No. 499 "Living in Christ, Walking with the Spirit" September 13, 2026

No. 499 "Living in Christ, Walking with the Spirit" September 13, 2026 Over the past four weeks, we've walked through John 15 together. Looking back, there was a clear direction to that journey. 1) REMAIN in Jesus (John 15:1–11). A branch cannot produce fruit on its own — it has to stay connected to Jesus, the true vine. The Christian life doesn't begin with trying harder. It begins with staying connected to the source of life. 2) RECEIVE His love first (John 15:12–17). When our love runs dry, what we need isn't a fresh resolve to try harder. It's going back to the cross and receiving again the love that gives freely and never gives up on us. We aren't the source of love — we're channels through which His love flows out to others. 3) RESEMBLE Jesus in the world (John 15:18–25). To resemble Jesus isn't only about character. It's about walking the road He walked — a road of love and truth that sometimes means facing misunderstanding and rejection too. 4) REPRODUCE — bear witness with the Spirit (John 15:26–27). The life, love, and joy we've received from Jesus don't stop with us. Through the Holy Spirit, they flow on to the next person, and the next generation. Jesus kept speaking into chapter 16. The cross was only hours away, and the disciples' hearts were heavy. If chapter 15 answered, "Who are you, and how should you live?" — chapter 16 answers a different question: "How will you keep standing after I'm gone?" Once we know who we are, we still need the strength to keep living it out. 1) REMEMBER His words (John 16:1–4a). Jesus tells them ahead of time, so that when trouble comes, they won't fall away. 2) RELY on the Spirit (John 16:4b–15). "It is for your good that I am going away" (John 16:7). Even though Jesus leaves, the disciples aren't left alone. The Helper comes — convicting the world and guiding the disciples into all truth. 3) REJOICE even in sorrow (John 16:16–24). "Your grief will turn to joy" (John 16:20). Because the Lord is risen, sorrow never gets the last word. 4) REST in the One who has overcome (John 16:25–33). "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Peace doesn't come from the absence of trouble. It comes from being in the One who has already overcome it. So beginning this week, we'll spend the next four Sundays in John 16 under the theme "Walking with the Spirit." As we follow the text, ask yourself: What is shaking me right now? What do I need to remember? Who am I relying on? How can my sorrow turn into joy? Where am I looking for peace? If John 15 taught us how to live in Jesus, John 16 will teach us how to keep living that life out — with the Spirit walking beside us.