Transformational Love: The Heart of Discipleship
Summary
This morning, we gathered in the presence of God, recognizing that when we come together in His name, we stand on sacred ground. Our hearts were united in worship, gratitude, and intercession—not only for our own needs but for those in our community, our nation, and the world. We prayed for healing, for peace, for wisdom for our leaders, and for revival in our land. We also asked the Holy Spirit to fill us afresh, to open our ears and hearts, and to make us attentive to God’s voice and will.
Turning to the words of Jesus in John 13, we reflected on the new commandment He gave: to love one another as He has loved us. This love is not a mere feeling or external act, but a transformational reality that flows from the very heart of God. Jesus demonstrated the full extent of His love by humbling Himself, taking on the form of a servant, and washing His disciples’ feet. This act was not just a lesson in humility, but a revelation of God’s nature—love in action, love that serves, love that sacrifices.
We considered how true love, the kind Jesus calls us to, is both transformational and practical. It is not satisfied with external compliance to rules, but seeks a change of heart—a metamorphosis that only the Spirit can bring. This love is costly; it requires us to lay down our own agendas, comforts, and even our pride for the sake of others. The story of Pastor Tom Severinsen reminded us that sometimes it takes a brush with death to realize our highest calling: to let God’s love flow through us to others.
Jesus’ command to love is the fulfillment of the law. It is the one thing that marks us as His disciples. We are called to love one another transformationally, practically, and sacrificially. As we receive the bread and the cup, we remember the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, and we are sent out to do the work He has given us—to love and serve as faithful witnesses, letting His love be made perfect in us.
Key Takeaways
- Love Begins with Transformation
The love Jesus calls us to is not simply an action or emotion, but a transformation of our very being. Just as Jesus was transformed through the incarnation—becoming a servant and humbling Himself to the point of death—we too must allow God to fundamentally change our hearts. Only then can we love others with the depth and authenticity that reflects Christ. [27:23]
- Practical Love is the Mark of Discipleship
Jesus’ act of washing the disciples’ feet was a practical demonstration of love that left an indelible mark on their identity. True love is not abstract; it is expressed in tangible acts of service, humility, and care for others. Our faith is made visible when we meet the real needs of those around us, no matter how humble the task. [31:45]
- Sacrificial Love Reveals the Heart of God
Real love always costs us something. Jesus gave up His glory, comfort, and even His life to show us the full extent of God’s love. If our love never requires sacrifice—of time, resources, pride, or comfort—it falls short of the love Christ modeled. The willingness to pay a price for others is the true test of godly love. [37:25]
- The New Commandment: Love as Fulfillment of the Law
Jesus’ new commandment is not an addition to the law, but its fulfillment. External rules can guide behavior, but only love—rooted in a changed heart—can truly fulfill God’s purposes. When we love one another as Christ loved us, we embody the very heart of God’s law and reveal His character to the world. [39:30]
- Yielding to the Spirit Enables True Love
We cannot manufacture this kind of love on our own; it is the work of the Holy Spirit within us. As we yield to God, allowing Him to expose and heal the places in our hearts where love is lacking, the Spirit empowers us to love transformationally, practically, and sacrificially. Our daily prayer must be for the Spirit to complete this work in us, making us faithful witnesses of Christ’s love. [39:30]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:01] - Prayers for the Community
[03:16] - Prayers for the Nation and Leaders
[05:26] - Opening Worship and Invitation to the Spirit
[23:44] - Introduction to the Scripture
[25:23] - The World’s Biggest Hug and Jesus’ Embrace
[27:23] - The Full Extent of Jesus’ Love
[30:37] - Love as Action and Identity
[31:45] - Redefining Love: Feet Washing and Sacrificial Service
[32:46] - The New Commandment and Transformation
[33:46] - The Cost of Love: A Modern Story
[35:34] - Metamorphosis: Love that Changes Us
[37:25] - Sacrificial Love and Counting the Cost
[39:30] - Love as the Fulfillment of the Law
[48:24] - Reciting the Nicene Creed
[55:56] - Communion and Sending Forth
[01:10:54] - Final Blessing and Announcements
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Love That Transforms, Serves, and Sacrifices
