July 26, 2026

Dr. Michael Sawyer
Executive Pastor
WATCH THIS WEEK'S SERMON

Respond Guide is a flexible guide for our church to use all week long, in personal study, with family, and in community groups. Its questions are designed for everyone and can be used multiple times, often leading to different conversations and fresh insight in each setting. The same guide can shape three distinct experiences as God meets you personally, in your home, and in biblical community.



Over four weeks, we’re taking a closer look at what it means for us to grow as a Ready Church. At FBG, we describe that readiness in four simple ways: Focused, Faithful, Prepared, and Looking. We want to be focused on the promise of Jesus’ return, faithful in our relationship with Him, prepared to be used by God, and looking for the people He has placed in our path to help find and follow Jesus.  This week, week two, we looked at what it means to be "faithful". 

Summary

 

This sermon, drawn from John 15:1-17, centers on what it means to remain in Jesus as the true vine. Dr. Michael Sawyer emphasizes that Jesus, on His last night with the disciples, prioritized connection before direction. Before giving any command, Jesus established the relational foundation of love, making clear that the disciples were not servants but friends. The call to "remain" is not a bar to clear through perfect performance but an ongoing invitation to stay connected to Christ, who is the source of all spiritual life and fruitfulness. We discussed three common barriers that pull believers away from that connection: busyness, unresolved sin, and self-sufficiency. He encouraged the congregation to reflect honestly on which of these may be creating distance from the Lord. As a church committed to being "ready" for Christ's return, the call is to be faithful in a personal relationship with Jesus, rooted in love and faithful obedience, supported by biblical literacy, biblical community, and biblical prayer.  If you'd like to access the slides from Sunday's sermon, download here.  

Key Verses

  • John 15:1-8
  • John 15:9-12
  • John 15:13-16

Questions

  • Pastor Michael opened with a personal story about his regret over prioritizing instruction over connection with his kids in sports, using the sticky phrase "connection over direction".   Can you think of a time in your own life when you felt someone prioritized direction over connection with you?  How did it affect how well you did your job?  How did it affect the relationship with that person? 
  • Jesus describes Himself as the true vine and His Father as the gardener in John 15:1-2 (CSB). What does it mean to you personally that God the Father is actively and lovingly involved in pruning your life? Can you share an example of a season where you experienced pruning from our Father?
  • In John 15:5 (CSB), Jesus says, 'You can do nothing without me.' Does it literally mean nothing?  Elaborate on your answer and discuss this verse as a group. 
  • How does John 15:5 challenge the way you typically approach your daily responsibilities, your work, or your ministry?
  • Pastor Michael described how a branch cut from the vine does not immediately look dead but slowly withers over time. Have you ever experienced a season of spiritual withering? What was the first sign you remember of withering?  What eventually drew you back to the vine?
  • For some, it might be a current season.  If so, what are you experiencing as withering?  Can you pinpoint what might have been the watershed moment of "disconnection"?   How does it feel to know that God is pursuing you and loves you; that you are hidden in Christ, whom God is "well-pleased"? (Matt 17:5)
  • Jesus says in John 15:9 (CSB), 'Remain in my love.' On Sunday, we learned that what we are remaining in is love, not just a list of instructions. How does understanding the command to obey within the context of love change the way you think about following Jesus?
  • Sunday we identified three common barriers to staying connected to Christ: busyness, unresolved sin, and self-sufficiency. Which of these do you find most personally challenging in our current season, and why?

Life Application

This week, set aside at least one period of uninterrupted, unhurried time with the Lord. Before that time, honestly answer these three questions in a journal or on paper: When was the last time I was simply present with God? What unresolved struggle or sin have I stopped bringing to him? When facing hardship, is my first instinct to turn to him or to rely on my own strength? Let your answers guide your time with him, and consider sharing what you discover with a trusted fellow believer who can pray with you and encourage you to remain in the vine.

Key Takeaways

  • Jesus prioritizes connection before direction. Before giving the command to love one another, he spent eleven verses establishing the relational foundation of love, making clear that his disciples are friends, not servants.
  • Remaining in Christ is an ongoing invitation, not a performance standard. When Jesus says 'remain in me,' he is calling his people back to Himself continually, just as He sought out His scattered and fearful disciples after the resurrection.
  • Apart from Christ, we can do nothing. Spiritual fruitfulness is not the result of personal effort or capacity but the natural byproduct of staying connected to Jesus, the true vine.
  • Three common barriers pull believers away from Christ: busyness, unresolved sin, and self-sufficiency. Each one must be honestly identified and brought before the Lord.
  • Biblical literacy, biblical community, and biblical prayer serve as a trellis that supports our connection to the vine. These practices do not produce life on their own, but they position us to receive the life that flows from Christ.

Ending Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for being the true vine and for inviting us to remain in you. Thank you that remaining is not a bar we must clear on our own but an invitation you extend to us again and again, even when we have scattered in fear or drifted in self-sufficiency. As we leave this time together, we ask that you would keep these truths fresh in our hearts throughout the week. Where we are busy, remind us to slow down and be present with you. Where we carry unconfessed sin, give us the courage to bring it to you again. Where we are tempted to rely on our own strength, humble us and draw us back to the source of all life. May the fruit that grows in each of our lives be a testimony not to our own effort but to your grace and your love. We love you, Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.