Season 22: Abide | #3 – Abide in Love

Scripture: John 15:5-11

SHOW NOTES: For encouragement on your spiritual journey, we invite you to visit our ministry website, Discover God's Truth, where you can access additional resources to enrich your Walk with God.

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ABIDE – In this podcast season, our goal is to examine what the Bible teaches about maintaining a daily, dependent connection with Jesus so we can bear spiritual fruit rather than relying on self-effort.

Jesus states positively in John 15:5 – “I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

Abiding is an active, not a passive, process. The follower of Christ is to bear fruit. When the branch remains in union with the vine … with Christ in me … the life of Christ nourishes the disciple, and fruit will be inevitable.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

John 15:9-10

Jesus is loved by His Heavenly Father. He loves each of us and wants us to abide in His love. Jesus’ example is that He followed the Father’s commandments. So, we are to live according to the commandments. Love unites the disciples to Christ, as branches are united to a vine. That is why Jesus commands us to “Abide in my love.”

Song: Deep Love of Jesus –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaySq5OBayY&list=RDvaySq5OBayY&start_radio=1

Season 22: Abide | #2 – Bear More Fruit

Scripture: John 15:1-5

SHOW NOTES: It’s our desire to encourage you in your spiritual journey with the Lord. Additional resources to enrich your Walk with God are available on our ministry website, Discover God's Truth.

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In Jerusalem, Jesus met with His disciples in the Upper Room, and then they walked to Gethsemane. He told them, “I am the vine, and My Father is the gardener.” Jesus knew His Father was carefully watching over the vineyard—tending the vine and preparing the branches to bear fruit. He used this beautiful illustration to prepare the eleven disciples for the days ahead.

I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in Me and I in them will bear much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

John 15:5

Jesus calls us to abide. This is not a passive act. We must remain in constant union – in daily, regular fellowship with Jesus – and have a passionate desire to walk with Him. Unless we abide – that is, stay close to Jesus – we will not bear fruit. Your Word says, “We can do nothing.”

Song: Abide in Me – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-0cmNCfOXA&list=RD9-0cmNCfOXA&start_radio=1

Season 22: Abide | #1 – The True Vine

Scripture: John 15:1-17

SHOW NOTES: For encouragement on your spiritual journey, we invite you to visit our ministry website, Discover God's Truth, where you can access additional resources to enrich your Walk with God.

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As we begin a new season of Walk with God, we will teach a series titled “Abide” over the coming weeks, using the Lord’s metaphor of the grapevine and fruit-bearing. The importance of vines and grapes in the land of Israel cannot be overstated.

There are several Hebrew and Greek words translated as the English word 'abide.' We will focus on the Greek word menō. The basic sense of menō is “to remain, stay, or abide.”

In our lessons, we will stress repeatedly that “abiding” is not “passive inaction.” Rather, abiding involves actively pursuing a place of rest and fruitfulness in a chaotic, stressful world.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.

John 15:1

Head to Heart

Do you want a more fruitful and restful life? Are you willing to put into practice what the Word of the Lord teaches by actively choosing to abide in Christ? This is a daily, moment-by-moment choice for a true follower of Jesus Christ.

Scripture: Obadiah 19-21

Title: Thy Kingdom Come

SHOW NOTES: For encouragement on your spiritual journey, we invite you to visit our ministry website, Discover God's Truth, where you can access additional resources to enrich your Walk with God.

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The short book of Obadiah addresses the pride and sin of the Edomites. Yet in the prophet’s vision, God extends His hope and promise to those who follow Him. Israel will ultimately defeat Edom, and the Lord will restore the Promised Land. The day is coming when every knee will bow.

Those who have been rescued will go up to Mount Zion in Jerusalem to rule over the mountains of Edom.

And the Lord Himself will be king!

Obadiah 1:21

Head to Heart

Friends, we must remember that even in the bleakest times, God is at work, preparing His people for the greatest victory. Trust Him. All honor and praise to His Holy Name—King of kings!

For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.

Psalm 47:2

Song: Holy is Your Name - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJtCgkx9SFI&list=RDJJtCgkx9SFI&index=1

Scripture: Obadiah 1:15-18

Title: The Day of the Lord

SHOW NOTES: For encouragement on your spiritual journey, we invite you to visit our ministry website, Discover God's Truth, where you can access additional resources to enrich your Walk with God.

NEW! Watch us ONLINE! Click here!

The book of Obadiah is a vision from the Sovereign LORD concerning the land of Edom. We might overlook this message because we don’t understand the prophecy or because it doesn’t seem relevant to us today. However, the truth found in these twenty-one verses can transform the way we live each day.

Pride in our hearts can lead to mistreatment and violence toward others. This happened with the Edomites. They were misled by their pride and boasted of their importance and safety, living in a rock fortress.

