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Cedar Blog

Abide In Jesus

Abide in Jesus

According to John 15, the key to bearing fruit is to abide in the vine Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

After a grape vine is pruned, vine vinedressers gently tie each vine to a trellis. The trellis is a structure that gives the vine support for the growing season ahead. By the end of the season, the trellis is vital to support branches heavy with grapes. 

The pruned and tied vine takes on the shape of a cross. The cross is a symbol of humility, surrender, and obedience. The cross signifies a life shaped, not by self-will, but by God’s will. Like the vine bound to the trellis, the cross restrains us for the purpose of bearing fruit. 

Intentional restraint is not punishment; it is formation. Spiritual practices become a trellis to shape us. Bible reading, prayer, journaling, fasting, Sabbath, community, solitude, generosity, witness – these practices form us. 

When we feel a pull toward selfish ambition we are invited to take up the cross and follow (abide). Even though we have our own plans, we surrender to God’s plan.

Our daily, weekly, and seasonal rhythms – habits, commitments, and practices – become the framework that keep us tethered to Christ. Without a trellis, a vine grows wildly, sprawling in every direction without purpose. Likewise, without intentional spiritual practices, we risk becoming entangled in the distractions and worries of life. 

That is why we abide. And we who abide bear much fruit as we trust God to shape us.  Without a trellis to support our abiding, our lives sprawl. Out of control.  With structure, we thrive. Like a vine, we grow best when we have the right support in place.

Here is a prompt for those of you who are using the structure of journaling: How can you form rhythms that support spiritual growth? 

Spring is a great time to set up your trellis for the growing season ahead.

May the Lord be with you,

Kent Landhuis
Pastor of Teaching & Leadership

Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry or learn something new? Let Kent know.

    Cedar Blog

    The Gospel Is Not Optional

    The Gospel is not Optional

    There is some debate about which season is more important: Christmas or Easter? Of course, we are the kind of people who believe that both are vital and neither is optional.

    But if you had to rank them, what would you say? Most theologians lean toward Easter because it represents the grand climax of the Gospel – Jesus lived and died and rose again. This is true and essential. 

    Some people claim that religion is obsolete because it does not work. And, I suppose, that depends on what a person expects religion to do. I’m thankful that the gospel never becomes obsolete. A recent blog by Russ Lackey explains why:

    The gospel does not exist to make people happier, nicer, or more functional. It announces something far stranger: that God justifies the ungodly. It declares forgiveness not as therapeutic reassurance but as a verdict spoken over people who cannot secure it for themselves.

    In a culture shaped by achievement, expressive individualism, and relentless self-optimization, this claim cannot be replaced. Wellness cultures still demand improvement. Therapeutic frameworks assume progress. Many contemporary spiritualities offer meaning without judgment and comfort without reckoning.

    The gospel does not do any of this. It names sin without collapsing into shame and announces forgiveness without requiring self-exoneration. No algorithm, mindfulness practice, or spiritual technique dares to absolve.

    This is why the gospel endures even when religion becomes optional. 

    Jesus lived and died and rose again. That truth never wears out and never loses its power. Praise God!

    Kent Landhuis
    Pastor of Teaching & Leadership

    To read more, go here: When Religion Becomes Obsolete, Christ Does Not. 

    Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry or learn something new? Let Kent know.

      Cedar Blog, Lent, Reset

      Disciples Bear Fruit

      Disciples Bear Fruit

      Every congregation faces pressure to succeed. Success has historically been measured by the congregation’s budget and attendance. (Bucks and butts.) These measures might be helpful for a church management business. We are not in that business. We are in the disciple-making business. Jesus said, “Go make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). We measure success by making disciples. 

      I just read a blog about the tension between success (achievement) and fruitfulness. I found it helpful: “There’s a real difference between our achievements and our fruitfulness, between our successes and the actual good that we bring into the world. What we achieve brings us success… and gives us a feeling of being worthwhile, singular, and important. We’ve done something. We’ve left a mark. We’ve been recognized.” 

      Success is measured by achievement. Fruitfulness is measured differently: “Achievement is not the same thing as fruitfulness. Our achievements are things we have accomplished. Our fruitfulness is the positive, long-term effect these achievements have on others. Achievement doesn’t automatically mean fruitfulness.”

      Jesus never told us to achieve but he did tell us to bear fruit. “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8).

      Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me” (John 15:5).

      Jesus said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain” (John 15:16).

      Jesus said, “You’ll recognize them by their fruit… every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit” (Matthew 7:16-17).

      Disciples bear fruit – that is success. One last word from my blogger friend: “Fruit comes from abiding; success comes from striving. One is done to impress others, the other to bless others.”

      Go abide, bear fruit, and bless somebody.

      Kent Landhuis
      Pastor of Teaching & Leadership

      Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry or learn something new? Let Kent know.

