Abide
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me." (John 15:4)
To abide with Jesus is to simply be with Him.
It’s the intentional, daily decision to spend time with Him, rest in His presence, and trust Him. Just like spending time with your friends strengthens your relationship, so will abiding in Christ. It will draw you closer to your heavenly Father.
All of us are called to abide in Christ, though it’s a practice that can bring great comfort and peace to those who are going through challenging seasons or struggling with things like stress, anxiety, and depression. Abiding with God helps you quiet the world around you and focus on what matters most: God’s great love for you.
We’ve partnered with Pastor David Koop from Coastal Church to bring you this new teaching series: ABIDE.
In six parts, you’ll learn what it means to abide in Christ through an exploration of the book of 1 John in the Bible.
Each section includes a 30-minute video sermon from Coastal Church.
Follow along with the sermon notes, leaving comments as you wish. (Note: you can click “email” at the bottom of each notes page and either share them with yourself or others!)
Go at your own pace, completing the six days on your own time.
Click the links below to jump to that day’s content!
Part 1: Abide in the Light
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-7)
1 John 1:5-2:2 explores what it means to walk in the light and live in true fellowship with both God and others. Fellowship is not automatic—it’s built on transparency, truth, and trust in Christ. While the world offers many false solutions for dealing with sin (through education, psychology, or self-improvement), only Jesus can remove guilt and restore joy.
Part 2: Abide in Obedience
“But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:5-6)
What does authentic faith really look like? Obedience is the mark of truly abiding in Christ and authentic Christianity. Faith isn’t just about getting all the right answers, but is loving like Christ and resisting the lies of the world. It’s about hearing from God and following Him.
Part 3: Abide in Truth
“I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.” (1 John 2:5-6)
Abiding in Christ means holding fast to the truth and resisting false teaching. We live in a world full of information and misinformation, and Christians need to discern what is good and true, and walk in it. Being anchored to the Scripture—the truth—helps us stand firm against deception and walk confidently in faith.
Part 4: Abide as Children of God
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)
As we abide in God, we recognize who we are: His chosen children. And when that sinks in, it changes everything. This passage from 1 John 3 reminds us to remember that we are each loved and officially adopted into His family. That’s our real family… We need to live like it!
Part 5: Abide in Love
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ” (1 John 4:7-9)
The Bible is very clear: God wants us to love one another. And that love is not just in words alone, but with a love that acts selflessly and sacrificially. To abide in God is to abide in His love—a love that overflows onto others!
Part 6: Abide in Discernment & Confidence
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)
Abiding in Christ gives us victory over the enemy’s attacks. When lies, shame, fear, and condemnation try to pull us away, we can walk in victory knowing that God is greater! God has already won. And He is with you.
"Abiding is such an important topic because it's how we become more like Jesus-an ongoing, lifelong process-and how we enjoy fellowship with other believers."
-Pastor David Koop
Meet Pastor Koop
David Koop grew up on a farm in southwestern Alberta. He left the farm to pursue a career in the oil industry and later transitioned into full-time ministry. In 1994, along with his wife Cheryl, planted Coastal Church in downtown Vancouver, Canada. Later in 2010, David received his Doctorate in Ministry from Bakke Graduate University. In addition to pastoring and speaking at various conferences, David serves as a director on several boards. Dave and Cheryl have been happily married for 48 years and are the parents of four married children and proud grandparents of six grandchildren.
Want more? Explore an Audio Guide
“Contentment is not found in having everything we want, but in trusting the One who gives us everything we need.” - Pastor David Koop
Discover the secret of contentment with the Joy Today Audio Guide.
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