Radical Love: Embracing Grace and Community

Devotional

Day 1: Genuine Love Without Masks, Even When It's Hard

Genuine love is not about putting on a mask or pretending to be someone you’re not; it’s about being honest and authentic with others, even when it’s difficult. This kind of love, agape love, is sacrificial and without hypocrisy, refusing to hide behind a façade or to only show the parts of ourselves that we think others will accept. It means being willing to be vulnerable, to share your struggles, and to receive others in their authenticity as well. True love abhors what is evil but clings to what is good, and it allows us to move past surface-level interactions into real, transformative relationships. When we love genuinely, we create space for healing, honesty, and deep connection, both with God and with one another. [56:47]

Romans 12:9-10 (ESV)
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Reflection: Is there someone in your life with whom you tend to wear a mask? What would it look like to take one small step toward authenticity with them this week?

Day 2: Honoring Others Above Yourself

To honor others above yourself means taking the first step in showing respect, value, and care, even when it’s uncomfortable or undeserved. It’s about initiating reconciliation, blessing those who irritate or even persecute you, and choosing to see the image of God in every person rather than focusing on their flaws. This kind of honor is proactive—it doesn’t wait for the other person to make the first move or to earn your respect. Instead, it seeks to bless, to pray for, and to communicate value, even in the midst of conflict or difficulty. When you outdo one another in showing honor, you reflect the heart of Christ and create opportunities for peace and restoration. [01:03:37]

Romans 12:10, 14 (ESV)
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

Reflection: Who is one person you find difficult to honor? What is one practical way you can initiate a conversation or action that communicates value to them this week?

Day 3: Refusing to Retaliate—Letting God Handle Justice

Refusing to retaliate, whether in thought, word, or action, is a radical act of trust in God’s justice and mercy. It means letting go of the need to get even or to make things right in your own strength, and instead, entrusting those hurts and wrongs to God. This frees you from the exhausting burden of holding grudges or seeking revenge, and it opens the door to peace, both within yourself and in your relationships. Living at peace with everyone, as far as it depends on you, is not about ignoring injustice but about releasing your right to be the judge and allowing God to work in His way and time. [01:07:37]

Romans 12:17-19 (ESV)
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Reflection: Is there a situation where you are tempted to retaliate or hold a grudge? What would it look like to release that desire for justice to God today?

Day 4: Overcoming Evil with Good

Overcoming evil with good is a call to active, practical love, even toward those who have wronged you. Instead of responding to hurt with more hurt, you are invited to meet needs, show kindness, and extend grace, just as Christ did for you. This is not a passive endurance but a courageous, countercultural way of living that breaks cycles of bitterness and opens the possibility for transformation. When you choose to feed your enemy or give them a drink, you are not condoning their actions but demonstrating the radical love of Jesus, who loved us at our worst. [01:09:26]

Romans 12:20-21 (ESV)
To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Reflection: Who is someone you struggle with or consider an “enemy”? What is one tangible act of kindness you can do for them this week?

Day 5: Living Out Grace—Letting God’s Love Transform Your Actions

The foundation for all these instructions is the grace of God, which always comes before the law or any list of commands. God’s love for you was demonstrated while you were still a sinner, and it is only by receiving His grace that you are empowered to love others in radical, sacrificial, and supernatural ways. Your obedience is not about earning God’s favor but about responding in worship to what He has already done for you. When you remember that you have been forgiven, justified, and promised restoration, you are freed to extend that same grace to others, even when it’s hard. [42:20]

Romans 5:8 (ESV)
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Reflection: How does remembering God’s grace toward you change the way you approach someone who is difficult to love? What is one way you can let grace, not obligation, motivate your actions today?

Sermon Summary

The Lord is our salvation, and it is by His grace alone that we gather, worship, and find hope. We are not here because of our own wisdom or good works, but because of the saving power of Jesus. Our calling as a church is to make and mature disciples, and this happens most deeply through genuine, connected relationships. That’s why we encourage everyone to take a step into community, whether through small groups or LifeStage communities, so that we can grow together in Christ and learn to love our neighbors well.

This year, our vision is to love our neighbor, and this month we focus on encouraging one another—literally putting courage into those around us. Sometimes, though, loving our neighbor is not easy. There are people in our lives who are difficult to love, and yet the call of Christ is to love even those we would rather avoid. Romans 12:9-21 gives us a powerful blueprint for this kind of love. It’s a love that is genuine, without masks or hypocrisy, and it abhors evil while clinging to what is good. This love honors others above ourselves, refuses to retaliate, and overcomes evil with good.

It’s important to remember that these instructions are not a burden to earn God’s favor. Rather, they are a response to the incredible grace we have already received. Romans 1-11 lays out the story: we have a sin problem we cannot solve, but God justifies us by faith, frees us through Jesus, and gives us the Holy Spirit. As recipients of His mercy, we are promised a future restoration with the Father. In light of this, we are invited to live out a radical, sacrificial, and supernatural love—the very love that Jesus has shown us.

Loving those who are hard to love is not something we can do in our own strength. It requires the Spirit’s help and a continual return to the grace we have received. When we are tempted to retaliate or withdraw, we are called instead to pray, to honor, to bless, and to serve. This is the way of Christ, who loved us when we were at our worst. As we come to the Lord’s table, we remember that our lives make sense only because of Jesus, and we are invited to trust Him more deeply as we seek to love others as He has loved us.

