Do you know—I mean really know—that when you die you are going to heaven? If you’re answering yes, then how do you know? It can’t be because your parents took you to church or because you are a good person. That is not true salvation. Have you had a personal encounter with Jesus? Have you given your whole life to Him? Salvation occurs in that moment of true surrender.

If you love Jesus, then sin is not something you actively pursue. If you love Jesus, then you tell others about Him and about how He’s forgiven you. But guess what. The world isn’t going to like that. Pastor Mark has some news for you: You are going to be hated. The enemy of God, Satan, is going to do all he can to stop the truth from getting out and to pull people away from Jesus. As a believer, this makes you a threat. Don’t be surprised when attacks come, but make sure to keep following Jesus.

You don’t share your intimate secrets with just anyone. Most likely there are things you don’t want to broadcast to the world. With your friends, however, you can develop trust and intimacy. You can tell them the truth and know that they’ll keep the information safe. Did you know that God wants to have that kind of friendship with you? As you follow His Word and live in obedience, you’ll develop a familiarity and closeness with Jesus, giving Him the opportunity to share things with you as a close friend.

If you’ve given your life to Jesus, you are saved! You belong to the Lord and your sins are forgiven. What a wonderful reason to get up each day! But is that where it ends for you? In this teaching, Pastor Mark will be sharing the difference between living as a servant of God and living as a friend of God. Put forth effort to get to know your Savior. Do what He asks of you and seek to grow in a deep and personal relationship with Him.

In this teaching, Pastor Mark discusses abiding in Christ. Not all Christians have learned to abide in their Savior. To abide is not a passive act; It is a choice to press in deeply to Jesus, clinging to the vine for our very breath. If we abide, we will begin to see fruit in our lives. It might not be noticeable to everyone at first, but just as a healthy vine eventually grows grapes, so we too will slowly but surely produce fruit unto the Lord. The more you allow Him to work in you, the more you will produce. Spend time in the Word, pray, and get to know your Vinedresser; He will bring the increase.