesn’t drive us harshly.  He doesn’t shame us when we stumble. He doesn’t discard us when we’re tired or used up. Christ cares about His people and He proved how much by dying for us on the cross. We are more than cattle to Jesus.  He gave His life for us! We are His friends. We are His brothers and sisters.

“Learn from Me” — Training to Bear the Yoke
Jesus says:  “Learn from Me.”  Oxen have to be trained to bear a load properly.  They’re living creatures with a mind of their own, but they’re not smart enough to see the bigger picture of the work being done.

The farmer is the one who sees a field and thinks, "This would be a great place to grow some wheat. It needs to be plowed up, fertilized, planted with a certain variety of wheat, and irrigated. He knows all the steps it will take to make the field fruitful. Nut the oxen don't know. They need a farmer (or a plowman) to lead them.

Jesus’ invitation implies we don’t know how to carry life rightly either.  It's true. We make a mess of things. And so we have to learn. And Jesus wants to teach us.

Learning takes time.  Just because you say yes to Jesus today, doesn’t mean you’ll be fully trained tomorrow.  Following Jesus is a process, not a switch that gets flipped.

In Jesus’ day, a young ox was often yoked with a seasoned one.  The young ox learned how to pull by
listening to the master’s voice and following the example of the more experienced ox. If the ox resisted the master’s voice, it led to a lot of wasted energy (and possibly getting someone hurt!).  If it pulled its own way, it led to exhaustion, frustration, and futility. But once trained, the work flowed smoothly, the load felt lighter, and the relationship brought order and peace.

We are not called to carry life alone—we are called to stay close to Christ and learn His pace, follow His direction, and go His way.

“My yoke is easy… My burden is light” (v. 30)
One thing you need to know about my family.  We love animals.  We have lots of pets--2 dogs 4 cats, and 3 chickens!

If you have pets you love, you probably know every detail about them. I know that Roy Bob is so fat his back is flat like an aircraft carrier! I know he loves 2 things most in life (in this order): He loves to eat and he loves to be the center of yoru attention and affection. I know his ears are soft and silky, but Winston's are wiry and scruffy. I know Winston will bark at any sight or sound he thinks he sees (even if nothing is there). But I also know he will run and hide if any real danger might be near because he's a total coward! Do you know your pets like me?

A good farmer in Jesus' day knew his oxen well.  They knew every curve of their neck, their temperament, what spooked them, and what motivated them. They often had yokes handcrafted to fit specific animals to ensure proper fit, prevent chafing & injury.  

And a good farmer cared about his animals and Jesus cares about us and His yoke fits perfectly because He knows everything about us. The Gospel of John says Jesus was there in the beginning when the world was created. Jeremiah said He formed us in our mother's womb. He designed our very DNA and knows what’s best for us--even better than we know for ourselves.

And Jesus designed a yoke specifically to fit you. It is well-tailored and fits so naturally sometimes you forget it’s there. And His yoke gives you meaning and purpose. Serving becomes a pleasure, not a chore. He empowers you to bear much fruit instead of burning out in a wasted life. Somehow, mysteriously, work starts to feel like rest.

When I was growing up, I’ve always had a technically minded, engineering-type brain. I like systems, how things work, how pieces fit together. So when I started thinking about my future, I thought, This makes sense. Engineering meant good pay, job security, and maybe even living in one place my whole life.

So I went to school and earned a degree in textile engineering, and I got a job at 1888 Mills in Griffin. I enjoyed the work. It fit the way my mind works.

But at the end of the day, something was still missing. I realized this wasn’t my purpose. Somewhere along the way, God made it clear that while I had an engineer’s mind, He had given me a shepherd’s heart—a desire to serve Him, lead His people, and build His Church.

It was as if the Lord said, This is how I designed you. Do this instead.

So I made the change. Not because I’m perfect or especially gifted, but because when you step into what God created you to do, something just fits. There’s meaning there.

And even on hard days—even when ministry is difficult—I can honestly say this: I’m glad I’m doing what God made me to do.

The world’s burdens don’t fit.  They rub us raw.  They wear us down.  And once we’re used up, Satan simply discards us and looks for another person to consume. The Enemy doesn’t care about you and a world led by Satan doesn’t care about you either.

The Choice Before Us
Jesus invites us to trust Him enough to trade our broken yoke for His perfect one. The rest Jesus offers is not an escape—it’s learning to live life the way it was meant to be lived.

As we close, I’d like to invite you to take a minute to reflect as I ask you a few questions:

• What burdens are you carrying that Jesus never asked you to carry?

• Where are you resisting His teaching?

• Are you walking close enough to Jesus to hear His voice?

And lastly, I'd like to invite you to follow Jesus. It's Jesus' invitation really. He says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”