Being the Church: Love as Our Witness
Summary
To know Christ and to make Him known is not just a slogan, but the very heartbeat of what it means to be the church. This calling is not about attending a building or participating in a weekly event, but about embodying the life and love of Jesus together as His people. We are not simply individuals on a spiritual journey; we are a family, a body, a community formed and shaped by the Spirit to reflect the character of Christ to the world around us. The church exists not for itself, but for those who are not yet part of it, and our greatest witness is the way we love one another.
God is stirring something new in His church, teaching us to move from “going to church” to “being the church.” This shift requires us to see ourselves as the living, breathing body of Christ, each with a unique and essential role. The New Testament is filled with reminders that our identity is found in being part of God’s family, and that our transformation into Christlikeness is both personal and collective. As we are changed by the Spirit, our love for one another becomes the clearest evidence of God’s presence among us.
Yet, this call to love is not without its challenges. Our humanity often gets in the way—gossip, favoritism, and division can creep in, even among those who follow Jesus. But the command to love is not optional; it is central to our identity and mission. The world will know who Jesus is by the way we love each other. This love is not abstract or theoretical—it is practical, relational, and sometimes costly. It means truly knowing one another, being present, vulnerable, and committed, even when it’s difficult.
The image of the church as a body reminds us that every person matters, whether their role is visible or hidden. When one part suffers, all suffer; when one part flourishes, all rejoice. Our unity and mutual care are not just ideals, but the very means by which God makes Himself known. As we grow in love, we become a community through which Jesus is revealed to our neighbors, inviting them to experience the love of God for themselves.
Key Takeaways
- The church is not a building or an event, but a people called to embody the life and love of Jesus together. Our identity is rooted in being God’s family, and our purpose is to reflect Christ to the world, especially to those who do not yet know Him. This requires a shift from attending church to being the church in every aspect of life. [37:54]
- God’s mission is for a great harvest, and He has positioned us perfectly—sometimes in ways we did not plan—to reach those around us. The presence of new neighbors or changing circumstances is not accidental, but an opportunity to introduce others to Jesus through our love and witness. We are called to see people as Jesus sees them: beloved and ready for encounter. [36:14]
- Becoming like Jesus is a collective journey. The Spirit forms us together into Christ’s image, so that when people encounter our community, they encounter the character and nature of God. This transformation is not just for our own sake, but so that God’s love becomes visible and tangible to the world through us. [40:53]
- The greatest evidence of God’s reality is the way we love one another. Love is not an optional extra, but the defining mark of Jesus’ disciples. When we love each other well—across differences, through challenges, and with genuine care—we reveal God’s heart and invite others to discover Him. [50:42]
- True love in community requires intentionality, vulnerability, and presence. We cannot love those we do not know, or with whom we do not share life. Each person has a vital role, whether seen or unseen, and our unity as a body is both a gift and a responsibility. As we invest in one another, we become the kind of community that makes Christ known in our city. [57:18]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[34:24] - To Know Christ and Make Him Known
[35:18] - The Fields Are Ripe for Harvest
[36:14] - God’s Mission and Our Position
[37:54] - Learning to Be the Church
[40:53] - Becoming Like Jesus Together
[46:54] - The Tension of Loving Community
[48:25] - The “One Another” Commands
[49:50] - Love as Evangelism
[50:42] - The Command to Love Fellow Believers
[52:03] - Discipleship: Becoming Like the Rabbi
[53:29] - Love Reveals Jesus to the World
[55:49] - The Challenge of Knowing and Loving Each Other
[57:18] - The Body: Every Part Matters
[59:58] - From Private Faith to Shared Identity
[01:02:05] - Impacting the Community Through Love
[01:03:24] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: “To Know Christ and Make Him Known”
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### Bible Reading
1 John 4:11-12, 19-21 (ESV)
> 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
> 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
> ...
> 19 We love because he first loved us.
> 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
> 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
John 13:34-35 (ESV)
> 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
> 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
1 Corinthians 12:24b-27 (ESV)
> 24 ...But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,
> 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
> 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
> 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
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### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 John 4, what is the connection between God’s love for us and our love for one another?
2. In John 13, what does Jesus say will show the world that we are his disciples?
3. How does Paul describe the church in 1 Corinthians 12, and what does he say happens when one part suffers or flourishes?
4. The sermon says, “The church is not a building or an event, but a people called to embody the life and love of Jesus together.” What are some of the images used in the sermon to describe the church? [[37:54]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does John say that loving one another is evidence of God’s presence among us? What does it mean for God’s love to be “perfected” in us?