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### Bible Reading
- John 13:31-35
_“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”_
- Philippians 2:5-8
_“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”_
- Galatians 2:20
_“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”_
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### Observation Questions
1. In John 13, what does Jesus say will show the world that we are his disciples?
2. According to Philippians 2, what did Jesus give up in order to show his love for us?
3. The sermon described Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. What did this act communicate about the kind of love Jesus wants us to have? [[27:23]]
4. In the story of Pastor Tom Severinsen, what realization did he come to after his near-death experience? [[33:46]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose to demonstrate his love by washing feet, rather than by giving a speech or performing a miracle? What does this say about the nature of love in God’s kingdom? [[31:45]]
2. The sermon said that “real love always costs us something.” Why is sacrifice such an important part of Christ-like love? [[37:25]]
3. The new commandment Jesus gives is to love as he has loved us. How is this different from simply following rules or commandments? [[32:46]]
4. The sermon mentioned that we cannot manufacture this kind of love on our own, but need the Holy Spirit’s help. What does it look like to “yield” to the Spirit in order to love others? [[39:30]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon talked about love being transformational, not just an action or feeling. Is there an area in your life where you need God to change your heart so you can love someone more like Jesus does? What would it look like to invite God into that area this week? [[27:23]]
2. Jesus washed his disciples’ feet—a humble, practical act. What is one practical, maybe even “lowly,” act of service you could do for someone in your life this week? How might this change your relationship with them? [[31:45]]
3. The story of Pastor Tom Severinsen was about realizing the importance of loving others before it’s too late. Is there someone you’ve been neglecting or struggling to love? What’s one step you can take to reach out to them this week? [[33:46]]
4. The sermon said, “If our love never requires sacrifice—of time, resources, pride, or comfort—it falls short of the love Christ modeled.” What is one thing you could sacrifice this week to show love to someone else? [[37:25]]
5. Jesus’ command to love is the fulfillment of the law. Are there ways you’ve been focusing on “rules” or “doing the right thing” instead of loving people? How can you shift your focus this week? [[39:30]]
6. The sermon encouraged us to pray for the Holy Spirit to fill us and help us love. What would it look like for you to make this a daily prayer? How might you notice the Spirit prompting you to love in new ways? [[39:30]]
7. After receiving communion, the congregation was sent out “to love and serve as faithful witnesses.” What is one way you can be a faithful witness of Christ’s love in your workplace, school, or neighborhood this week? [[55:56]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for the Holy Spirit to fill each person afresh, to open hearts, and to empower everyone to love transformationally, practically, and sacrificially this week.
Devotional
Day 1: Love One Another as Christ Has Loved Us
Jesus’ command to His disciples is clear and simple: “Love one another, just as I have loved you.” This love is not merely a feeling or a polite gesture, but a radical, self-giving love that reflects the very heart of God. When we love each other in this way, we become living witnesses to the world of what it means to follow Jesus. The mark of true discipleship is not found in our achievements or religious rituals, but in the way we sacrificially care for and serve one another, just as Christ did for us. [23:44]
John 13:34-35 (ESV)
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Reflection: Who is one person in your life you can intentionally show Christ-like love to today, even if it requires you to step out of your comfort zone?
Day 2: Christ’s Love is Transformational
The love of Jesus is not just an external act but a force that transforms us from the inside out. Jesus, though fully God, humbled Himself and took on the form of a servant, even to the point of death on a cross. This act of self-emptying love calls us to a similar transformation—a change of heart, mind, and character that can only come through the Holy Spirit. True Christian love is not about following rules, but about becoming new people who reflect Christ’s humility and self-giving nature in every aspect of our lives. [27:23]
Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV)
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Reflection: In what area of your life do you sense God calling you to deeper humility or transformation so that His love can shine through you more fully?
