theological quote

John Wesley on Continuous Abiding - Wesleyan (John 15:5)

Source: John Wesley46 words

"'Abide in Me'—this requires our participation. We choose to stay connected; we discipline ourselves to remain. Grace flows through the connection, but we must maintain it. The branch that stops abiding stops bearing. Keep abiding; keep receiving; keep bearing fruit." — John Wesley. Wesleyan: cooperative abiding.

Scripture References

John 15:5

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
Back to all illustrations