Red Letter Challenge - Week 2
- Jul 21, 2025
- 7 min read
INTRODUCTION:
Let me start with a bold statement again this week:
Jesus doesn’t want more workers. He wants more abiders.
That might surprise you—especially in a world where we measure our value by productivity or output. But in the kingdom of God, being comes before doing. And if we get that out of order, we’ll burn out, grow bitter, or drift far from the life Jesus actually invites us into.
Last week, we laid the foundation. We were challenged by the question:
Why does the world not reflect the life Jesus talked about?
The truth is—people aren’t walking away from Jesus because they’ve seen too much of Him…
They’re walking away because they’ve seen too little of Him in us.
There’s a gap between the life of Jesus and the lives of many who claim to follow Him.
And we said: It’s time to close the gap.
Not just by hearing what Jesus said—but by doing what He said.
But here’s the thing:
Before we talk about doing, we have to start with being.
This week in the Red Letter Challenge, we are focusing on Being—spending intentional time with Jesus. Not doing things for Him… but being with Him.
Because every other challenge—forgiving, serving, giving, going—flows from this one.
Open your bibles with me to John 15:1-11, this will be our main passage today and gives us a true picture of what it means to BE with Him…
John 15:1-11
“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. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Let’s unpack these verses.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.”
“I am the true vine”: Jesus is using a familiar agricultural metaphor. In the Old Testament, Israel was called God’s vine (Isaiah 5:1–7). Jesus now says He is the “true” vine—the source of real life and fruitfulness.
“Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away…”
Branches = believers or professing believers. Fruitlessness is a sign of disconnection.
“Takes away” (Greek: airo) can mean “removes” or “lifts up.” Some interpret this as discipline, others as judgment. Either way, the point is this: a life in Christ is meant to be fruitful.
…every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
Pruning is painful but purposeful. God cuts away what limits your growth: pride, sin, comfort, distraction.
If you're following Jesus and life still feels hard, it may be God shaping you for greater fruitfulness, not punishing you as some may think during those times
“Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.”
Jesus reassures them: They’re already clean—they’re not earning God’s love by being fruitful.
His Word purifies. We see the cleansing, renewing power of truth and obedience.
“Abide in me, and I in you.”
This is the core command: Remain. Stay connected. Stay close.
“Abide” (Greek: meno) means to dwell, to stay, to continue. Not a visit—it's a lifestyle.
“As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself… Neither can you.”
Fruit = spiritual growth, character, love, impact, obedience.
We cannot produce this on our own. Trying to “be better” without abiding is like taping apples to a dead tree.
“Apart from me you can do nothing.”
Not less—nothing. All eternal, spiritual effectiveness flows from Christ.
This challenges self-reliance and pride. Without Jesus, your best efforts are spiritually empty.
“If anyone does not abide in me… thrown into the fire and burned.”
Sobering warning: A good vinedresser cuts out those dead, fruitless branches and destroys them. The analogy Jesus presents here is not about loss of salvation, rather, His message is about those who "put on" an appearance of faith, but are disconnected from the True Vine that gives eternal life.
The pruning and destruction Jesus refers to here echoes a statement made in Matthew 7:21–23. There, Jesus likewise pointed out that putting on an appearance of faith is not the same as being born again.
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish…”
This is not a blank check. It’s a promise for those who are abiding, whose hearts are aligned with His will.
When we live in Christ and let His Word shape us, our prayers reflect God’s heart, and we ask for what He wants to give.
“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit…”
God is honored when we live fruitful, obedient, Christ-connected lives.
Fruit = evidence. We don’t prove ourselves to God by works, but fruit proves to the world that we’re His.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”
Astounding truth: Jesus loves you the same way the Father loves Him.
He invites us to remain in that love, to live from it, to rest in it—not striving, but abiding.
“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love…”
Obedience is evidence of love, not a requirement for love.
We don’t earn His love—we express our love by living in alignment with Him.
“I have spoken these things… that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
Earlier in His ministry, Jesus pointed out that His purpose was not to restrict our lives, but to give us an abundant life (John 10:10). To give us joy.
Full joy comes not from control, comfort, or achievement, but from union with Christ.
Simply put - You can’t bear fruit unless you’re connected to the vine.
For example. Look at those vines out there. Without connection fruit does not grow. Each branch has to be connected to the vine.
Point 1: Activity Must Flow from Being
We often get it backwards, don’t we? We do, do, do—hoping that God will bless our efforts. But Jesus never said, “Get busy for me.” He said, “Come to me. Abide in me.”
We live in a fast-paced, distracted world. And unfortunately, we’ve brought that same pace into our spiritual lives. We equate spiritual busyness with spiritual health—but they’re not the same.
Jesus knew this. Even in the middle of His mission to save the world, He constantly withdrew to spend time with the Father:
Mark 1:35 – “Very early in the morning… Jesus went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.”
Luke 5:16 – “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
If Jesus, the Son of God, needed time with the Father… How much more do we?
Even in church we can be busy and not doing the things that are important or that Jesus is leading us to do. We can easily be taken away from what we are called to do by busyness.
Listen to this.. It’s always a challenge to not let all the good things rob us of the best thing…HIM
POINT 2: Fruit Comes from Connection, Not Production
You and I can’t manufacture love, joy, peace, or patience. That’s fruit. And fruit only comes from remaining connected to the source of life—Jesus.
Paul writes in Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV) – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”
This "fruit" is not a list of tasks to achieve, but evidence of the Spirit's work in us. It is singular—fruit, not fruits—showing that it's a unified outgrowth of a Spirit-filled life.
You don’t force fruit. You bear it.
And that only happens through abiding.
What can abiding look like? It looks like:
Reading Scripture not just for knowledge but to hear God’s voice.
Praying not to get something from God but to be with Him.
Worshiping even when we don’t feel like it.
Resting, This may sounds crazy but God can run the world without us, while we rest ya know.
Sitting in silence, allowing our souls to breathe.
These spiritual disciplines aren't religious chores. They are the habits of intimacy. They slow us down. They re-center our souls. They remind us that God isn’t impressed with how much we can do—He’s delighted just to be with us.
“Being” with Jesus is not passive—it’s intentional presence. Just like any relationship. Have you ever been hanging with someone who’s always on their phone… yes, all of us have… it’s hard to feel connected to this person isn’t it?
POINT 3: Your Relationship with Jesus Must Be Cultivated
Let me ask you: How do you define a relationship with Jesus? Because relationships require time, conversation, trust, and shared moments.
It’s no different with Jesus.
So many of us have settled for a faith that looks more like a to-do list than a relationship.
We rush through prayers. We read a verse just to check the box. We go to church but forget to sit at His feet during the week.
It’s time to change that.
The strength of your doing for Jesus will never outgrow your being with Him.
APPLICATION:
Will you give Jesus your attention before you offer Him your action?
That might mean:
Waking up 15 minutes earlier for a morning devotion.
Taking a prayer walk during the day or similar.
Sitting quietly for 5-10 minutes before checking your phone.
Blocking out a Sabbath day to stop working and start resting.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about presence.
PERSONAL CHALLENGE:
Days 7 through 13 of the Red Letter Challenge