        Holiday, News, Worship

        Ash Wednesday 2026

        Join us for Ash Wednesday at Cedar Hills –February 18. A meal will be served 5:15pm-6:15pm, with a short reflective worship service at 6:30pm.

        We will sing, reflect and receive the traditional mark of ash on our foreheads.

        We’ll continue to meet Wednesday nights for the season of Lent and will be studying the Sermon on the Mount.   Weekly meals 5:15-6:15pm with the worship service at 6:30pm.

        It helps us prepare if you can kindly RSVP to the meal on the weekly bulletin response.

        The Wednesday Prayer meeting will move from being online, to in person and will start immediately after these services, around 7:05pm and meet in the Resource Center.

        Thanksgiving

        Thanksgiving Eve

        We like to celebrate Thanksgiving together the day before with a service of thanks and praise. This service is in the Gathering Space and family-friendly. We’ll sing, celebrate communion, and remember the reason why we give thanks!

        Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 6:30pm
        in the Gathering Space

        There is lots of space for families and kids to move around at this service.  It is generally light-hearted and multi-generational.

        Bible, Connection, Encouragement, News, Prayer

        Reading the Bible 2025

        The New Testament readings start Oct. 1!

        If you want to join in our journey of reading through the Bible in 2025, joining at the New Testament point is a great spot!

        Readings are a few chapters every day, followed by an awesome podcast from the Bible Recap to help you understand what you just read.

        JOIN THE CEDAR HILLS NEW TESTAMENT GROUP

        If you are already a part of the group reading through the entire Bible this year, you do not need to join the New Testament group.

         

        Easter, Lent, News

        Maundy Thursday at Cedar Hills

        MIDWEEK SERVICES – On Wednesday nights until Easter (except for the week of Maundy Thursday) we have midweek worship services at 6:30pm.  These will run approximately 30 minutes with a meal beforehand.   There is also a meal served prior to the service 5:15-6:15pm.  Please kindly RSVP weekly to the office or on the bulletin response if you plan to attend the meal.

        MAUNDY THURSDAY – Thursday, April 17 at 6:30pm we will meet for worship to look at the last hours of Jesus’ life, worship and celebrate the Last Supper by taking communion.  This service will run approximately 40 minutes. Dinner served prior 5:15-6:16pm.  RSVP on the bulletin response.

        EASTER WORSHIP – Sunday, April 20 at 8:30am & 11am.  The 8:30am service will feature the traditional Easter hymns with choir and organ. The 11am service is modern worship.  There will be no Sunday classes on Easter Sunday.  Special kids’ Easter activities at 9:45am (including an egg hunt!)

        Advent

        Know What You Believe and Why You Believe It!

        Know What You Believe and Why You Believe It!

        At the start of the new year we like to embark on new quests. (Resolutions!) Did you know that in the Church calendar the first Sunday of Advent starts the new year? So, what’s your resolution?

        Mine is to know God more. I’m using three tools on my quest:

        1. I’m using A Little Book on the Christian Life by John Calvin as a devotional guide.
        2. I’m pursuing Unexpected Encounters with God each Sunday in our worship services.
        3. I’m planning to complete the Bible Recap in 2025.

        We are the kind of people who know what we believe and why we believe it. I am hoping that in the next year I will know God better than ever before. How about you?

        The Lord be with you,

        Kent Landhuis
        Pastor of Teaching & Leadership

        P.S. If you want to join the Bible Recap through the Bible App click here.

        Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry or learn something new? Let Kent know.

          Cedar Blog

          Who is in? Who is Out? Us or Them?

          Who is in? Who is Out? Us or Them?

          “Politics depends on the recognition of outsiders, yet the Christian church sees all people as potential members, indeed potential saints.”                       ~ Matthew Rose

          Everyone agrees that we live in a polarized and divided world. One reason for this is that we define people (mostly) by their political views. Countries, cities, neighborhoods, churches – even families – have been sharply divided about public policies (and politicians).

          Have you ever considered that Christianity offers the greatest hope for overcoming this division? We offer hope because we welcome all people regardless of race or background or political views. We offer hope because we serve God as a higher and greater authority than any worldly power.

          We who were once outsiders have been brought in. We are now family – sisters and brothers. And we invite everyone into the family. Everyone can be in.

          We just endured an intense election season and now we enter a season of change in government leadership and political philosophy. This shift may be a source of sorrow or celebration depending on your politics. But we all can celebrate (regardless of who wins any election in the present or future) because we have the hope of unity in a world trying to pit insiders against outsiders.

          We are ambassadors from another kingdom inviting others in. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their sins against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

          The Lord be with you!

          Kent Landhuis
          Pastor of Teaching & Leadership

          Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry or learn something new? Let Kent know.