What is Love? Our Practices of Love
John 3:16
10/5/2025
The past few weeks in our sermon series on love, we have been learning what biblical love looks like: a willingness to give our most precious gift and selflessness without seeking our own benefit. Love, then, is not something transactional or conditional. Love is not about gain but giving and how we can give.
Pastor Daniel shared how preparing messages on love have helped him reflect on his own understanding of love from studying God’s Word has led him to become more thankful and convicted by God’s love and practicing biblical love in his daily life.
James 1:22-25 reminds us that we should not just be hearers of the Word but active doers. God’s words should not remain as words to us but serve as guidance in our lives – to put into practice and action.
This week, Pastor Daniel wanted to share how our church has been putting into practice love in action in various capacities:
All Nations Fellowship Scholarship – Our church is offering a scholarship to all students of any race or creed that demonstrate financial need, between $500 – $1000 by those selected and reviewed by a scholarship committee (five randomly selected ANF members). This scholarship is open to all students, regardless of church membership status, and offers financial relief to students in undergraduate and graduate programs.
Mental Health Support – We are partnering with Watershed Initiative, a group of Christian therapists passionate about serving the mental health needs of local churches. Our church is providing financial support and resources to mental health initiatives which provides a reduced rate of $35 for the first five sessions for ANF church members. Additionally, we want to support our ministry leaders and our shepherds, with additional financial support, recognizing the added stressors that come from caring for house church membners.
Pantry Ministry – We are designating a ministry for those with food insecurities at home. Volunteers will purchase groceries on Friday and open the pantry on Saturday to provide dried and shelf-stable food for those in need.
House Keeper Ministry – We are providing part-time employment ($20/hour, up to 10 hours weekly) to those in financial need to serve faithfully in helping maintain the church facilities.
Connect with Pastor Daniel – Pastor Daniel has always had an open door for every member and visitor to the church. Pastor Daniel is now offering more streamlined scheduling via QR code for one-on-one time to get to know him more as our senior pastor, as well as any need for prayer, advice or counseling for matters of life, faith, or personal concerns.
These are five ways our church is making intentional changes to put into practice sacrificial love in tangible ways. Through us and through our lives, others can experience a glimpse of Christ’s heart. God calls us not to be hearers of His Word but to act. As a body and as a congregation, our church is making meaningful changes to put into practice sacrificial love. Just as God demonstrated His love through the life and death of Jesus Christ, we too are called to love selflessly and sacrificially, so that His love may be made visible through us.
Reflection Questions:
What were your main takeaways from this week’s message?
What does sacrificial love look like in your daily life?
In what practical ways might God be calling you to live out these messages?
