Radiating Love: The Church's True Identity
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, OneChurch.TV! Today, we kicked off our new series, "One Anothering One Another," inspired by the Dr. Seuss theme. We explored what various brands are known for, like Chick-fil-A's customer service and Amazon's one-stop shopping. This led us to the question: What is the church known for? Unfortunately, many people associate the church with hurt and disillusionment. However, the church was established to radiate hope and reflect the life and grace of Jesus Christ.
We delved into John 13:34-35, where Jesus commands us to love one another as He has loved us. This is not just an old commandment but a new one because Jesus raised the bar by loving us sacrificially. We examined how Jesus loved His disciples, including Matthew the tax collector, Nathaniel the skeptic, Peter the denier, Thomas the doubter, and even Judas the betrayer. Each of these examples showed that Jesus extended grace, forgiveness, and love, regardless of their flaws and failures.
The essence of "one anothering" is our secret sauce, our brand recognition. It's what should make the church stand out in the community. In the early church, this kind of love and grace drew people to Christianity. They saw a community that loved, forgave, and supported each other, regardless of social status, race, or gender. This is what we should be known for today.
We also addressed a poignant question about how to love someone who is gay. Jesus loved without compromising the truth, and we are called to do the same. We shared a real-life example of two churches' different approaches to a gay pride parade, emphasizing that serving and loving people, even when we disagree, is the way to reflect Jesus' love.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Church's True Identity: The church should be known for radiating hope and reflecting the life and grace of Jesus Christ. Too often, people associate the church with hurt and disillusionment, but our true identity should be rooted in love and grace. This is our calling and our brand recognition. [46:38]
2. Jesus' New Commandment: Jesus' command to love one another as He has loved us raises the bar for how we should treat each other. This love is sacrificial, forgiving, and unconditional. It goes beyond the old commandment of loving your neighbor as yourself and calls us to a higher standard. [54:17]
3. Examples of Jesus' Love: Jesus loved His disciples despite their flaws and failures. He extended grace to Matthew the tax collector, Nathaniel the skeptic, Peter the denier, Thomas the doubter, and even Judas the betrayer. These examples show that our love for one another should be equally unconditional and forgiving. [55:36]
4. One Anothering as Our Secret Sauce: The early church's practice of loving and supporting one another drew people to Christianity. This "one anothering" should be our distinguishing mark today. It should be evident in how we treat each other, making our communities better and more loving places. [01:09:59]
5. Loving Without Compromising Truth: We are called to love everyone, even those we disagree with, without compromising the truth. Jesus loved and served people from all walks of life, including those who were marginalized and outcast. Our love should be inclusive and unconditional, reflecting Jesus' example. [01:17:33]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[43:16] - Brand Recognition Game
[44:45] - What is the Church Known For?
[46:38] - The Church's True Identity
[54:17] - Jesus' New Commandment
[55:36] - Examples of Jesus' Love
[01:09:59] - One Anothering as Our Secret Sauce
[01:17:33] - Loving Without Compromising Truth
[01:20:58] - Closing Remarks and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 13:34-35: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
#### Observation Questions
1. What are some of the brands mentioned in the sermon, and what are they known for? ([43:16])
2. According to John 13:34-35, what is the new commandment that Jesus gives to His disciples? ([54:17])
3. How did Jesus demonstrate love to His disciples, such as Matthew, Nathaniel, Peter, Thomas, and Judas? ([55:36])
4. What was the early church known for, and how did this impact their community? ([01:09:59])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus' command to love one another as He has loved us raise the bar compared to the Old Testament command to love your neighbor as yourself? ([54:17])
2. How do the examples of Jesus loving His disciples despite their flaws illustrate the kind of love we are called to show one another? ([55:36])
3. What does it mean for the church to be known for "one anothering" in today's context? ([01:09:59])
4. How can we balance loving others without compromising the truth, as Jesus did? ([01:17:33])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt hurt or disillusioned by the church. How can you contribute to making the church a place that radiates hope and reflects the life and grace of Jesus Christ? ([46:38])
2. Jesus loved His disciples sacrificially and unconditionally. Think of a specific person in your life who is difficult to love. How can you show them sacrificial love this week? ([54:17])
3. The early church drew people to Christianity through their love and support for one another. What practical steps can you take to foster a similar community in your small group or church? ([01:09:59])
4. How can you extend grace and forgiveness to someone who has wronged you, following Jesus' example with His disciples? ([55:36])
5. In what ways can you serve and love people you disagree with, without compromising your beliefs? Think of a specific situation where you can apply this principle. ([01:17:33])
6. Identify one area in your life where you struggle to love others as Jesus loved His disciples. What changes can you make to align your actions with Jesus' command in John 13:34-35? ([54:17])
7. How can you make "one anothering" a distinguishing mark of your personal life and your church community? Share one specific action you will take this week to practice this. ([01:09:59])
Devotional
Day 1: The Church's True Identity
The church should be known for radiating hope and reflecting the life and grace of Jesus Christ. Too often, people associate the church with hurt and disillusionment, but our true identity should be rooted in love and grace. This is our calling and our brand recognition. The church was established to be a beacon of hope, a place where people can experience the transformative love of Jesus. When we embody this identity, we can change the negative perceptions and become a source of healing and encouragement for those around us.
In John 13:34-35, Jesus commands us to love one another as He has loved us. This love is not just a superficial feeling but a deep, sacrificial commitment to the well-being of others. By living out this commandment, we can show the world what the church is truly about—unconditional love, grace, and hope. This is the essence of our faith and the foundation of our community. [46:38]
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
Reflection: Think about how you can radiate hope and grace in your daily interactions. What specific actions can you take today to reflect the life and love of Jesus to those around you?
