Series: Striving to Abiding in Christ – Works to the Grace of God- John 15

As a former Jehovah’s  Witness, I know all too well the neverending treadmill of a works-oriented, highly controlled religious group. The countless weekly meetings, devoting hundreds of hours to preaching the Jehovah’s Witness gospel, the rigid bible study schedules and submitting to other demands that are placed upon Jehovah’s Witnesses by Leadership.  My relationship with God was transactional, as I was in service to Him I expected God to show up in my life in exactly the way I was expecting  Him to. If God didn’t answer my prayer in the way I expected in relation to my ministry, it meant that I needed to work “harder” in His service to achieve greater successes in the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

This series will explore my journey  from striving  (works) to abiding in Christ (grace). We will discover ways to examine our lives to ascertain whether or not we are focused on “achieving” in the God’s kingdom or abiding in Christ, the true vine, to bear fruitage in His Kingdom. We will also look at the importance of “being” with God vs.”doing” for God. It is my sincere hope that through the examination of John 15: 1-17  over the next few weeks, that for those of us who are on a neverending “treadmill” of works in our worship and service to God that we find relief.  It is my desire that we learn from the living Word to rest in the arms of the One who provides rest for all who are weary. ( Matthew 11:28)