Real Love Grows Outward

In a world overwhelmed by suffering and need, it’s easy to feel compassion fatigue and retreat into our own small circles of concern. The temptation is to draw hard boundaries around those we care for—our family, our friends, those who are like us—and ignore the rest. But Jesus calls us to something deeper and more porous: to draw our circles with dots, not solid lines, so that love and care can flow outward, even as we start with those closest to us.

The question “Who is my neighbor?” is as relevant now as it was in Jesus’ day. We often want to limit our responsibility, but Christ’s teaching pushes us to see the person right in front of us, especially those who are vulnerable or invisible to the world. While we are not called to fix every global crisis, we are called to make our faith visible in tangible ways—beginning at home, then in the church family, and then to those just outside our normal circles.

Paul’s instructions to Timothy about caring for widows in the church offer practical wisdom for how to prioritize compassion. The family is the first circle of responsibility; neglecting it undermines the credibility of our faith. But when families fail, the church steps in as the new family, making the love of Christ visible to a watching world. This is not about enabling self-indulgence or removing dignity, but about wise, discerning, and empowering compassion.

True gospel love is not just about organized events or programs, but about a lifestyle of seeing and serving others—especially those who are overlooked. It’s about being willing to be a “movable piece” on God’s board, letting Him nudge us beyond our comfort zones. Sometimes, the opportunity to love is as simple as noticing the invisible person at the gas station or checking in on a brother or sister in the church.

The challenge is to let our allegiance to Jesus be visible in how we care for our own and for those with no one else. This is how the early church grew—not by great meetings, but by a love that started with the family of faith and expanded outward, always making room for one more at the table. May we be known not just for our gatherings, but for our expanding, discerning, and sacrificial love.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Draw Circles with Dots, Not Walls Our natural tendency is to limit our care to a select few, but Christ calls us to make our boundaries porous. This means being open to the needs of those just outside our comfort zones, allowing God to expand our hearts and our reach. True compassion starts at home but is always ready to move outward as God leads. [10:18]
• 2. Family First, but Not Family Only Paul’s wisdom to Timothy reminds us that caring for our own family is foundational to our faith. Neglecting this is a denial of the gospel’s power. Yet, when families fail, the church becomes the new family, stepping in with practical love that makes Christ’s presence real to the world. [16:01]
• 3. Compassion Requires Discernment and Empowerment It’s not enough to simply give or serve; true compassion seeks the good of the other, preserving their dignity and agency. Sometimes, what feels like help can actually harm or enable. We need God’s wisdom to know when to step in, how to empower, and how to love in ways that truly build up. [29:23]
• 4. Let Your Faith Be Tangible and Visible Faith is not just a private belief but a public allegiance to Jesus, made visible in how we care for those around us. When our love is practical and relational—especially toward the vulnerable—our witness becomes credible, and the gospel is honored rather than mocked. [23:19]
• 5. Be a Movable Piece on God’s Board Rather than keeping life neat and predictable, be willing to let God move you into new places of service and relationship. The most meaningful stories come when we step beyond our routines and comfort, responding to God’s nudges to widen our circles and love those He brings across our path. [36:43]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:29] - Facing Global and Local Suffering
• [01:24] - Circles of Concern: Who’s In?
• [02:43] - Who Is My Neighbor?
• [03:26] - Choosing and Expanding Our Neighbors
• [03:55] - Jesus’ Call: See the Person
• [05:10] - “The Least of These” and Family
• [06:23] - The Church as Family
• [09:18] - Paul’s Instructions to Timothy
• [10:18] - Drawing Circles with Dots
• [12:14] - Honoring Widows and Family Responsibility
• [16:01] - The Credibility of Public Love
• [23:19] - Faith Made Visible in Action
• [29:23] - Compassion, Dignity, and Discernment
• [36:43] - Being Movable for God’s Purposes
• [40:27] - Beyond Events: A Lifestyle of Love
• [43:44] - The Church’s Expanding Love
• [45:05] - Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

1 Timothy 5:1–16 (ESV) — 1 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.
3 Honor widows who are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. 5 She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, 6 but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. 7 Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9 Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, 10 and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. 11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry 12 and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. 13 Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. 14 So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. 15 For some have already strayed after Satan. 16 If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.

Observation Questions

1. According to Paul’s instructions to Timothy, what is the first circle of responsibility when it comes to caring for widows? ([12:14])
2. What are some of the qualifications Paul gives for a widow to be “enrolled” for special care by the church? ([13:11])
3. In the sermon, what does it mean to “draw your circles with dots, not solid lines”? ([10:18])
4. What does Paul say about someone who does not provide for their relatives, especially their own household? ([21:09])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Paul emphasize that caring for one’s own family is “pleasing in the sight of God” and that neglecting this is “worse than an unbeliever”? What does this reveal about the connection between faith and practical love? ([16:01])
2. The sermon talks about the church stepping in as “the new family” when biological families fail. What are some challenges and opportunities that come with this expanded sense of family? ([08:36])
3. The passage and sermon both mention discernment in showing compassion. Why is discernment important, and how can “helping” sometimes actually harm or enable? ([29:23])
4. The idea of being a “movable piece on God’s board” was mentioned. What does this metaphor suggest about how we should approach opportunities to serve and love others? ([36:43])

Application Questions

1. Think about your own “circles of concern.” Who is in your closest circle, and who might be just outside it? Is there someone God might be nudging you to notice or care for this week? ([10:18])
2. Paul says that if anyone does not provide for their relatives, they have denied the faith. Are there any practical needs in your family or church family that you have overlooked? What is one step you could take to make your faith visible in this area? ([21:09])
3. The sermon warns against compassion that removes dignity or enables self-indulgence. Can you think of a time when your attempt to help someone may not have actually helped? What would wise, empowering compassion look like in that situation? ([29:23])
4. The pastor shared a story about missing an opportunity to connect with someone “invisible” at the gas station. Have you ever had a similar experience? What could you do differently next time? ([39:17])
5. The early church was known for making room for “one more at the table.” What is one practical way you could expand your circle this month—either at home, in the church, or in your neighborhood? ([43:44])
6. Are there any “solid lines” you’ve drawn around your life—people or groups you’ve decided are outside your concern? What would it look like to make those lines dotted and more porous? ([33:49])
7. The sermon encourages us to let our faith be tangible and visible, not just private. What is one way you can make your allegiance to Jesus visible this week, especially to someone who might feel overlooked? ([23:19])