Abiding Words

A collection of essays by experts from around the world Like the other New Testament Gospels, the Gospel of John repeatedly appeals to Scripture (Old Testament). Preferring allusions and “echoes” alongside more explicit quotations, however, the Gospel of John weaves Scripture as an authoritative source concerning its story of Jesus. Yet, this is the same Gospel that is often regarded as antagonistic toward “the Jews,” especially the Jewish religious leaders, depicted within it. Features: Introduces and updates readers on the question of John’s employment of Scripture Showcases useful approaches to more general studies on the New Testament’s use of Scripture, sociological and rhetorical analyses, and memory theory Explores the possible implications surrounding Scripture usage for the Gospel audiences both ancient and contemporary

The church's cycle of scriptural readings for the liturgy offers believers an opportunity to immerse themselves in the word of God. It is a very real and tangible way of responding to the call of Jesus: Remain in me, as I remain in you." In Abiding Word, Barbara Reid, OP, takes the Sunday experience to every day with accessible weekly meditations on the Lectionary readings of the year. This collection of articles, which includes Scripture readings for Sundays and solemnities followed by reflections, allows readers to meditate on the connection between the sacred text and their daily lives. Living with the word day by day invites us into a closer relationship with Christ, the God who became flesh. Barbara Reid is known for her contributions to The Word, a widely read column in America magazine. Abiding Word showcases some of her finest entries.

Abiding in God’s Word shows Christians where they are still carnal and shallow; and also what it really means to abide in Christ. This book will encourage you to read your Bible, evaluate your spiritual condition, and strengthen your faith. The author shares her angelic experience, speaks about trials, tribulations, and the spiritual blindness Christians encounter in everyday life. You will embrace the true spirituality that heals, and experience freedom and wholeness. You will soften your heart, restore your faith, and recognize the sinful nature which keeps us separated from God. You will rise to a new level of worship and begin to demonstrate love like never before. Too often we expect others to function as we do, and then we are disappointed that they don’t. The Christian life is a journey and without the Holy Spirit dwelling in you—it’s impossible to live a life pleasing to God. Are you willing to abide?

Throughout John 15 the Lord Jesus speaks of abiding—us in Him and Him in us. But what does it mean to abide in the Lord, to abide in His love, and to let His words abide in us? In this booklet compiled from Life-study of John, Witness Lee gives a meaningful, precious, and practical answer to these questions.

Abiding Mission presents the discipline of abiding as the first priority of the Christian and the base methodology of mission. Based on an exegesis of John 15, Abiding Mission illustrates the definition of abiding by examining the abiding mission lives of seven key pioneers in mission to Muslims in North Africa, including Daniel Comboni (Catholic), Samuel Zwemer (Presbyterian), Oswald Chambers (YMCA/Pentecostal League), Lillian Trasher (Assemblies of God), Lilias Trotter (Algerian Missions Band), Douglas Thornton (Anglican-CMS), and Temple Gairdner (Anglican-CMS). The work continues by looking at the operationalization of abiding as developed from interviews from current missionaries to Muslims in North Africa.

The Lord wants the believers to have a living that is a mutual abiding in spirit: the believers abiding in the Lord and the Lord abiding in their spirit. Man has a human spirit for him to receive God as life, but the believers must be diligent to exercise their spirit to live by the Lord for the church life. In A Living of Mutual Abiding with the Lord, Witness Lee shows that living with the Lord in the way of mutuality is the central revelation of the Bible. For this the Lord Jesus went through a process: He became flesh, a man, to be our Redeemer; and He became the life-giving Spirit to be our Savior in life. The Lord first comes into us and then He abides in us. This mutual abiding is altogether in the one spirit. "He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit" (1 Cor. 6:17). Christ as the life-giving Spirit comes into our human spirit for us to be one mingled spirit, and this makes possible the living of the highest Christian life, a mutual abiding with the Lord.

The Bible heralds the good news that God is dispensing Himself into His believers for their daily enjoyment. This enjoyment issues forth from abiding in the Lord and enjoying His life. This crucial truth is the subject of the apostle John's writings in the New Testament. It is mysterious, but it can be experienced!