ABIDING IN JESUS
(Being with Jesus)
Abiding in Christ involves loving him and trusting him. In him we find our true identity.
OVERVIEW
One of the most important parts of following Jesus is spending time being with him.
Being with Jesus, or abiding in Jesus, is more than just a quick check-in conversation or drive-by hello. It's intentional. It's a priority. It involves the deepest parts of us and impacts our whole self — our head (thoughts), our heart (attitudes), and our hands (actions).
When followers of Jesus abide in him, they draw near to him. They rest in his love. They soak up his goodness. They trust him more and more. And they find their identity in him — in who he is and in what he says is true about his followers. Look at the Head-Heart-Hands model of discipleship and notice the center core: love, trust, surrender, and obedience. Abiding in Jesus is especially focused on loving him and trusting him.
As we love him and trust him, we not only get to know Jesus better, but we know ourselves better and see who we really are according to Jesus. We begin to discover our true identity.
Your identity includes your unique personality, skills, talents, interests, and more.
But the core of your identity is found only in Jesus — the one true and good King who created you, loves, you, rescued you, guides you, cares for you, and transforms you.
When you abide in Jesus, you have a new identity (you are IN CHRIST), you have a new belonging (you are WITH CHRIST), and you have a new purpose (you are FOR CHRIST).
Before talking about anything else, it’s important to start here: abiding in Jesus. That’s where new life and discipleship begins. Abiding isn’t just a first step for followers of Jesus. We don’t ever graduate from abiding. It should be part of our whole life, for our whole life. We abide in Jesus because Jesus abides in his Father. And most amazing of all, he abides in us, his followers, in the person of the Holy Spirit.
WARMUP
Begin with a conversation starter, then use these warmup questions.
- What things do some people abide in (meaning they spend lots of time with it, find their identity in it, are committed to it, etc.)?
- What kinds of things shape a person’s identity?
- What comes to mind when you hear “identity in Christ”?
- How would you describe or define your own “identity in Christ”?
Fill out the Identity in Christ Self-Assessment printable PDF and talk about it.
READ & REFLECT
Read John 15:1-7
- How does Jesus teach his disciples about abiding (or remaining)? Why do you think he does it that way?
- What are some ways you currently abide in Jesus? What are some other ways you can begin to abide in Jesus?
- In a world were we move from thing to thing at crazy fast speeds, how can you slow down and stop long enough to really abide with Jesus? What’s difficult about that for you?
- How do you think abiding in Jesus will help you to love him more? trust him more?
- In these verses, how is abiding/remaining connected to obeying, love, joy, fruit?
SOME IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO BEGIN ABIDING IN JESUS
This week, commit to spending at least 10 minutes each day with just Jesus. You can read your Bible, pray, think about the Lord — anything that focuses fully on him. Rest in his presence. Be still and trust him. Soak up his love.
MORE VERSES ABOUT ABIDING IN JESUS (from NLT)
And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame. (1 John 2:28)
Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. and we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us. (1 John 3:24)
And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life. (1 John 5:20)
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. (Colossians 2:6-7)
I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. (Philemon 1:6)
Greet each other with Christian love. Peace be with all of you who are in Christ. (1 Peter 5:14)
Downloadable student card for this lesson.
Downloadable Capernaum version of this lesson.
