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,
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4. Love is Our Mission & the Mark of a True Believer
• John 15:12-13 – 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
• Matthew 22:37-39 – " 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
• Galatians 5:13-14 – " 13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
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5. Love in Action—Practical Application
• Hebrews 10:24 – "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." How do you spur one another to good deeds?
• James 2:15-17 – " 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
• 1 Peter 4:8 – "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."
Love is What Sets Us Apart
Think about the early church. They didn’t have fancy buildings, big budgets, or social media. But they had love.
Acts 2:44-47 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. How can God NOT add to the church daily, is we are Loving like God!
These verses tell us they shared everything they had, cared for each other, and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. And guess what? The church exploded! Why? Because love attracts.
Love is contagious. Love draws people in. Love transforms lives.
People don’t just need another sermon; they need to see love in action.
People don’t just need a handshake; they need a family.
People don’t just need a message; they need a mission.
How Do We Love Like Jesus?
1. Start With One Person.
You don’t have to love the whole world—start with one person. Pick someone today and ask, "How can I show them love this week?"
2. Love When It’s Inconvenient.
Love isn’t about what’s easy, it’s about choosing to love even when we don’t feel like it.
3. Love Beyond the Church Walls.
It’s easy to love people inside the church, but Jesus calls us to love the broken, the outcasts, and even our enemies.
Jesus didn’t just say, “Love your friends.” He said, “Love your enemies.” (Matthew 5:44-45 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.)
I know—that’s hard! Some of you are thinking, "Pastor, I don’t even like my coworkers. You want me to love them?"
Yes. Because Jesus loved us when we were unlovable.
Closing Invitation: Have You Experienced This Love?
Some of you have been searching for love your whole life. You’ve looked for it in relationships, success, and approval. But today, I want to tell you—real love is found in Jesus Christ.
1 John 4:9-10 says:
9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
God loved you first.
God chose you first.
God gave everything for you.
So today, if you’ve never experienced that kind of love, I invite you to come to Jesus.
If you’ve felt unloved, God wants to fill you with His love.
If you’ve been holding back love, God wants to release His love through you.
Prayer:
"Lord, thank You for loving us first. Help us to live out Your love every day. Fill us with Your Spirit so that our love overflows like a fountain, not a stagnant pond. Teach us to love like You. In Jesus’ name, Amen."
Call to Action:
Before you leave today, find one person you can show love to. Maybe it’s a word of encouragement, a prayer, or just a simple hug (with permission, of course).
Because church, love is our mission.