2. Jesus says that our love for one another will prove to the world that we are his disciples. Why do you think love is such a powerful witness, especially in today’s world? [[50:42]]
3. The sermon mentions that the church exists not for itself, but for those who are not yet part of it. How does this challenge the way we usually think about church? [[37:54]]
4. Paul’s image of the church as a body means every person matters, whether their role is visible or hidden. What are some ways this truth can change how we see ourselves and others in the church? [[57:18]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon challenges us to move from “going to church” to “being the church.” What is one practical way you could shift your mindset or habits this week to live this out? [[37:54]]
2. Think about your current relationships within the church. Is there someone you don’t really know, or someone you tend to avoid? What would it look like to take a step toward knowing and loving them? [[55:49]]
3. The sermon talks about gossip, favoritism, and division creeping into church life. Are there any of these issues you’ve seen or experienced? How can you personally help create a more loving and unified community? [[46:54]]
4. Jesus says that loving one another is not optional, but a command. Is there a specific way you feel challenged to show love to a fellow believer this week, even if it’s costly or uncomfortable? [[50:42]]
5. The image of the body means every role matters, even the hidden ones. What is one “hidden” way you can serve or encourage someone in the church this month? [[57:18]]
6. The sermon says God has positioned us perfectly to reach those around us, sometimes in ways we did not plan. Who is one “neighbor” (literal or figurative) you sense God might be inviting you to love or reach out to? [[36:14]]
7. The speaker shared that for years he saw his faith as private, but now sees it as shared and communal. How do you see your faith—more private or more shared? What is one step you could take to make your faith more connected to the church family? [[59:58]]
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Close in prayer, asking God to help your group embody the love of Jesus in practical ways this week.
Devotional
Day 1: The Church Exists to Know Christ and Make Him Known
The true calling of the church is not simply to gather or attend, but to be a community that knows Jesus deeply and actively makes Him known to others. This means recognizing that God has placed us in our unique context—surrounded by neighbors, students, and new residents—not by accident, but for the purpose of sharing Christ’s love and message. As we open our eyes to the opportunities around us, we are invited to participate in God’s mission, trusting that He has prepared hearts for a spiritual harvest. Our role is to be obedient, to see people as beloved by God, and to introduce them to Jesus through our words and actions. [36:14]
John 4:35-38 (ESV)
"Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."
Reflection: Who is one person in your immediate neighborhood or daily environment that you sense God may be inviting you to reach out to or pray for this week?
Day 2: Becoming Like Christ Together
God’s purpose for His people is that we are transformed, both individually and collectively, into the likeness of Jesus. This transformation is not just a personal journey but a shared one, as the Spirit shapes our character and our community to reflect Christ’s nature. As we grow in Christlikeness, our lives together become a living testimony of God’s love and holiness to the world. The call is to put on our new nature, to be renewed, and to let Christ be seen in us—not just for our own sake, but so that others may encounter God through our community. [40:53]
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)
"So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image."
Reflection: In what area of your character do you sense God inviting you to grow so that others might see more of Jesus in you?
Day 3: Love One Another as the Mark of the Church
The defining characteristic of the church must be love—love that is visible, tangible, and rooted in God’s own love for us. This love is not optional or dependent on our feelings; it is a direct command from God and the very means by which He is made known to the world. When we love one another well, God’s love is brought to full expression in us, and people around us begin to see what God is truly like. Even when our humanity gets in the way, we are called to pursue love, knowing that it is the most powerful witness we can offer. [50:42]
1 John 4:11-12, 19-21 (NLT)
"Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us... We love each other because he loved us first. If someone says, 'I love God,' but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers."
Reflection: Is there someone in your church community you find difficult to love? What is one step you can take this week to show them Christlike love?
Day 4: Being the Body—Every Part Matters
The church is not a building or a meeting, but a living body where every member is essential and interconnected. Just as each part of the human body has a unique role and value, so too does every person in the church. When one part suffers, all suffer; when one flourishes, all rejoice. Embracing this reality means valuing every person, seen or unseen, and recognizing that our health as a community depends on each of us playing our part. No role is insignificant, and together we reflect Christ to the world. [57:18]
1 Corinthians 12:21-27 (The Message)
"The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don’t need you!' Nor, again, the head to the feet, 'I don’t need you!' On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those parts of the body that we think less honorable we treat with special honor... If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance. You are Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this."
Reflection: What unique gift, role, or presence do you bring to your church body, and how can you offer it more fully for the good of the whole?
Day 5: Living Out Our Identity as God’s Family
Our Christian faith is not just a private matter; it is a new identity as part of God’s family, called to love one another and make God known. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, adopted into His family, and placed together to display His love to the world. This identity changes how we see ourselves and each other, calling us to prioritize our spiritual family and to live in a way that reveals God’s love to those around us. When we love one another with the love God has given us, we make an eternal difference in our community. [01:00:43]
Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV)
"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."
Reflection: How might you intentionally invest in deeper relationships with your church family this week, so that together you can more fully reflect God’s love to your wider community?
Quotes
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