John 15 can sound terrifying: branches that don’t bear fruit are taken away, wither, and are eventually burned.

But what if Jesus is not saying, “One mistake and you’re gone”?

What if the Vine and branches picture that Jesus paints is actually an invitation to grace, friendship, and the opportunity to bear fruit that comes from Him?

Topics:

• One mistake and you’re gone?
• Jesus is the true vine. Who are the branches?
• What kind of fruit?
• Bearing fruit, not producing it
• Abide does not mean “stay attached”
• If you abide, you will bear much fruit
• Abiding in His love
• The Greek does not say “cut”
• You are becoming more like Jesus
• If you’re in doubt, love

This episode is part of the “Scary Verses or Grace?” discussion of passages that sound scary at first, but surprisingly lead us toward grace as we grapple with them and seek the heart of Christ.

Is the narrow way supposed to scare us?

In Matthew 7:13–14, Jesus says the gate is narrow, the road hard, and only a few find it.

For a lot of us, that sounds like a spiritual tightrope - one wrong step and we’re doomed to fail. In this episode, I explore why The Way seems scary, but is actually full of grace.

Topics:

• When Jesus keeps raising the bar
• Jesus as the gate and The Way
• “Pick Me!”
• Ask, seek, and knock
• My yoke is easy
• Why the path is not a tightrope
• The hard part: “few find it”
• Jesus promises that those who seek God find Him
• Hunger and thirst for righteousness - you will be filled

This episode is part of the “Scary Verses or Grace?” discussion of passages that sound scary at first, but surprisingly lead us toward grace as we grapple with them and seek the heart of Christ.

What does it mean to be called a friend of God?

The night before Jesus died, He called His followers friends. But what does it mean to really “be” His friend? Jesus dove into that too. It’s probably not what you think.

Topics:

• Using Dezsma to set the stage
• When friends stand in the way
• Kat’s choice and the freedom to rebel
• Arkuuda calls Kat her friend
• Jesus says, “I Call You... Friend”
• The upper room and the command to love
• “You are My friends if...”
• Is friendship with God two-way?