5/2/2021 - The Vine Produces Fruit in His Branches
FIFTH SUNDAY IN EASTER
Researches have been studying church attendance trends for more than a century. While the data ebbs and flows, one item consistently ranks at or near the top of every list as to why guests return to a parish to worship. Can you guess what it is (hint: music does not make the top 10)? The answer is, "They made me feel welcomed." Here's the kicker: people know whether they will return BEFORE the service ever starts!
People are often shocked to learn this. Really, there's nothing shocking or complicated about it. When Christians love, it's attractive. People want to be part of that! If you visited a church where you didn't feel the Christian love, would we blame you for not returning? As Paul taught the Corinthians, "But eagerly desire the greater gifts. The greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 12:31, 13:13).
Today's worship makes that point repeatedly. "...let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth" (1 John 3:18). The parishioners in Acts loved so demonstrably that no one had any need; they shared generously. That love is a natural outflowing of our connection to Christ which Jesus identified with his famous metaphor, "I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing" (John 15:5).
Christian love cannot be faked or manufactured. It is a real and natural outgrowth of our connection to Christ. The deeper our faith, the bigger our love. That also means that when you see authentic Christian love, you really see Christ living and acting through his believing child.
Love. Let it grow! God bless your worship.
READINGS
Acts 4:32-37
1 John 3:18-24
John 15:1-8
Psalm 63
Sermon on 1 John 3:18-24 “ Exceeding the Love Limit”
Sunday services: 8:00am & 10:45am