Go! And Be a Community that Loves Jesus
Introduction: What Defines a Loving Community?
What makes a community truly loving? Is it shared interests? Mutual respect? A common goal? Or is it something deeper—something eternal?
The Bible reveals that true, enduring love is rooted in one person: Jesus Christ. Without Him, love is shallow and temporary. With Him, love is powerful, life-transforming, and world-changing.
Today, we explore what it means to be “A Community that Loves Jesus.” This isn’t just about warm feelings or polite handshakes—it’s about a deep, sacrificial, Christ-centred love that flows from Jesus into us and then through us into the world.
John 15:9–17 (NLT): “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.
I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.
You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
This is my command: Love each other.”
Here, Jesus speaks just before His arrest and crucifixion. He calls His disciples to remain (meno, Greek: “to abide, stay, continue”) in His love. This isn’t passive—it’s active obedience rooted in His example of laying down His life.
Agape (Greek): sacrificial, self-giving love. This is not sentiment—it’s action.
The love we are called to as a community is not manufactured; it is received. Jesus loves us as the Father loves Him—perfectly, completely, eternally. Our love for one another is the overflow of His love for us.
1. A Community that Loves Jesus is Devoted (Acts 2:42–47)
“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer… All the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had… They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”
The early church wasn’t casual—it was devoted (proskartereo, Greek: “to persist, to be steadfast”). They prioritised Scripture, fellowship, worship, and generosity.
John Piper says, “Love for Jesus is not proved by words but by a life that makes much of Him.”
Commentary: Their devotion was visible. Our community should reflect this kind of persistent, Christ-centred living.
Think of a campfire. The fire burns bright when logs are close together, feeding off one another’s heat. But pull a log away, and it smoulders. In the same way, a loving Christian community stays together—fanning the flame of faith.
2. A Community that Loves Jesus is Rooted in Christ’s Love (Ephesians 3:14–21)
“Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong… May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
Paul’s prayer is that believers be rooted (rhizoo, Greek: “to be firmly fixed”) in Christ’s love. Our stability as a community comes from knowing, experiencing, and expressing His love.
Max Lucado wrote, “God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus.”
A community that loves Jesus is constantly being shaped into His likeness.
A tree’s strength is unseen—it lies in the roots. Likewise, our unseen dependence on Christ fuels visible fruit.
3. A Community that Loves Jesus Lives Out Love (Colossians 3:12–17)
“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience… Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.”
The phrase “clothe yourselves” (enduo, Greek: “to put on as a garment”) is intentional—it means we choose daily to wear Christlike virtues.
Charles Stanley once said, “Obedience is the lifeblood of love.”
Love is not just felt—it’s acted out in mercy, kindness, and forgiveness.
In 21st-century Britain, where individualism often overshadows community, this means making space for one another: listening, helping, forgiving.
4. A Community that Loves Jesus is Humble and Serves (Philippians 2:1–11)
“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had… he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
The ultimate picture of love is Jesus, who though equal with God, humbled Himself to serve.
Tim Keller said, “The essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or less of myself, it is thinking of myself less.”
Loving Jesus means following His example—serving one another with humility.
5. A Community that Loves Jesus Keeps Its First Love (Revelation 2:1–7)
“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me…”
Jesus calls the church in Ephesus to repent (metanoeo, Greek: “to change one’s mind and turn”) and return to their first love.
A loving community continually renews its passion for Christ—not just routine, but relationship.
Gospel Presentation: The Foundation of Love
How can we love like this? Only because Jesus first loved us.
He came, lived the perfect life we could not live, died the death we deserved, and rose again to give us new life.
Romans 5:8 (NLT): “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
This is the heart of the Gospel: repent of your sin, trust in Jesus as Lord and Saviour, and receive His love.
Call to Action:
Will you remain in His love?
Will you forgive that person who has hurt you?
Will you serve without expecting reward?
Will you open your home, your table, your life to others?
A loving community is not built on convenience but on Christlike commitment.
Invitation to Salvation:
If you have never truly received the love of Jesus, this is your moment. Turn from your sin. Believe in His death and resurrection. Confess Him as Lord. Today, you can begin a life of love that never ends.
Benediction:
“May the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12 NLT)
Go! And be a community that loves Jesus—by remaining in His love, by showing His love, and by proclaiming His love.