Key Takeaways

1. Genuine love is maskless and honest, even when it’s hard. The call to “let love be genuine” means discarding the facades we often wear and embracing authenticity with one another. This kind of love allows us to be real about our struggles and to receive others in their vulnerability, creating space for true healing and growth. It is only in this environment of honesty that the church can become a place of deep transformation. [54:14]
2. God’s grace always precedes His commands. The long list of instructions in Romans 12 is not a checklist to earn God’s favor, but a response to the grace already given in Christ. Understanding that grace comes before law frees us from striving and invites us into joyful obedience, motivated by gratitude rather than obligation. This perspective transforms our approach to spiritual growth and relationships. [42:20]
3. Honoring others above ourselves requires initiative and humility. To “outdo one another in showing honor” means taking the first step in reconciliation, valuing people beyond their flaws, and seeking their good even when it’s uncomfortable. This is a proactive love that doesn’t wait for others to change or apologize, but moves toward them with Christlike humility and respect. [61:52]
4. Refusing to retaliate is an act of trust in God’s justice. When wronged, our natural impulse is to seek revenge or hold grudges, but Scripture calls us to leave vengeance to the Lord. By releasing our need to punish or control, we find freedom and peace, trusting that God will ultimately make things right. This discipline not only protects our hearts but also opens the door for reconciliation and healing. [65:32]
5. Overcoming evil with good is the mark of supernatural love. Meeting the needs of those who oppose or irritate us is not natural; it is the fruit of Christ’s love at work in us. When we choose to bless rather than curse, to serve rather than retaliate, we embody the gospel and point others to Jesus, who loved us at our worst. This is the radical, sacrificial, and supernatural love to which we are called. [69:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[27:25] - Opening Prayer: The Lord is Our Salvation
[29:10] - Building Community: Neighborhoods and Connection
[29:48] - Small Groups and Discipleship at Redwood Chapel
[32:54] - Vision: Loving Our Neighbor and Encouragement
[34:46] - Honoring a Faithful Servant: Steve Gillette
[36:04] - The Challenge of Loving Difficult Neighbors
[37:14] - Romans 12: A Blueprint for Love
[41:04] - Grace Before Law: The Context of Romans
[42:57] - Four-Part Outline of God’s Grace in Romans
[49:47] - The Call to Radical, Sacrificial, Supernatural Love
[51:46] - Four Marks of Christlike Love
[54:14] - Genuine Love Without Masks
[59:58] - Praying for Those Who Irritate Us
[61:52] - Outdoing One Another in Showing Honor
[64:56] - Refusing to Retaliate: Trusting God’s Justice
[69:26] - Overcoming Evil with Good
[72:03] - Communion: Remembering Christ’s Sacrifice
[74:38] - Closing Song: Trusting Jesus

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Romans 12:9-21 (ESV) — Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Observation Questions

According to Romans 12:9, what does it mean for love to be “genuine” or “without hypocrisy”? How does the sermon describe this kind of love? [[54:14]]
What are some of the specific instructions Paul gives in Romans 12:9-21 for how to treat people who are difficult to love?
In the sermon, what is the difference between abhorring evil and rejecting people? [[57:27]]
What does Paul say about retaliation and leaving vengeance to God? How does the sermon illustrate this principle? [[01:05:32]]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says, “Grace comes before law.” How does understanding God’s grace first change the way we approach the commands in Romans 12? [[42:20]]
Why do you think Paul emphasizes “outdoing one another in showing honor”? What does this look like in real relationships, especially with people who are hard to love? [[01:01:52]]
The sermon talks about refusing to retaliate and trusting God’s justice. What are some reasons this is so difficult, and what does it reveal about our trust in God? [[01:05:32]]
The passage ends with “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” What does it mean to overcome evil with good in practical terms? [[01:09:26]]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to let our love be genuine and “maskless.” Is there a relationship in your life where you tend to hide behind a mask? What would it look like to be more honest or vulnerable in that relationship? [[54:14]]
Think of someone who is difficult for you to love right now. What is one specific way you could “outdo” them in showing honor this week? (For example, taking the first step in reconciliation, or speaking well of them to others.) [[01:01:52]]
The sermon suggests praying for those who irritate us instead of gossiping about them. Is there someone you need to start praying for regularly? What might change in your heart if you did? [[59:58]]
When was the last time you were tempted to retaliate or “get even” with someone? What would it look like to trust God with that situation instead? [[01:05:32]]
The passage calls us to “overcome evil with good.” Can you think of a recent situation where you had the opportunity to respond to hurt or offense with kindness? How did you respond, and what would you do differently next time? [[01:09:26]]
The sermon says that loving difficult people is not something we can do in our own strength, but only by the Spirit’s help. What is one area where you need to ask God for help to love someone this week? [[01:11:24]]
As we remember Christ’s sacrifice at the Lord’s table, how does reflecting on Jesus’ love for us at our worst motivate you to love others differently? [[01:12:03]]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What does genuine love look like in difficult relationships?

How does grace precede and inform Christian living?

What biblical principles guide loving enemies and difficult neighbors?