Pursue Authentic Relationships: The Call To Genuine Love, Discipleship, And Kingdom Community Series

Sermon 3:

Pursue Authentic Relationships

The Call to Genuine Love, Discipleship, and Kingdom Community

Key Texts:

• John 13:34–35

• Luke 10:25–37

• Acts 2:42–47

• 1 John 3:18

• Romans 12:9–13

Introduction: Authenticity Is the Heart of the Kingdom

We live in a world full of curated relationships—filtered, managed, and often shallow. Even in the church, it’s easy to smile, say “I’m good,” and walk away unchanged.

But Jesus didn’t call us to surface-level connection. He called us to authentic community.

Authentic relationships are marked by honesty, love, sacrifice, and intentionality. They are inconvenient, sometimes messy—but always powerful.

We cannot reflect Jesus to the world if we do not reflect Jesus to one another.

And that leads us again to the question we’ve been asking throughout this series:

Is this helping us reflect Jesus and reach others?

1. Love Like Jesus Loved (John 13:34–35)

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you… By this all men will know that you are My disciples…”

Jesus raised the bar on love.

Not just kindness. Not just politeness.

Cross-carrying, self-denying, foot-washing love.

This is not optional for believers. It is evidence of discipleship.

You can have the right doctrine, powerful preaching, and vibrant worship, but if love is missing, people won’t see Jesus.

So ask the question:

Is the way we interact helping us reflect Jesus and reach others?

2. The Samaritan Didn’t Just Feel Compassion—He Acted (Luke 10:25–37)

Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan not just to expose prejudice, but to reveal the true measure of love.

The priest and the Levite walked past the wounded man.

They were religious—but they weren’t relational.

They had position—but they lacked compassion.

The Samaritan did what they wouldn’t:

• He stopped.

• He bandaged wounds.

• He carried the man.

• He invested in healing.

Here’s the truth:

You can’t love like Jesus from a distance.

Love gets close. Love sees. Love stays.

Ask yourself: Are our relationships in the church defined by inconvenience or intentionality?

Are we walking around the wounded… or walking with them?

Is this helping us reflect Jesus and reach others?

3. The Early Church Didn’t Just Gather—They Shared Life (Acts 2:42–47)

“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer…”

“All the believers were together and had all things in common…”

The early Church wasn’t a Sunday event—it was a daily community.

They prayed together.

They ate together.

They gave sacrificially.

They lived life together.

And what was the result?

“The Lord added to their number daily…”

The early Church grew not just by preaching alone—but by demonstrating a new way of living.

People saw something different. Something real. Something attractive.

Authenticity became their apologetic.

Is our fellowship real enough to show people Jesus?

Is our community deep enough to draw in the hurting?

If not—it’s time to pursue something more.

4. Love in Action, Not Just Words (1 John 3:18)

“Let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”

Talk is cheap. Christian clichés don’t heal broken hearts.

Authentic relationships take action:

• Time.

• Listening ears.

• Shared burdens.

• Honest confession.

• Tangible support.

This is how the Kingdom becomes visible.

When we stop performing and start participating in each other’s lives, Jesus is revealed.

Is this helping us reflect Jesus and reach others?

5. Application: How to Cultivate Authentic Relationships

1. Drop the Masks

You can’t heal what you hide. Let others see the real you—struggles and all.

2. Be Interruptible

Real relationships aren’t convenient. Love chooses people over plans.

3. Commit to One Another

Discipleship is not a class—it’s a life. Walk with someone. Mentor someone. Be there.

4. Ask the Hard Questions Together

Are we growing in love?

Are we still showing up when it’s hard?

Is this helping us reflect Jesus and reach others?

Conclusion: A Church That Loves Will Be a Church That Leads

Jesus said the world would know us—not by how loud we preach, but how deeply we love.

Programs won’t transform lives.

Authentic relationships will.

If we want to be a place where lives are changed and the Gospel is visible, we have to be a people who:

• Welcome the messy.

• Walk with the broken.

• Love without agenda.

Because pure religion starts with pure love.

Let’s ask again: Is this helping us reflect Jesus and reach others?

If it is—it’s worth the cost.

If it’s not—it’s time to pursue something more real.

Closing Prayer

Father, teach us to love like You love.

Break the surface-level patterns in our hearts and bring us into deeper connection.

Show us who to walk with. Give us courage to be vulnerable.

Make us a community that reflects Jesus through real relationships.

In His name we pray, Amen.