Scripture Reference

John 13: 34-35

Sermon Audio

Sermon Notes

We continue looking at the pillar of Welcoming In in LRBC’s 2020 Vision. This week we discuss how we will live out Christ’s New Commandment as we welcome newcomers into our community of faith and love one another as Christ loves us.

We Will Welcome In Every Day by Loving One Another

1. We are to live by Christ’s New Commandment
   1. Jesus loved by welcoming in without discrimination, calling people to discipleship
      1. He loved by teaching, healing, correcting, rebuking, and restoring
      2. He loved by serving, leading, encouraging, empowering
      3. He loved by sacrificing Himself, suffering, and dying
   2. Love like that is to be our signature trait (verse 35)
2. We will love by welcoming every newcomer into our community of faith (Initiative 3)
   1. Jesus’ love welcomed all who genuinely sought Him – we’re called to love like that
   2. We have a huge opportunity as a community of faith
      1. People are eager for a human touch in a deeply impersonal world
   3. We have work to do as a community of faith – this is a strength, but we have failures in this area
3. We will love one another through fruitful relationships (Initiative 2)
   1. Jesus’ love was deeply relational – He comforted, encouraged, mentored, and disciple individuals, not faceless masses -we’re called to love like that
   2. We each need to form relationships like that in our community of faith
      1. To care for (James 2), encourage (Ephesians 4:29, Hebrews 10: 24-25), mentor and disciple (2 Timothy 2: 2)
   3. We have work to do as a community of faith – we can’t make these relationships happen, but can seek to foster them.