Theme: “Abide in Me” — Living in Continuous Union with Christ Pastor Matthew’s sermon centered on John 15:1–8, where Jesus describes Himself as the true vine and His followers as the branches. The message explored what it means to truly abide — to live in continual fellowship, obedience, and dependence on Christ rather than drifting in and out of relationship with Him. Opening Challenge — The Call to Be the Church in Battle Pastor began by reminding the congregation that church is not a comfort zone but a place of kingdom warfare: “If you just come here to feel better, you’re in the wrong spot. But if you come here to do warfare and be part of the kingdom of God, you’re in the right spot.” He announced upcoming baptisms as outward signs of abiding faith, underscoring that commitment to Christ must be continuous, not seasonal. The Vine and the Branches (John 15:1–8) Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser.” God’s desire is not attendance or numbers, but fruit — the visible results of spiritual life. “Every branch that bears fruit, He prunes.” Pastor noted pruning can feel painful, but it’s how God refines us for greater fruitfulness. Greek Word Study:The word abide comes from the Greek meno — meaning to dwell, continue, tarry, or remain. “Nothing in that definition says you can run in and out on the Lord. Abiding isn’t convenience — it’s commitment.” Abiding Produces Fruit and Eternal Impact Without the vine, branches can do nothing. Pastor warned that even successful lives apart from Christ accomplish nothing eternal: “If you’re a father or mother not walking with God, you may give your kids everything this world offers — but you’re doing nothing eternal in their lives.” He contrasted earthly inheritance with spiritual legacy, reminding parents of David’s last desire: “When David died, he didn’t talk about his possessions — he said, ‘I want to see you on the other side.’” The Power of Abiding Faith Pastor shared a personal story from his time working in the coal mines.While working with a coworker who had backslidden, an equipment alarm malfunctioned. Pastor quoted John 15:7, declaring: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.” He prayed over the system, and despite the electrical connection being physically broken, the alarm set successfully — a miraculous sign that led his coworker to repent on the spot. “That wasn’t just setting an alarm — that was God showing a man He still loved him and was calling him home.” The Secret of Strength — Dwelling in His Presence (Psalm 91) Linking John 15 with Psalm 91, Pastor explained that abiding is dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, living under the shadow of His protection. “Some people just want to date Jesus — visit Him when it’s convenient. But we’re called to marry Him, to take Him home, to walk with Him every day.” True abiding keeps believers under divine covering: “He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge.” Warnings Against Neglect Pastor identified two of Scripture’s most sobering warnings: Judges 16:20 — “The Spirit of the Lord departed from Samson, and he knew it not.” Luke 19:44 — “You did not recognize the time of your visitation.” These verses illustrate the danger of taking God’s presence for granted. “The most terrifying thing isn’t hellfire — it’s that the Spirit could walk out of your life and you wouldn’t even notice.” He urged believers not to become so busy or distracted that their priorities drift from God: “If you’ve got too much going on to spend time with God, you’ve got too much going on.” Three Voices in Psalm 91 Pastor unpacked Psalm 91 as a conversation between three voices: The author (Moses or David) declaring, “He is my refuge.” The witness, telling another believer, “Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place…” God Himself, responding: “Because he has set his love up