How do you know if a church is healthy?
Neither Jesus nor the New Testament presents growth as the measure of church health.
Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand.
And the Lord said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel
Amos 7:7-8
There is a plumb line for everything in life.
Bottom Line: Love is the plumb line by which everything in life must be measured.
Do everything in love
1 Corinthians 16:14
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
God is love
1 John 4:8
Love is not just a verb that God does, love is a noun that God is.
What is love?
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
1 John 3:16
Love is others-centered, self-sacrificial, Calvary-like, cross-shaped, & Jesus-like.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:5
Love looks like Jesus.
Love moves downward with humility and outward in service.
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:8
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40
The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Galatians 5:6
Jesus-like love is the objective standard for assessing spiritual maturity.
Jesus-like love is to be our witness to a watching world.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35
I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
— Mahatma Gandhi
Action Steps
Prayerful Reflection
Spend some time with Jesus this week praying through the following questions:
- Where is my life out of alignment with Jesus-like love?
- Where am I more concerned with appearing impressive than loving like Jesus?
- Who is Jesus inviting me to love more intentionally with humility and service?
Practice
- Identify one person Jesus is calling you to love intentionally this week.
- Spend time asking Jesus to help you see this person the way he sees them.
- Pray for them each day AND find one way to take action for their good.
