theological quote

John Stott on Balanced Abiding - Anglican (John 15:5)

Source: John Stott49 words

"Abiding in Christ is neither passive quietism nor frantic activism—it is living union. The branch doesn't strive to produce fruit, nor does it pretend fruit doesn't matter. It simply stays connected and fruit comes. This is the balanced Christian life: dependent and fruitful." — John Stott. Anglican: balanced abiding.

Topics & Themes

abidingbalanceduniondependentfruitful

Scripture References

John 15:5

Emotional Tone

peacetrustjoy

Audience

adults

Powered by ChurchWiseAI

This illustration is a preview of what our AI-powered ministry platform can do. ChurchWiseAI offers a full suite of tools built for pastors and church leaders.

Sermon Companion

Build entire sermons with AI — outlines, illustrations, application points, and slide decks tailored to your tradition.

Ministry Chatbot

An AI assistant trained on theology, counseling frameworks, and church administration to help with any ministry question.

Bible Study Builder

Generate discussion guides, devotionals, and small group materials from any passage — in minutes, not hours.

Try any app free for 7 days — no credit card required.

Get Started

More Illustrations for John 15:5

4 more illustrations anchored to this passage

📖sermon illustrationUniversal

Fruit Takes Time to Grow - Traditional (Galatians 5:22-23)

A farmer doesn't plant an apple tree and expect fruit the next day. There's soil preparation, planting, watering, pruning, waiting—years of waiting. Fruit is organic result, not manufactured product.

Galatians 5:22-23
💬theological quoteAnabaptist

Stanley Hauerwas on Community as Branches - Anabaptist (John 15:5)

"The branches are plural—we abide together. Individual spirituality divorced from community is a severed branch. The church abides in Christ as a body; we bear fruit through shared life. Isolated Chri

branchescommunitytogetherJohn 15:5
adults
💬theological quoteEvangelical

Charles Spurgeon on Abiding and Fruitfulness - Traditional (John 15:5)

"Apart from Me you can do nothing—the branch cannot bear fruit by itself. Abiding is the secret: staying connected, drawing life from the Vine. Our activity without His life produces nothing eternal.

abidingvinebranchJohn 15:5
adults
💬theological quoteBlack Church

Karl Barth on Christ Alone as Source - Christocentric (John 15:5)

"'I AM the Vine'—Christ Himself is the source of all spiritual life. Not Christ plus our effort; not Christ and our additions—Christ alone. The branches exist only in relation to the Vine; apart from

I AMChristsourceJohn 15:5
adults

Related Illustrations

💬theological quoteAnglican

Pope Benedict XVI on Love as God's Identity - Catholic (John 3:16)

"God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God. These words from the First Letter of John express with remarkable clarity the heart of the Christian faith: the Christian image of God and the re

God is lovedivine identityChristian faithJohn 3:16
adults
💬theological quoteEvangelical

Charles Spurgeon on Abiding and Fruitfulness - Traditional (John 15:5)

"Apart from Me you can do nothing—the branch cannot bear fruit by itself. Abiding is the secret: staying connected, drawing life from the Vine. Our activity without His life produces nothing eternal.

abidingvinebranchJohn 15:5
adults
💬theological quotePentecostal

Lesslie Newbigin on Missionary Fruitfulness - Missional (John 15:5)

"Missionary fruit comes from abiding in Christ. Programs without presence produce nothing lasting; strategies without spirituality bear no fruit. The sent church must be the abiding church. Apart from

missionaryabidingfruitJohn 15:5
adults
Back to all illustrations