Active Love: The Call to Serve Others

Today’s focus is on the call to serve—both as a spiritual discipline and as the very heart of the Christian life. Drawing from the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10, the invitation is to move beyond passive goodness into active, sacrificial love. The story Jesus tells is not just a moral lesson, but a radical redefinition of what it means to live the “good life.” The abundant, flourishing life that God intends is found not in self-preservation or comfort, but in loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves. These two loves are inseparable; to love God is to love those around us, even when it is costly, inconvenient, or uncomfortable.

The parable disrupts our assumptions about who is worthy of our love and service. Jesus deliberately chooses a Samaritan—the cultural and religious outsider, even enemy—to be the hero, showing that true love crosses boundaries of prejudice and history. The Samaritan’s love is not based on emotion or affinity, but on action. He stops, tends wounds, spends his resources, and risks his own safety. This is the kind of love Jesus commands: not a feeling, but a verb; not mere tolerance, but costly, self-giving service.

This call to serve is not just for the “super spiritual” or those who feel especially qualified. In fact, God delights to use our weaknesses and imperfections. Like the cracked pot in the story, our flaws can become channels of unexpected beauty and blessing when we offer ourselves in service. The church is one practical context for this kind of love, but the vision is much broader: our whole lives are to become offerings, poured out for others in our families, workplaces, and communities.

Yet, there is wisdom in boundaries. Service should not become burnout or manipulation. Healthy self-care is necessary—not as an end in itself, but so that we can sustain a life of love. The promise of Jesus stands in stark contrast to the messages of our culture: “It is better to give than to receive.” In a world that tells us happiness is found in getting, Jesus insists that true joy is found in giving ourselves away. As we do, the beauty God has placed within us is released, and we become part of His redemptive work in the world.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Love is inseparable from action. Jesus redefines love not as a passive feeling or mere avoidance of harm, but as active, sacrificial service to others. The Good Samaritan is commended not for his emotions, but for his willingness to cross boundaries, inconvenience himself, and meet real needs. True love is a verb, not a noun—it is something we do, not just something we feel. [15:34]
• 2. Costly love is the path to abundant life. The way of Jesus is not the easy or comfortable path, but it is the way to the life we most deeply desire. Serving others will require time, resources, and sometimes even risk, but it is precisely in this costly love that we discover the richness and joy of the life God intends for us. The cross is not just a symbol of salvation, but a daily invitation to lay down our lives for others. [20:11]
• 3. Healthy boundaries enable sustainable service. While the call to serve is high, it is not a call to exhaustion or self-neglect. Jesus Himself modeled rhythms of self-care—retreating for rest and prayer—so that He could continue to give Himself in love. Self-care is not selfishness when it equips us to serve others over the long haul; it is a necessary part of faithful discipleship. [21:23]
• 4. God uses our weaknesses and imperfections. The story of the cracked pot reminds us that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. Our flaws and limitations do not disqualify us from serving; in fact, they often become the very means by which God brings unexpected beauty and blessing to others. We are invited to offer ourselves as we are, trusting that God will use even our cracks for His glory. [37:23]
• 5. Giving leads to true joy and connection. In a culture saturated with messages that happiness comes from getting, Jesus insists that it is better to give than to receive. When we pour ourselves out in service—whether in the church, our families, or our communities—we not only bless others, but we ourselves are filled. Serving transforms us, connects us more deeply to others, and releases the beauty God has placed within us. [25:09]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:48] - The Question of Eternal Life
• [02:23] - The Good Samaritan Parable
• [04:52] - Parables That Disrupt
• [06:45] - What Is the Good Life?
• [07:58] - Love of God and Neighbor
• [10:08] - The Road from Jerusalem to Jericho
• [11:34] - The Offense of the Samaritan
• [14:24] - Love as Action, Not Emotion
• [18:01] - Costly, Not Comfortable Love
• [20:11] - Take Up Your Cross Daily
• [21:23] - Self-Care and Service
• [25:09] - The Beauty of Giving
• [28:47] - Serving in the Church
• [32:01] - Ministry Opportunities
• [35:08] - God Uses Our Cracks
• [37:23] - The Cracked Pot Story
• [38:30] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Reading

Luke 10:25-37 (ESV) — > And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
> But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
> Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’
> Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Observation Questions

1. In the parable, what actions did the Samaritan take that the priest and Levite did not? ([02:23])
2. According to Jesus, what is the connection between loving God and loving your neighbor? ([07:58])
3. What risks or costs did the Samaritan face by helping the injured man? ([18:48])
4. How does Jesus define “neighbor” in this story? ([03:35])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus chose a Samaritan—someone considered an outsider and even an enemy—to be the hero of the story? What message was he sending to his listeners? ([12:57])
2. The sermon says that love is “a verb, not a noun”—something we do, not just something we feel. How does this challenge common ideas about love in our culture? ([15:34])
3. The pastor mentioned that serving others can be costly, inconvenient, or even risky. Why does Jesus call his followers to this kind of love instead of just being “nice” or avoiding harm? ([20:11])
4. The story of the cracked pot was shared to illustrate how God uses our weaknesses. How might our flaws actually become a blessing to others when we serve? ([37:23])

Application Questions

1. The Samaritan stopped, used his resources, and risked his own safety to help someone in need. Can you think of a time when you felt prompted to help someone, but it was inconvenient or uncomfortable? What did you do? ([18:48])
2. The sermon said that “love is inseparable from action.” Is there someone in your life right now who needs more than just your good intentions or prayers—someone who needs you to take action? What could that look like this week? ([15:34])
3. Jesus modeled healthy boundaries by taking time to rest and pray. Are there areas in your life where you need to set better boundaries so you can serve others without burning out? What might that look like practically? ([21:23])
4. The world tells us that happiness comes from getting, but Jesus says, “It is better to give than to receive.” Where do you feel the tension between these two messages in your own life? How can you practice giving this week, even in a small way? ([25:09])
5. The story of the cracked pot reminds us that God can use our imperfections. Is there a weakness or flaw in your life that you feel disqualifies you from serving? How might God want to use that very thing for his purposes? ([37:23])
6. The sermon mentioned that serving in the church is one way to live out this call, but our whole lives are meant to be offerings. Where outside of church—at home, work, or in your community—do you sense God inviting you to serve? ([25:09])
7. If you have been hurt or burned out by serving in the past, what would it take for you to try again in a healthy way? Who could you talk to for support or accountability? ([28:47])