The “Day of the LORD,” a key theme in Israel’s end-times beliefs, points to future events. This DAY signifies the time when God's rule is established in human history, and He judges all enemies who oppose His reign. This “day,” then, decides the fate of Edom and other nations that oppose Israel.

The day is near when I, the LORD, will judge all godless nations! As you have done to Israel, so it will be done to you. All your evil deeds will fall back on your own heads.

Obadiah 1:15

We serve a holy and righteous God, who is the perfect Judge over all. This calls us to follow Him and live according to His commands and Holy Law. Lord, shine Your light on our sins of pride and selfishness. It is our desire to walk faithfully with God.

Song: On That Day - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McX9SdQS4mI&list=RDMcX9SdQS4mI&start_radio=1

Spring Break Interlude | March 25

Psalm 73:3-6, 16-28 | The Strength of My Heart

SHOW NOTES: For encouragement on your spiritual journey, we invite you to visit our ministry website, Discover God's Truth, where you will find additional resources to enrich your Walk with God.

Psalm 73:3-6, 16-28

3 - I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.

4 - They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong.

5 - They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.

6 - They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty.

16 – So, I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!

17 - Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.

18 - Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.

19 - In an instant, they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors.

20 - When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

21 - Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside.

22 - I was so foolish and ignorant—I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.

23 - Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand.

24 - You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.

25 - Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.

26 - My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

27 - Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you.

28 - But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

Song: As For Me (Psalm 73) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZp2k7AcHh8&list=RDjZp2k7AcHh8&start_radio=1

Scripture: Obadiah 10-14

Title: The Relationship Between Brothers

SHOW NOTES: For encouragement on your spiritual journey, we invite you to visit our ministry website, Discover God's Truth, where you can access additional resources to enrich your Walk with God.

NEW! Watch us ONLINE! Click here!

Obadiah is the shortest book (21 verses) in the Hebrew Scriptures, found among the Minor Prophets. This powerful prophetic message delivers God’s divine judgment against Edom for their pride, arrogance, and exploitation of Jerusalem during the Babylonian invasion. Edom, descendants of Esau, is condemned for failing to support their brothers, the descendants of Jacob—they even captured fleeing Judeans and handed them over to enemies.

It was morally wrong for the nation of Edom to harm, rather than bless, their brother. This goes back to the very origins of the two nations — it began with Esau's hatred for his brother Jacob. That hatred eventually led to outright physical violence.

When they were invaded, you stood aloof, refusing to help them. Foreign invaders carried off their wealth and cast lots to divide up Jerusalem, but you acted like one of Israel’s enemies.

Obadiah 1:11

Edom watched with complete indifference to the pain and suffering of their close relatives, Israel. They saw what was happening but did nothing.

Why will Edom be judged? The prophet Amos provides this word from the Lord.

This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Edom, even for four, I will not relent. Because he pursued his brother with a sword and slaughtered the women of the land, because his anger raged continually and his fury flamed unchecked.”

Amos 1:11

Head to Heart – God is a Righteous Judge, and He keeps the score. Under His watchful eye, no one will escape His judgment. Let us remember that the Lord is merciful and gracious. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

SONG: The Lord Our Righteousness - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3NbYyW-OcY&list=RDy3NbYyW-OcY&start_radio=1

Scripture: Obadiah 1-4

Title: Rise Up!

SHOW NOTES: For encouragement on your spiritual journey, please visit our ministry website, Discover God's Truth, where you can access additional resources to enrich your Walk with God.

God’s desire is for His followers to trust Him and live humbly with others. Love God. Love others. Today’s Bible lesson focuses on pride, including personal pride and the arrogant pride of a nation that believes it is invincible.

Obadiah is the shortest book (a single chapter) in the Hebrew Bible, located between Amos and Jonah. This book is a powerful oracle that highlights God’s judgment against Edom (the descendants of Esau) for their pride and betrayal of Judah.

Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom:

We have heard a report from the LORD,

and a messenger has been sent among the nations:

“Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!”

Obadiah 1

A struggle that started in the womb between twin brothers, Esau and Jacob, leads to a conflict between their descendants, the Edomites and the Israelites. Because the Edomites stubbornly refuse to help Israel, first during their wilderness wanderings (Nm 20:14-21) and later during an invasion, they are strongly condemned by Obadiah. This little-known prophet describes their crimes, reviews their case, and declares their judgment: TOTAL DESTRUCTION.

After her enemies invaded Judah, the Edomites celebrated and mocked her suffering. Because they lived in seemingly undefeatable cities carved out of rock cliffs—like those seen today in Petra—they confidently believed nothing could harm them. However, as Obadiah would reveal, they were wrong.

Head to Heart: The Almighty Lord is sovereign and rules over all nations, not just Israel. He is the Righteous Judge and will deliver judgment on all people with equity and fairness.

Song: Rise Up - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPkWeyUatq4&list=RDXPkWeyUatq4&start_radio=1