5G The Ultimate Connection: Staying Connected to Jesus

We live in a world where connection feels more important than ever. Our phones keep us connected to friends, family, work, information, and just about everything else. That’s why it can be so frustrating when we lose our connection.

But what happens when we become disconnected spiritually?

There are seasons when we feel incredibly close to God and seasons when He seems distant. Maybe frustration has become our default. Maybe anxiety is always lingering in the background. Maybe life is busy, but we don’t feel filled. We can become surprisingly comfortable with a spiritual disconnection that Jesus never intended for us.

That’s why we’re beginning our new series, 5G: The Ultimate Connection. At Landing Place Church, we talk about five rhythms of connection: God Time, Group Time, Gather Time, Go Time, and Generosity Time. These aren’t five more obligations to add to an already busy life. They’re invitations from Jesus to reconnect with Him.

The Christian life isn’t about performing for Jesus. It’s about being connected to Jesus.

God Time Is About Being With Jesus, Not Performing for Him

In John 15, Jesus uses the picture of a vine and branches to describe our relationship with Him. He says, “Remain in me and I will remain in you.”

The word translated remain or abide means to stay, dwell, or make your home in something.

Jesus isn’t telling us to visit Him occasionally. He’s inviting us to take up residence with Him.

Think about the difference between being a guest in someone’s home and actually living there. As a guest, you wonder where to sit, what you can touch, and what the rules are. But when you live somewhere, you’re comfortable. You know the space. You belong there.

That’s the kind of relationship Jesus wants with us.

We often fall into the trap of thinking that God’s love for us depends on our performance. If we go to church, read our Bible, serve, give, and do all the “right” things, we assume God must be pleased with us. But when we fall short, we wonder if God is disappointed or distant.

Jesus turns that thinking upside down.

He doesn’t say, “I will love you when you perform well.”

He says, “I have loved you.”

Our connection with God isn’t something we earn through perfect performance. God invites us to remain in the love He has already given us.

God Time Allows Jesus to Produce What We Cannot

Jesus continues in John 15 by saying that those who remain in Him will produce much fruit.

A branch doesn’t have to work hard to produce fruit. It doesn’t have to strain, sweat, or convince itself to grow grapes. Its job is simply to stay connected to the vine.

And when it stays connected, fruit comes naturally.

That’s an important picture for our spiritual lives.

The fruit Jesus produces in us looks like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

So how do we know whether we’re connected to Jesus?

Look at the fruit.

It’s possible to do all the “right” religious things and still be spiritually disconnected. The Pharisees knew Scripture, gave money, fasted, served, and showed up—but their lives didn’t reflect the fruit Jesus was describing.

Jesus is less interested in how well we perform religious activities and more interested in what is being produced in our lives.

Proximity to Jesus changes us.

Think about the people you spend the most time with. Eventually, you start picking up their expressions, habits, interests, and even the way they think. The same is true spiritually. When we spend time with Jesus, His character begins to shape ours.

God Time isn’t another box to check. It’s time spent with the One who transforms us from the inside out.

God Time Is a Conversation, Not a Monologue

Jesus also says in John 15 that His words are to remain in us.

That means connection with God involves listening as well as speaking.

Prayer is important, but God Time isn’t simply us talking at God. It’s a conversation. We speak to Him, and we allow Him to speak to us through His Word.

That’s why Scripture is such an important part of staying connected.

But there’s a difference between information and transformation.

We can know a lot about the Bible without allowing the Bible to change us. We can memorize verses, understand theology, and know what Scripture says while still missing what Jesus wants to do in our lives.

One simple way to move from information to transformation is to ask three questions whenever you read Scripture:

1. What does this show me about God?
What does this passage reveal about His character, His love, His faithfulness, or His heart?

2. What is Jesus saying to me?
Is He inviting me into something? Correcting something? Encouraging me? Challenging me?

3. How should I respond?
Do I need to change? Repent? Give thanks? Celebrate? Trust Him?

These questions help turn Bible reading from simply learning about God into actually connecting with God.

Start Where You Are

Maybe you’re reading this and thinking, I actually feel really disconnected from God right now.

If that’s you, there’s good news.

Jesus isn’t standing over you with condemnation. He’s extending an invitation.

“Come stay with me.”

You don’t need to perform your way back into God’s presence. You don’t need to become perfect before you approach Him. You simply need to respond to His invitation to remain connected.

Start with Scripture you can understand. Find a Bible translation that makes sense to you. Take a few minutes each day to read, reflect, pray, and listen.

And if you need help understanding what you’re reading, Landing Place Church has provided access to RightNow Media, a resource with thousands of Bible-based videos for personal study, groups, families, kids, and every stage of life.

The goal isn’t to check another box.

The goal is connection.

Because when we stay connected to Jesus, He becomes our source of strength. And when we remain connected to the vine, He produces fruit in us that we could never produce on our own.

We hate being disconnected from our phones.

How much more should we value staying connected to Jesus?

If you feel distant from God today, hear His invitation: “I’ve missed you. Come stay with me.”

Say yes to the invitation.

Stay connected to the vine.

And watch what Jesus produces through your life.