Day 3: God’s Love is Practical and Active
God’s love is not abstract or theoretical—it is practical, tangible, and expressed in real actions. Jesus demonstrated this by washing His disciples’ feet, taking on the lowliest task to show the full extent of His love. Love is not just a word or a feeling; it is something we do, often in simple, humble ways that meet the needs of others. When we serve others in love, we embody the very character of Christ, making God’s love visible and real in the world around us. [31:45]
1 John 4:7-8 (ESV)
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
Reflection: What is one practical act of service you can do today to show God’s love to someone in your family, workplace, or community?
Day 4: Sacrificial Love is the Mark of True Discipleship
True love always comes with a cost. Jesus’ love for us was demonstrated in the ultimate sacrifice—He gave up His glory, took on our humanity, and died a humiliating death on the cross. We are called to love others in a way that is willing to pay a price, whether it’s our time, comfort, resources, or pride. Sacrificial love is the evidence that Christ lives in us, and it is through this kind of love that we fulfill God’s greatest command. [39:30]
Romans 13:8 (ESV)
“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”
Reflection: What is one thing—big or small—you can give up or lay down this week in order to love someone else more fully?
Day 5: Yielding to the Holy Spirit to Love Fully
Loving as Christ loves is not something we can do in our own strength; it requires us to yield our hearts to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to work in us. God desires to shine His light into the places where we hold anger, resentment, or selfishness, and to transform us so that we can love others with His grace. As we surrender to God’s Spirit, He becomes both the author and the finisher of our faith, enabling us to love transformationally, practically, and sacrificially. [48:24]
Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV)
“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”
Reflection: Are you willing to ask God to search your heart today and yield any area where you struggle to love, inviting the Holy Spirit to transform you?
Quotes
Only the purest love could humble itself into that extent. And that kind of love can only come through Jesus' spirit. Jesus wasn't saying when he washed their feet, do as I do. He was telling his disciples, be who I am. Have a spirit and a character of love. [00:32:26] (24 seconds)
Galatians 2 .20 says, according to Paul, I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but it is Christ that lives in me. The life I now live in this body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Think about those words, I have been crucified with Christ. If Christ lives in us, then his love will shine through us. [00:35:36] (27 seconds)
When Jesus knelt down to wash those disciples' feet, he wasn't just showing them what to do. He was showing them who he was. And in 1 John it says, for God is love. He doesn't love. He doesn't fit some definition that we make of love and God kind of fits into that mold. God is love. He is the very definition of love. [00:37:15] (27 seconds)
And the Jesus kind of love is transformational. And it's also practical. But when we have been transformed into the very image of Christ, we have to be very aware. And we have to count the cost. Jesus warned us about that over and over because jesus kind of love will require real sacrifice and i got news for you if you're trying to live a christian life and you have no sacrifice in your life you miss the target it's not real love real love requires us to give it requires us to hurt it requires us to sacrifice. [00:37:43] (41 seconds)
In the end jesus said to his father in the garden of gethsemane please let this cup pass from me he knew what was coming but then he said these words not my will but yours be done that's when we know that love is real when we can say to god everything i am and is completely yours use me how do you see fit how can i serve you today. [00:39:59] (29 seconds)
That's the one thing you've called us to do the one big thing you've called us to do is to love one another and only in that way will people know that we're your followers we can sacrifice we can cut off a hand or poke out an eye we can do all kind of things to show our love for you but the only thing you require is that we love one another. [00:41:30] (21 seconds)
Help us father to see the places in our lives where we fail you where we don't show the full extent of the father's love to others and grant us father the courage to yield to you and allow your holy spirit to work out our salvation to allow your holy spirit to be not only the author but the finisher of our faith the one that completes the task help us father to love one another transformationally practically and sacrificially. [00:42:08] (41 seconds)
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