Living Out Jesus' Command: Love One Another
Summary
### Summary
In the passage from John 13:34-35, Jesus gives His disciples a new commandment: to love one another as He has loved them. This commandment is not just a suggestion but a defining characteristic of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. The early church, known as "followers of the way," exemplified this commandment by living counter-culturally in a society filled with hostility and violence. They practiced love, peace, patience, kindness, and self-control, which made them stand out and attract others to the faith.
Fast forward 2,000 years, and many modern Christians have forgotten this simple yet profound command. Instead of loving one another, some have chosen to fight for their rights and elevate their own agendas. This has led to a negative perception of Christianity among non-believers. To address this, we are starting a new series called "One Another," focusing on the various "one another" commands in the New Testament. These commands, rooted in Jesus' original command to love one another, will guide us in how to live out our faith in community.
Over the next 12 weeks, we will explore these commands, understand why they are challenging to practice, and find practical ways to implement them. While many of us have already learned to love well, this series will serve as a review and a deeper dive into these essential aspects of Christian living. We will also address common resistances to practicing these commands, such as cultural individualism, fear of vulnerability, and busyness.
The Apostle Paul, in Romans 12, uses the metaphor of a body to describe the church. Just as a body has different parts with different functions, so does the church. Each member is essential, and we are all interconnected. To live out this reality, we must stay connected, discover our unique gifts, and move beyond just attending Sunday services to engaging in deeper relationships within the church community.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Command to Love One Another: Jesus' command to love one another is the cornerstone of Christian living. This love is not optional but a defining characteristic of being His disciple. It is through this love that the world will recognize us as followers of Christ. This command challenges us to live counter-culturally, embodying peace, patience, kindness, and self-control in a world filled with hostility and chaos. [01:38]
2. The Early Church's Example: The early followers of Jesus, known as "followers of the way," lived out this command in a radical way. They refused revenge, chose servanthood, and cared for one another, which made them stand out in their society. Their love and unity attracted many to the faith, showing the transformative power of living according to Jesus' teachings. [02:41]
3. Modern Challenges to Loving One Another: Today, many Christians have forgotten Jesus' simple command to love one another. Instead, they have embraced fighting for their rights and elevating their own agendas. This has led to a negative perception of Christianity. To counter this, we must return to the basics of loving one another as Jesus commanded. [05:23]
4. The Importance of Community: Paul’s metaphor of the church as a body in Romans 12 highlights the importance of each member. Just as a body needs all its parts to function properly, the church needs every member to use their unique gifts. This interconnectedness means that when one member suffers, the whole body suffers, and when one rejoices, all rejoice. [22:05]
5. Practical Steps to Live Out the Command: To live out the command to love one another, we must stay connected, discover our unique gifts, and engage in deeper relationships within the church. This involves moving beyond just attending Sunday services to actively participating in the life of the church through small groups, ministry teams, and other forms of community. [36:14]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:38] - Jesus' Command to Love
[02:41] - The Early Church's Counter-Cultural Love
[03:47] - Impact on Outsiders
[04:33] - Modern Christians' Struggles
[05:23] - Forgotten Ways of Jesus
[06:04] - Introduction to the Series
[07:09] - Wrestling with One Another Commands
[08:34] - Review and Deep Dive
[09:35] - One Anothering in the Early Church
[10:11] - Challenges of Sunday Morning Rows
[11:01] - Moving Beyond Sunday Mornings
[12:01] - Taking Next Steps
[14:31] - Cultural Individualism
[17:01] - Fear of Vulnerability
[18:23] - Busyness and Priorities
[21:06] - Romans 12: Members of One Another
[25:10] - The Body Metaphor
[27:24] - Importance of Each Member
[29:35] - Personalizing the Metaphor
[32:02] - Using Our Gifts
[36:14] - Staying Connected
[37:22] - Discovering Your Why
[38:40] - Moving Out of Rows
[39:27] - One Anothering One Another
[45:27] - Communion and Joy
[49:23] - Taking Communion Together
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 13:34-35
2. Romans 12:4-5
#### Observation Questions
1. What specific command does Jesus give to His disciples in John 13:34-35? How does He say the world will recognize His followers? [01:38]
