The sermon calls us to embody Christ’s selfless love in everyday actions, making His love visible through unity, humility, forgiveness, and patient care for one another.
Good morning, dear friends. If your week felt hurried and your heart feels thin, you’re in the right place. Take a breath. Set your shoulders down. Imagine the Savior kneeling with a towel at His waist, looking into the eyes of people who would soon scatter, and speaking a command as tender as it is transforming: love one another. That’s our invitation today—an everyday, every-home, every-heart love that lifts the lonely, stitches up the frayed, and points our weary world to Jesus.
Love shows up in shoe-tying and sink-scrubbing, in kind words and quiet prayers, in patience at the traffic light and gentleness at the dinner table. It is the story we’re meant to tell with our lives. When Jesus speaks of love, He isn’t handing us a slogan for a bumper sticker. He is handing us His heart. He’s giving us His way. He’s offering us power to do what people can’t pull off alone.
Timothy Keller said it this way: “To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God.” —Timothy Keller, The Meaning of Marriage
Isn’t that what your soul craves? To be fully known and truly loved—by God and by His people. Think about the last time someone loved you through a hard day. A text that said, “I’m with you.” A meal left on the porch. A hug in a hallway. Those small seeds grow into forests of hope. And think about the last time you offered love that cost you. The Spirit smiled, didn’t He? Because that is the family resemblance of the children of God.
Today, we will hear Jesus call us to love one another as He loves us; we will ask Him to teach us a humble, patient, peace-making unity; and we will open our hands to extend and receive forgiveness with a love that keeps showing up. Before we pray, let’s receive the word of the Lord together.
Scripture Reading (KJV)
John 13:34–35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
Ephesians 4:2–3 “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
Friends, do you hear the heartbeat in these verses? Jesus doesn’t hand us a ladder to climb; He hands us love to carry and share. He paints love in sturdy colors: patience when tempers flare, kindness when criticism comes easy, humility when self is loud, perseverance when problems linger. This is love with work boots and wash basins, sleeves rolled, hands ready.
Picture our church family as a table set by grace. There’s a chair for the joyful and the grieving, for the confident and the unsure, for the long-timer and the newcomer. How will people recognize who set this table? Jesus tells us plainly: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” The badge of believers is love. The aroma in the room is peace. The conversation is seasoned with patience. The rhythm is unity. And even when wounds feel tender and memories sting, forgiving love keeps going—bearing, believing, hoping, enduring.
So, let’s draw near to the One who kneels to wash and stands to bless. Let’s welcome His words deep into our lives. And let’s ask Him to make our love visible, audible, tangible—at home, at work, at school, in the quiet places and the crowded ones. He is ready. Are we willing?
Opening Prayer
Father, we come to You with open hands and hopeful hearts. Thank You for loving us fully, faithfully, and first. Lord Jesus, You have loved us to the uttermost; teach us to love one another as You have loved us. Holy Spirit, shape in us lowliness and meekness, patience and peace. Heal places in us that are tired or torn. Where there is friction, pour Your oil of unity. Where there is hurt, grow the courage to forgive and the grace to receive forgiveness.
Let Your word take root and bear fruit. Give us ears to hear, hearts to trust, and hands ready to serve. Make our church a living witness that points to Jesus—love that is patient, kind, humble, enduring. May our homes be sanctuaries of gentle speech, our friendships fountains of encouragement, and our neighborhoods fields where Your mercy flourishes.
We offer You our thoughts, our words, and our wills today. Lead us, Lord. We are listening. In the strong name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
When Jesus speaks these words, He is giving shape to our life together. Love is not a mood we wait for. It is a choice we make because of who He is and what He has done. He sets the measure with His own life. He shows us what love looks like among friends who still have rough edges, questions, and fears. He gives a pattern we can follow in every room and every day.
Think about the way He drew near to people. He called them by name. He noticed hunger, worry, shame, and loneliness. He moved toward needs with gentle hands and steady care. He did not wait for people to earn it. He walked toward them with help and hope. This is how love moves in a church family. First steps. Small steps. Real steps.
His love carries patience. The disciples took time to understand Him. They argued. They stumbled. He stayed with them. He taught again. He prayed for them. He gave them space to grow and the grace to begin again. That same patience makes room for slow change in us and in those beside us. It makes room for late apologies, fresh starts, and quiet growth.
His love holds truth. He spoke words that healed and words that corrected. He warned Peter and comforted John. He faced sin with mercy and with clarity. Love like this does not flatter. It tells the truth in a way that guards dignity and invites life. It seeks what is good for the other person. It keeps the door open.
“A new commandment I give unto you.” Those words carry authority and tenderness. Jesus does not leave love undefined. “As I have loved you.” Look at His towel and basin in the upper room. The Master kneels and serves. He takes the lowest place and gives honor to others. That scene is not a story for a wall plaque. It is the pattern for our habits. Take the task that no one wants. Offer help before you are asked. Meet needs that feel beneath you. Treat each person as worth your time. Let love choose humility without a spotlight. Let it be the quiet way you handle status, schedule, and interruptions.
“As I have loved you” also points toward the cross. Love bears cost. Love lays down pride, comfort, and preference for the good of another. Jesus forgave those who failed Him. He carried our sin and shame. That same grace must seep into our words and into our choices. Forgive quickly and fully. Remember how much you have been forgiven. Carry burdens that are heavy for your brother or sister. Love keeps going when it is hard. It believes God is at work in hidden places. It keeps hope alive during long nights. It endures storms without letting go of the one in the boat with you.
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples.” Jesus ties our witness to our life together. The world watches how we treat each other. People see how we handle disagreement, weakness, and need. They notice if we speak kindly about those who are not in the room. They see if we show up when someone is sick or scared. They pay attention to how we handle money, power, and praise. Visible care makes the message believable. Stay in hard conversations with calm voices. Give the benefit of the doubt. Refuse gossip and harsh tones. Share time and tables. Welcome those who feel on the edge. Let the love between us make the teaching about Jesus ring true.
“With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” These words give the feel of love inside a church. Lowliness means we do not demand the front seat. We choose the back seat with a quiet heart. Meekness brings strength under control. It is firm and gentle at the same time. Longsuffering stretches patience across weeks and months. It gives space for change without constant pressure. Forbearing means we carry each other’s quirks, histories, and habits. We do not keep a scorecard. We carry one another. Endeavouring shows effort. Unity does not keep itself. It takes prayers, apologies, plans, and follow-through. The bond of peace is like a cord that holds the family together. Tie that cord with daily choices: soft answers, shared service, honest talks, and steady prayers.
The words of Ephesians 4:2–3 set the pace ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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