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The Story of Love - Ben

Sermon Summary

Ben emphasises that love is the ultimate marker of spiritual growth, demonstrated through a commitment to be present with others and for their good, reflecting God's love revealed through Jesus Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Spiritual growth is a partnership between our intentional choices and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. Just as learning an instrument requires practice and discipline, becoming more like Jesus demands that we actively engage in habits and practices that shape us over time. Passive participation or mere exposure to Christian activities is not enough; growth requires our ongoing, willing cooperation.

2.
The truest measure of our progress in Christlikeness is love—not knowledge, religious activity, or even spiritual experiences. Jesus made it clear that loving God and loving others are the greatest commandments, and this love is the defining mark of his followers. If we want to know how we are growing, we must honestly ask whether we are becoming more loving people.

3.
Love is not simply an emotion or a vague ideal, but a concrete commitment to be present with others and to seek their good. This kind of love mirrors the way God loves us—faithful, sacrificial, and for our benefit. It is a love that must be practised and embodied in real relationships, not just talked about or admired from a distance.

4.
Our ability to love flows from the fact that we are first loved by God. The source of all true love is God himself, who revealed his love most fully in Jesus. As we receive and abide in this love, we are empowered to love others—not out of our own strength, but as a response to the love that has been poured into us.

5.
Growing in love requires intentional practices that centre us on Christ and open us to the Spirit’s shaping. This includes prayer, meditation on Scripture, worship, community, service, and even removing distractions that hinder love. It also means being willing to pay the cost of love, which often runs counter to the comfort and self-focus of our culture.


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