Love Is The Mission

Love is the Mission

Let’s read our Church Mission Statement:

Our Mission:

To Live by Faith,

To be a Voice of Hope,

To be Known by Love,

And a Place of Healing.

Key Verse: John 13:34-35 (NKJV)

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Introduction: Searching for Love in All the Wrong Places

Good evening, church!

Let me ask you a serious question: Have you ever been hit in the face with love?

Now, before you think I'm talking about something romantic—like those Hallmark movie moments where two people accidentally bump into each other, spill their coffee, and suddenly fall in love—I'm talking about real love. The kind of love that makes a difference.

Some of y'all walked in tonight not realizing you passed through a wall of love. Somebody probably greeted you. Somebody smiled at you. Maybe somebody even hugged you—whether you wanted them to or not. (Some of you are huggers, and some of you are not—and that’s okay!)

But let’s be honest—sometimes love is hard to recognize. Some of us grew up in homes where love wasn’t always obvious. Some of us were bullied at school, left out, or hurt by people who were supposed to love us. And some of us might be surrounded by love right now—but we still feel unloved.

What is Love? (And No, I'm Not Singing the Song)

Our world is confused about love. We think love is a feeling. We believe love is what we see in the movies—slow-motion moments, fireworks, and grand gestures. But real love isn’t just a feeling, it’s a choice.

1 John 3:16 says:

"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers."

Love is sacrifice. Love is action. Love is what Jesus did for us.

Love is cooking a meal for someone who’s hurting.

Love is calling someone just to check in, even when your schedule is full.

Love is choosing not to say, “I told you so,” even when you totally told them so.

Love is forgiving even when the other person doesn’t deserve it.

Love is a Mission, Not an Emotion

Our mission isn’t to feel love, it’s to live love. That’s why the church exists! Jesus didn’t call us to be a social club or a self-improvement seminar—He called us to be a family on a mission. And what is that mission?

Jesus said in John 13:35:

"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

The world won’t know we’re Christians because we carry a Bible.

They won’t know we’re Christians because we have a bumper sticker that says, “Honk if you love Jesus.”

They will know we’re Christians because of our love.

1. Love Originates from God

• 1 John 4:7-8 – "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."

• Romans 5:8 – "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." If God demonstrates His Love by dying, how do we demonstrate our Love?

• Jeremiah 31:3 – "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued my faithfulness to you."

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2. Love is a Choice and an Action

• 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

• Colossians 3:14 – "And above all these, put-on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

• Ephesians 5:2 – "And Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

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3. Love Overcomes Fear & Builds Unity

• 1 John 4:18 – "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."

• Romans 13:10 – "Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law."

• Philippians 2:2-3 – 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,