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Over the past two weeks, we’ve reflected on what it means to be ROOTED and GROWING.

Roots sink deep.
Growth shapes us in every way.

But roots and growth are not the final goal.

Jesus tells us the purpose in John 15:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him,
he it is that bears much fruit…
By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” – (John 15:5, 8)

The natural result of being rooted in Christ and growing in Him is fruit.

Fruit is visible.
Fruit is nourishing.
Fruit blesses others.

Jesus does not invite us merely to belong.
He does not call us only to maturity.
He calls us to a life that multiplies.

Notice something important: fruit is not manufactured. It grows from connection.

“Abide in me,” Jesus says.

Fruitfulness is not striving harder. It is remaining closer. As we abide in Christ — through prayer, Scripture, obedience, and love — His life flows through us. And when His life flows through us, fruit appears.

And fruit is not meant to stay hidden.

For years, we have used the phrase BE BOLD to describe our outward expression of faith. That historic value is not disappearing — it is being clarified. Boldness is not loudness. It is not arrogance. It is not forcefulness. Biblical boldness is the courageous overflow of a life connected to Jesus.

When a branch is healthy, fruit appears naturally. When a disciple abides deeply, witness follows naturally.

To be fruitful is to live our faith publicly and courageously.
It is to speak hope when others are discouraged.
It is to serve when it would be easier to stay comfortable.
It is to invite, to reconcile, to give, to step forward when the Spirit prompts.

Fruitfulness is boldness with roots.

At Living Hope, we desire to be a fruitful church — not simply well-rooted and well-taught, but actively bearing the kind of fruit that glorifies the Father and reflects the character of Jesus. We want our community to taste and see the goodness of God through our lives.

A rooted tree grows.
A growing tree bears fruit.
A fruitful tree feeds others.

May we abide deeply, grow steadily, and bear much fruit — for the glory of God and the good of our neighbors, in Lisbon and beyond.