2. How did the early church, known as "followers of the way," live out Jesus' command to love one another? What were some of their counter-cultural practices? [02:41]
3. According to the sermon, what are some modern challenges that prevent Christians from loving one another as Jesus commanded? [05:23]
4. In Romans 12:4-5, what metaphor does Paul use to describe the church, and what does this metaphor imply about the relationships among church members? [22:05]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus emphasized the command to love one another as a defining characteristic of His disciples? How does this command challenge cultural norms? [01:38]
2. Reflecting on the early church's example, why do you think their counter-cultural love and unity were so attractive to outsiders? [02:41]
3. How does the modern struggle to prioritize personal rights and agendas over Jesus' command to love one another affect the perception of Christianity today? [05:23]
4. What does Paul’s metaphor of the church as a body in Romans 12:4-5 teach us about the importance of each member's role and the interconnectedness of the church community? [22:05]
#### Application Questions
1. Jesus' command to love one another is clear and straightforward. What are some practical ways you can show love to fellow believers in your daily life? [01:38]
2. The early church lived out their faith in a way that was visibly different from the surrounding culture. What are some specific actions you can take to live counter-culturally in today's society? [02:41]
3. Modern challenges such as cultural individualism, fear of vulnerability, and busyness can hinder us from loving one another. Which of these challenges do you struggle with the most, and what steps can you take to overcome it? [14:31]
4. Paul’s metaphor of the church as a body highlights the importance of each member. What unique gifts or talents do you have, and how can you use them to serve your church community? [22:05]
5. The sermon emphasized the need to move beyond just attending Sunday services to engaging in deeper relationships within the church. What specific steps can you take to build deeper connections with others in your church community? [11:01]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt disconnected from your church community. What changes can you make to stay more connected and involved? [36:14]
7. The sermon mentioned the importance of inviting others into your circle. Who is someone you can invite to join you in a small group, ministry team, or other church activity this week? [13:38]
Devotional
Day 1: The Command to Love One Another
Jesus' command to love one another is the cornerstone of Christian living. This love is not optional but a defining characteristic of being His disciple. It is through this love that the world will recognize us as followers of Christ. This command challenges us to live counter-culturally, embodying peace, patience, kindness, and self-control in a world filled with hostility and chaos. [01:38]
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35, ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is difficult to love. How can you show them Christ-like love today, even if it feels counter-cultural or challenging?
Day 2: The Early Church's Example
The early followers of Jesus, known as "followers of the way," lived out this command in a radical way. They refused revenge, chose servanthood, and cared for one another, which made them stand out in their society. Their love and unity attracted many to the faith, showing the transformative power of living according to Jesus' teachings. [02:41]
"And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need." (Acts 2:44-45, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you witnessed or experienced radical love and unity within a community. How did it impact you, and how can you contribute to creating such a community in your church or neighborhood?
Day 3: Modern Challenges to Loving One Another
Today, many Christians have forgotten Jesus' simple command to love one another. Instead, they have embraced fighting for their rights and elevating their own agendas. This has led to a negative perception of Christianity. To counter this, we must return to the basics of loving one another as Jesus commanded. [05:23]
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3, ESV)
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you have prioritized your own rights or agenda over loving others. What steps can you take to realign your actions with Jesus' command to love one another?
Day 4: The Importance of Community
Paul’s metaphor of the church as a body in Romans 12 highlights the importance of each member. Just as a body needs all its parts to function properly, the church needs every member to use their unique gifts. This interconnectedness means that when one member suffers, the whole body suffers, and when one rejoices, all rejoice. [22:05]
"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." (1 Corinthians 12:12, ESV)
Reflection: Think about your unique gifts and how you can use them to serve your church community. How can you become more engaged and connected with others in your church?
