Notes:

Series: Do Nothing

Sermon Title: Abide | 7 Daily Practices for God’s Presence

John 15:1-27 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 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.

RULE OF LIFE

Defined: A schedule and set of practices and relational rhythms that make space for ABIDING in Christ.

Life is both:

Structure and Spontaneity

Chaos and Order

As the chaos of our lives and society increases, our structure should increase in response.

Analogy: The lattice supports the vine. The vine grows in alignment with the structure of the lattice, therefore, more fruit is produced. We need daily ritual and rhythm that serves as the structure by which the vine grows up the lattice.

This is so practical it becomes profound.

This is so normal, yet it produces the space necessary for the supernatural.

CHURCH WIDE RULE OF LIFE PROTOCOL

To move from chaos to order

To move from isolation to abiding

7 Daily Practices

Start the day in quiet and scripture reading BEFORE you start the say

Start a ritual of gratitude: writing down three things you are grateful for in the morning, then discussing it around the dinner table in the evening.

Exercise or go for a walk - “don’t go back up into your head, go down into your body!”

Create a daily focal practice: something that draws your attention to the moment: chess, walking gardening, intimacy with your spouse

Have a relational touch point: reach out to someone daily

Limit intake of news to 1-2 times a day. Schedule it, and do not over consume.

Limit screen time and “escapist behaviors” - alcohol, sugar, social media

3 weekly practices:

Show up at 7pm or 7am for prayer on @v1church Instagram once a week

Virtual Community touchpoint once a week in a Connect Group

Practice Sabbath once a week, with intentional worship time during a V1 Church service

LEADER GUIDE

Theme for group discussion

Rituals and Relational Rhythms that create space for abiding

Example Questions:

Envision yourself installing all 7 daily practices into the structure of your life. What are some specific ways it would enrich your life?

Your marriage? Your experience single?

What is a specific “focal practice” that you have lost touch with? Is it a sport you used to play? A hobby?

Deeper Discussion: Pastor Mike mentioned that when pressure is applied it reveals the cracks in the foundations of our lives. We often attempt to remove the pressure by “escapist behaviors” rather than fill the cracks. What escapist behaviors do you tend to struggle with? Why?