Sermon: Abiding is Discipleship

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Violets abiding in Christ in my backyard. Spring 2024.

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Sermon: Abiding is Discipleship

Preached at Trinity United Church, Ottawa ON on April 28, 2024

Scripture Reading:

‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. ² He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. ³ You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. (John 15:1-8 NRSV)

Let us pray: God of Life, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our minds and hearts lead us to deeper understanding of you and the love you call us to live. AMEN.

There are a couple of cookbooks that I have that when I use recipes from them, make me feel closer to God. Under the collective title More with Less, they offer simple recipes from around the world that promote living a more sustainable life. These recipes emphasize whole grains and legumes, local foods, less meat, with a priority for feeding the marginalized and using less of the Earth’s resources. When I cook from these books, I feel more prayerful, and a sense of joy often comes over me while I am in the kitchen. I know that it is because I am doing what God has asked of me, that I am living out the discipleship that God has called me to. But I didn’t realize, until I sat down to write this sermon, that what is going on when I am in the kitchen with these cookbooks, and others like them, goes deeper than I realized.

“Abide in me as I abide in you” (John 15.4). In this morning’s Gospel reading, Jesus gives us direct instructions, as he always does. Even in the Gospel of John, which is so much more poetic and, sometimes, fanciful sounding than the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus tells us how we are to live if we are to be followers of Jesus.  

“Abide in me as I abide in you.” But even if his instructions are direct, that doesn’t mean that they’re always clear, at least at first blush. What does it mean to abide in Jesus?

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