Day 5: Practical Steps to Live Out the Command
To live out the command to love one another, we must stay connected, discover our unique gifts, and engage in deeper relationships within the church. This involves moving beyond just attending Sunday services to actively participating in the life of the church through small groups, ministry teams, and other forms of community. [36:14]
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take this week to deepen your relationships within your church community? Consider joining a small group, volunteering for a ministry team, or reaching out to someone you haven't connected with in a while.
Quotes
1. "This simple, direct, straightforward, no loopholes command to love one another became the secret sauce for the explosive growth of the world. The early church, those who would eventually become known as followers of the way, the way of Jesus, right? They lived differently. They lived differently from the culture around them. You see, in a culture filled with hostility, cruelty, violence, deception, betrayal, and chaos, Jesus' followers lived differently. They practiced love, which led them to live a life of peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, and self-control toward others." [02:41] (63 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Let's be honest. Many who would be considered followers of the way have forgotten the ways of Jesus. They have forgotten the promise of Jesus' words to his followers. They have forgotten the simple command to love one another. See, many have traded the call to love for a call to fight, to take up arms, as a call instead of laying down your rights, but to fight for their rights, to have their own agenda, to embrace their own ideologies, to elevate their own theological bent over the simple command." [04:33] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When we embrace an over-the-top sense of self and individualism, we lose out on the connection that God intends for us to have. The support, the strength that comes from one anothering one another. There's another reason why I think some of us are resistant. And that's this, the fear of vulnerability. The fear of vulnerability. Let's face it. Letting people into our lives can be scary because we know ourselves, right? There's parts of me that I don't want you to know about me and there's parts of you that I'm sure you don't want me to know about you." [16:35] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "If you consider Zionism, Zion, the body that you are part of, and I'm not talking about membership here. I'm just saying, this is where I'm at. This is the body that I consider myself to be a part of. When you don't function according to how God has gifted you, how he's wired you, the experiences and skill sets that you bring with you every single time that we gather, then we miss out. We miss out. I need you. You and you need me. We aren't whole as a body. If you consider yourself part of the body, but don't live as though you are a member connected to this body of believers." [27:24] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We are all together members of one body. The body of Jesus Christ. And that should mean something to all of us. Paul goes on to talk about the idea that all of us are still, though we're connected, we are different. Verse six. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us. We're all different. Paul would want us to understand that our diversity is needed. Our diversity inside of this body is needed, just like diversity is needed in your physical body. If your whole body were feet, or if your whole body were legs, or if your whole body were hands, first of all, you'd be a freak, right?" [30:09] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Move out of a row and find a circle. Move out of a row and find a circle. Find a circle somewhere. A ministry team where you can kind of look at each other and say, hey, let's serve together. A D group, a life group. Find some connection where you can look at people eyeball to eyeball, not back of heads. You got to move out of rows to do that. All right? So I've been wrestling with this message quite a bit this week. And the ending of this message still was like dot, dot, dot. I didn't know exactly how to wrap this up." [38:40] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "When we take communion what is the emotion that we feel in this moment when we receive communion? And as we talked about it I think one of the honest statements that somebody made me the other guys echoed it is far too often we don't feel any emotion and that's not that's not a good thing. We just do it. This moment for us can carry a lot of different emotion depending on who we are and where we're at in our faith journey. Depending on the kind of day we've had or the week we've had." [46:08] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "We can be and we are members together of one body because of what Jesus did and I hope that when you think about being members of the body of Christ that there's joy in that and so today as we take communion I want us to be joyful and the way that we're gonna be joyful together today is when we take communion I want us to take communion and look at each other and be like well that's weird well here's here's what we'll do get into some small circles and if you're a guest with us please look for guests and if you're a regular find a guest and say hey come join us come join us come join us right do that please be mindful of that or if you're you know college students you guys can get in a circle together and when you take communion say something like this I'm glad to be part of the body of Christ with you." [49:06] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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