The Reset: How to Abide in Jesus
Overview
Abiding in Jesus is a central theme in the life of a Christ follower, as shown in John 15. It’s more than just spending time in prayer or reading the Bible; it’s about developing an intimate, ongoing connection with Jesus through discipline, obedience, and trust. To truly abide in Jesus, we must engage with Him not just for moments of spiritual need, but as a consistent rhythm of our lives. When we abide, we bear fruit; when we don’t, we wither. Through the ABIDES acrostic—Always, Blocks of Time, In the Word & Prayer, Discipline, Everyone, and Strategy—we learn how to practice this deep connection with Jesus in practical, intentional ways.
Let’s take some time to reflect on the importance of abiding in Jesus and explore ways to make it an active and consistent part of our lives. We’ll also discuss the pruning process, where God shapes and refines us, and the benefits of abiding together in community. By the end, we hope to have a clearer understanding of what it means to live a life truly connected to Jesus, one that bears fruit and reflects His love.
Read
John 15:4-5 ESV - “Abide in me, and I in you. 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. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
Luke 6:12-13 NIV - “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles.”
Discuss
What does your abiding time look like?
Read John 15. What characteristics of abiding do we see in John 15?
What areas of your life do you feel are currently being pruned by God?
From the ABIDES acrostic, which part do you find most challenging (Always, Blocks of Time, In the Word & Prayer, Discipline, Everyone, Strategy)?
What boundaries can you set to protect your abiding time?
What would it look like to abide with others?
How can you integrate more discipline into your spiritual practices to ensure consistent abiding?
How does the rhythm of abiding—both individually and together in community—impact your daily life?
Call to Action
Set a specific time each day for personal abiding in Jesus through prayer, reading His Word, and listening to His voice.
Identify one area in your life where God is pruning you, and commit to embracing that process with trust.
Find a friend or group with whom you can share your abiding journey, keeping each other accountable and encouraging one another in the practice of abiding in Jesus.