Day 2: Jesus' New Commandment
Jesus' command to love one another as He has loved us raises the bar for how we should treat each other. This love is sacrificial, forgiving, and unconditional. It goes beyond the old commandment of loving your neighbor as yourself and calls us to a higher standard. Jesus demonstrated this love through His actions, showing us that true love involves putting others' needs above our own and extending grace even when it is difficult.
This new commandment challenges us to examine our relationships and interactions. Are we loving others as Jesus loved us? Are we willing to forgive and extend grace, even when it is not deserved? By striving to live out this commandment, we can create a community that reflects the heart of Jesus and draws others to Him. [54:17]
1 John 4:11-12 (ESV): "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."
Reflection: Reflect on your relationships and consider how you can love others more sacrificially and unconditionally. What steps can you take to embody Jesus' new commandment in your daily life?
Day 3: Examples of Jesus' Love
Jesus loved His disciples despite their flaws and failures. He extended grace to Matthew the tax collector, Nathaniel the skeptic, Peter the denier, Thomas the doubter, and even Judas the betrayer. These examples show that our love for one another should be equally unconditional and forgiving. Jesus' love was not based on the disciples' worthiness but on His own character and commitment to them.
By following Jesus' example, we can learn to love others despite their imperfections. This kind of love requires humility, patience, and a willingness to forgive. It is not always easy, but it is what we are called to do as followers of Christ. When we love others in this way, we reflect the heart of Jesus and create a community that is marked by grace and compassion. [55:36]
Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who has flaws or has hurt you. How can you extend grace and forgiveness to them, following Jesus' example of unconditional love?
Day 4: One Anothering as Our Secret Sauce
The early church's practice of loving and supporting one another drew people to Christianity. This "one anothering" should be our distinguishing mark today. It should be evident in how we treat each other, making our communities better and more loving places. When we prioritize loving and serving one another, we create an environment where people feel valued, supported, and encouraged.
This kind of community is attractive to those who are searching for meaning and belonging. By living out the principles of "one anothering," we can draw others to Christ and demonstrate the transformative power of His love. It is through our actions and relationships that we can make a lasting impact on the world around us. [01:09:59]
Galatians 6:2 (ESV): "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
Reflection: Consider how you can practice "one anothering" in your community. What specific actions can you take to support and love those around you, making your community a better place?
Day 5: Loving Without Compromising Truth
We are called to love everyone, even those we disagree with, without compromising the truth. Jesus loved and served people from all walks of life, including those who were marginalized and outcast. Our love should be inclusive and unconditional, reflecting Jesus' example. This means loving others without judgment, while still holding to the truth of God's Word.
Loving without compromising the truth requires wisdom and discernment. It means being willing to engage with people who are different from us and showing them the love of Christ through our actions and words. By doing so, we can build bridges and create opportunities for meaningful conversations about faith and truth. [01:17:33]
Ephesians 4:15 (ESV): "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ."
Reflection: Think of someone you disagree with or find difficult to love. How can you show them the love of Christ without compromising the truth? What practical steps can you take to build a bridge and demonstrate God's love to them today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "The church was established to radiate hope. The church was established to present and reflect the life and the grace of our Savior Jesus. And the verses that we're going to look at today give us what the church should be known for. And it all surrounds around this little phrase on the screen behind me, and it is one another. Can you say that with me? One another." [46:38]
2. "Jesus says, as I have loved you, Matthew, so you must also love one another for the rest of your life, Matthew. The grace that I extended you that day, I want you to extend that grace every single day to everyone that you meet for the rest of your life." [55:36]
3. "Jesus could not have made it any clearer. He said the church is supposed to be known for how we one another each other, for how we love one another. That's what we're supposed to be. That's what we're supposed to be famous for. It's how you're supposed to know that there's a local church nearby, that there's a group of people, their distinguishing mark, their main export, their reputation in the community is that they one another each other really, really well." [01:09:59]
4. "Many people, they had not seen Jesus, they had not heard Jesus, but they saw this group of people love one another and give grace to one another and to forgive one another and to bear one another's burdens, that they just showed up for one another. They weren't alone. And it doesn't matter what gender you are, what socioeconomic status you were, what race you were. They just treated you... They just treated you like you were family." [01:10:58]
5. "Jesus, who had really good theology, he was theology in the flesh. Can we agree on that? He didn't allow the people he hung out with to keep him from ministering to everybody. It wasn't guilt by association for him. He hung out with prostitutes, tax collectors, notorious sinners. And that's what the Pharisees was always lobbing at him. But he said, that's the people that I came for. That's the people I came to love." [01:19:59]
### Quotes for Members
1. "How did Jesus love Nathaniel? You remember Nathaniel, the very first time Nathaniel met Jesus, he insulted Jesus. Has anybody the very first time they ever met you ever insulted you? They have me. That's never fun, right? So the very first time Nathaniel met Jesus, he says, what good? You're from Nazareth? What good can come from Nazareth? And yet Jesus extended grace as I have loved you, Nathaniel. You must also love one another. Nathaniel, I want you to extend that same kind of grace and love and forgiveness and acceptance to everyone you meet, regardless of how they treat you or insult you, Nathaniel." [55:36]
2. "How did Jesus love Peter? Peter, he was kind of the spokesman of the group. Peter, every time he opened his mouth, he would say, I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. 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