Love One Another Sermon

Lewisville Lighthouse centers its life on active worship and meeting needs through God's love, calling believers to embody agape as a decisive, sacrificial action more than a feeling. Love is portrayed as a verb—deliberate, proactive, and anchored in the character of God—measured by service and sacrifice rather than emotion or merit. Scripture presses this into daily practice: Jesus’ repeated command to “love one another” (notably in the upper room) reframes discipleship so that the world recognizes Christ by the church’s sacrificial care. Practical markers of that love include keeping no record of wrongs, humility, putting others’ interests first, and choosing actions that reflect loyalty and covenant faithfulness.

The talk moves from doctrine into concrete application. James’ counsel—quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger—becomes the starting point for learning to love well, because listening uncovers real needs before the urge to fix or respond. Real-life examples—small domestic gestures about trash and frozen custard—show how sincere efforts can miss their mark when they aren’t shaped around how the other person receives love. That leads to an invitation to ask, “How can I love you better?” and to enter honest conversations about what makes someone feel valued.

A pointed illustration about a husband who “left” but hadn’t divorced underscores that perceived value matters deeply; when people feel unseen they may withdraw rather than abandon love. Tough love and difficult conversations are sometimes the most loving acts, done out of care despite immediate discomfort. The preacher urges listeners to depend on God’s help—love at this level requires His enabling—and to remember that love covers a multitude of sins. Ultimately, the quality of relationships flows from the quality of one’s relationship with God: closeness with Christ cultivates patience, humility, gratitude, and the practical willingness to bear one another’s burdens, shaping a community recognized by love lived out in concrete ways.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Love is a deliberate verb Love is not primarily an emotion but an intentional series of actions rooted in God’s character. Choosing to serve, forgive, and prioritize others—even when it costs—reflects covenantal, agape love and moves community from talk to testimony. This kind of love depends on relying on God’s power rather than merely human resolve. [08:24]
• 2. Learn others' love languages Genuine love seeks to be understood by the beloved and adjusts its expressions accordingly. Small acts can either affirm or alienate depending on whether they match the recipient’s needs; attentiveness to those differences is itself an act of humility and service. Asking and learning about another’s needs prevents well-meaning efforts from becoming sources of hurt. [16:58]
• 3. Practice listening before responding Being quick to listen and slow to speak reframes love as receptivity rather than immediate repair. Listening creates space for understanding pain, fear, and unmet needs; it curtails defensiveness and short fuses that fracture relationships. Such listening is an act of worship when offered as obedience to God’s call to value others above self. [13:48]
• 4. Love covers a multitude Deep, sustained love tolerates imperfection and chooses patience, enabling restoration over retaliation. When love prioritizes repair and redemption, it softens tempers, reduces retribution, and allows grace to work in hearts. This is not passive tolerance but deliberate commitment to reconciliation empowered by God. [30:51]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:43] - Opening greetings and humor
• [03:22] - Prayer and transition to love
• [05:31] - What biblical love means
• [08:38] - Love as action: 1 John 3:18
• [10:33] - Jesus' command to love one another
• [13:48] - Listen, speak, and anger (James 1:19)
• [16:58] - Love languages: home examples
• [20:54] - Feeling valued: the Tony Robbins story
• [24:56] - Asking hard questions and tough love
• [30:38] - Love covers a multitude (1 Peter)
• [32:47] - Closing charge: depend on God

1. According to 1 John 3:18, how are believers instructed to express love?
2. What practical examples were given to illustrate how love can be misunderstood when actions don’t align with the recipient’s needs? [16:58]
3. What does James 1:19 say about how we should communicate, and how was this applied in the context of loving others well? [13:48]
4. How is the phrase “love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8) explained in relation to patience and grace in relationships? [30:51]

1. Why might loving others “in deed and in truth” require more intentionality than loving with words alone?
2. How does listening before speaking help create an environment where others feel valued and understood? [13:48]
3. In what ways can well-intentioned acts of service (like taking out the trash or buying a gift) sometimes fail to communicate love? [16:58]
4. What might it look like for love to “cover a multitude of sins” in a relationship where there’s been hurt or misunderstanding?

1. Think of someone you care about. What is one tangible way you could love them “in deed and in truth” this week, rather than just with words?
2. Is there a relationship where you tend to be “quick to speak” or “quick to become angry” instead of listening first? What would it look like to slow down and seek to understand that person’s heart? [13:48]
3. When was the last time you asked someone close to you, “How can I love you better?” What kept you from asking sooner—and what might happen if you did? [27:11]
4. Are there areas in your life where you’ve been keeping a record of wrongs instead of letting love cover those offenses? What would it take to release that list to God? [07:36]
5. How can adjusting the way you express love (based on what matters to the other person) deepen your relationships and reflect God’s love more clearly? [16:58]
6. In what relationships do you find it most difficult to act in love when you don’t feel like it? How can relying on God’s strength change your response? [06:25]
7. Who in your life needs to feel more valued? What’s one step you can take this week to help them know they’re seen and loved? [20:54]