#1 Relationship with Christ.
"Abide in me (Jesus), 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." John 15:4
Abide means to remain, dwell, be present; be held and kept. Take time to abide/dwell/live/be present in Jesus.
"And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray." Mark 6:46
"In these days (Jesus) went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God." Luke 6:12
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10
Set time aside to be alone with God. This is vital to be in relationship with him. Spend time listening. He is speaking.
Relationship means you know the person.
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 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. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." John 15:9-11
"No longer do I call you servants,[a] for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you." John 15:15-16
Everything made known is in the Word. Read the Word!
#2 Relationship with other believers. We need each other.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." John 15:12-13
Spend time with each other. Loving each other must be primary. Love should overcome all.
"Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." Romans 12:10
Going to church makes a person a Christian like going to McDonald's makes a person a hamburger. Church is important, but fellowship is more than that.
"And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us." 1 John 3:23
Love intentionally. Truly loving others takes effort. And it is hard at times. When it is hard those are the times you need to love, love, love.
"Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart," 1 Peter 1:22
#3 Relationship with the World (meaning world system/society/the world's values).
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:18-19
Jesus's light shows the world's darkness. Dark and dead inside.
World vs. God
23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’ John 15:23-25
"You adulterous people![a] Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." James 4:4
Your choice -- the world or Jesus.
"15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life[a]—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." 1 John 2:15-17
This world will die. Those in Christ will live forever.
" not be conformed to this world,[a] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.[b]" Romans 12:2
All of you needs all of Christ.
"26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.[a]" Ezekiel 36:26-27
"6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6
"Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right[a] spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you." Psalm 51:10-13