Come and See: Love's Compelling Nature

Orchard Crest is urged to live out a love that draws people to Christ. The address sets everyday spiritual disciplines alongside clear, practical church life: take thoughts captive, repent, serve, and invite. Listeners are reminded that God is love—constant, accessible, and active—and that this love compels authentic community and outreach. Love is not merely a feeling but action: it leads to confession, to serving one another, and to welcoming strangers into shared life. The congregation is encouraged to root this love through Scripture meditation, daily repentance, and consistent fellowship so that personal renewal becomes communal witness.

The sermon weaves Scripture—2 Corinthians on strongholds, John on God’s love, Mark on servant leadership, and Ephesians on the dimensions of God’s love—into a steady pastoral push to choose Jesus daily. Practical rhythms are emphasized: marinate on a verse, watch for sin that trips believers up, and refuse to give the enemy footholds. Authenticity in worship and vulnerability in relationship are presented as magnetisms that younger generations especially notice; when the church shows real love, people come. Finally, the congregation is challenged to invite others not only to services but to meet the people and family that live out that love, making the church’s life a credible invitation to the gospel.

---

Key Takeaways

• 1. God's love compels authentic outreach This love is a demonstrable force, not a slogan. When believers show unconditional, practical care—especially in dark or messy seasons—outsiders see the gospel embodied and are drawn to investigate. Loving actions in crisis and everyday life validate the claim that God is good and approachable. [40:46]
• 2. Christ's love leads to repentance Repentance is described as a change of mind and direction rooted in love, not shame. When the heart feels God’s compassionate call, confession becomes natural because sin interferes with intimate relationship. Genuine repentance restores community and frees people from patterns that entangle. [56:26]
• 3. Take every thought captive Spiritual warfare begins in the mind; believers are given responsibility and a means to fight—bringing thoughts under Christ’s authority. This discipline is daily and ongoing, confronting lies and dismantling idols so that behavior follows renewed thinking. Practiced consistently, it undermines strongholds and opens the way for lasting change. [30:12]
• 4. Marinate on Scripture weekly Choose a short passage, pray over it, and let it saturate daily life until it roots deep. Repeated reading, memorization, and meditation form the soil for obedience, compassion, and wisdom in real situations. Scripture that dwells within reshapes responses long before circumstances change. [68:14]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [05:33] - Opening & greetings
• [07:07] - Honduras trip information
• [08:21] - Baptism & Connect Nights announced
• [10:41] - Hope Connect and signups
• [13:16] - Corporate prayer
• [17:20] - Offering and scripture reading
• [29:07] - Breaking mental strongholds
• [40:46] - Love's Compelling Nature introduced
• [49:45] - Authentic love: service and witness
• [68:14] - Practice Scripture: marinate deeply
• [75:14] - Invitation, altar call, closing
• [79:13] - Blessing and dismissal

Bible reading

Ephesians 3:14–19 (ESV)
"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 (ESV)
"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ."

John 13:34–35 (ESV)
"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. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Observation questions

1. According to Ephesians 3:17-19, what are the four dimensions of Christ's love that we are called to comprehend, and what is the ultimate result of knowing this love?
2. In 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, what are the weapons of our warfare capable of doing, and what specific action are we told to take regarding our thoughts? [30:12]
3. Based on John 13:34-35, what is the standard we are given for how to love one another, and what will the world conclude when they see this love in action? [46:03]

Interpretation questions

1. To "comprehend" or "apprehend" God’s love involves a "bear hug" or a "grip" where we hold on tight and don't let go. Why is it necessary to actively "grip" the truth of God's love rather than just knowing it as a fact? [01:05:37]
2. Repentance is often misunderstood as a feeling of shame, but it is actually a "change of mind" or "change of direction." How does a heart that is convinced of God’s unconditional love find it easier to repent and confess sin? [29:07]
3. Jesus teaches that greatness in His kingdom is found in being a "servant" or a "slave to all." How does this model of leadership serve as a "ransom" or a witness to those who are used to the "tyrants" and "rulers" of the world? [50:20]

Application questions

1. Spiritual warfare often involves "vines" or "stringy plants" in our minds that cause us to trip and fall just when we think we are running well. What are some specific thoughts or lies that have been "entangling" you lately, and how can you take them captive today? [58:08]
2. Taking every thought captive is an "everyday thing" because new chains can try to wrap around us even after old ones fall off. What is one practical way you can discipline your mind this week to bring your "imaginations" under the authority of Jesus? [30:37]
3. To truly get the "good stuff" of the Word into our lives, we have to "marinate" on it. If you were to pick one short passage of Scripture to meditate on three or four times a day this week, which one would it be? [01:08:41]
4. Authentic love is a "magnetism" that younger generations and outsiders are drawn to when they see people being "real" and "transparent." Is there a "mask" you’ve been wearing lately that prevents others from seeing the authentic work God is doing in your life? [48:26]
5. Inviting someone to "come and see" is often about inviting them to "meet the family" and see how we interact. Who is one person in your life—a neighbor, a friend, or a coworker—that you could invite into your "shared life" or a church fellowship this month? [01:14:35]
6. When following God or serving the church starts to feel like a "burden" or makes us "moan and groan," it is usually a heart issue rather than a people issue. If you feel that resistance right now, how can you ask the Holy Spirit to refresh your "abundance of joy" this week? [01:03:15]