Love Without Limit

Introduction

Jesus speaks these words during His final hours with the disciples

These are not casual instructions, but a critical final message

He follows the wonderful passage about vines and branches and the gardener with a powerful explanation of what His love is all about.

What is the fruit that we bear? The Holy Spirit enables us to LOVE.

That word often runs who we are— what we love, who we love— why we love. The disagreements we see in the world, the deep fractures in societies, wars, politics, social justice issues— all rooted— in the very basement of those conflicts—- rooted in what we would consider our highest love. It is the orientation of our decisions. The very core of people’s identity— the sum total of what they love.

Based on John 15:9-13

John 15:9–13 NIV

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

What is love?

It’s not this simple, mushy, gushy, affection that we feel for someone… It’s far deeper than that— it’s Agape love— that’s the greek word that Jesus is using here— it’s born out of a choice. It’s a God type of love.

Big Idea: Love is not just an emotion we feel, but a command we live and a sacrifice we choose.

John 15:9 NIV

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

1. Love launches from Jesus (v. 9)

When I was about 7-8 years old, I started playing baseball. And I was a thin, fast little kid that could run down almost any shot hit into the outfield. I grew up running basically all over the field catching fly balls.

One day I remember my coach coming out to center field with me as my teamates were hitting balls. For this particular kid, he took my shoulder and placed me on the right hand side of second base— and after a couple pitches— that kid hit the fly ball right to me. On the next kid, he moved me to the left hand side— same thing— right to me. He then taught be to watch the feet and the swing of the batter— he taught me to observe and abide in my position

God's love is the endless reservoir.

"We love because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19)

Example: Like a deep well that never runs dry, God's love continually flows, providing sustenance even in the driest seasons of life.

Our love is a response to God's love.

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

Example: Just as a child learns to love by first experiencing parental love, we learn to love by experiencing God's unconditional love.

2. Love looks like loyalty (v. 10)

Obedience is the pathway to deeper love.

"If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love." (John 15:10)

Example: Like a farmer who follows time-tested methods and experiences a bountiful harvest, we experience the fullness of God's love through obedience.

Jesus' perfect obedience is our model.

"Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered." (Hebrews 5:8)

Example: Our Mennonite tradition of humble service reflects this principle of loving through obedient submission.

3. Love lights up our life (v. 11)

True joy is found in connection with Christ.

"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." (John 15:11)

Example: Not the temporary happiness of worldly success, but a deep, abiding joy that sustains through life's challenges.

Joy is the fruit of abiding in love.

"The joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10)

Example: Witnessed in our community's resilience during hardships, finding strength in God's unchanging love.

4. Love leads us to sacrifice (v. 12-13)

Love is demonstrated through sacrifice.

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12)

Example: Like the community barn raising, where each person gives up personal time to help a neighbor rebuild.

Ultimate love is laying down our life.

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." (John 15:13)

Example: Our Mennonite peace tradition of conscientious objection, choosing love over violence, embodies this principle.

Conclusion

Love is not a passive emotion but an active choice

We are called to love as Christ loved - sacrificially, unconditionally

Our love reveals Christ's presence in us

Question for reflection: How will you choose sacrificial love this week?

We must see our circumstances through God’s love instead of, as we are prone to do, seeing God’s love through our circumstances.

Jerry Bridges

Discussion Questions:

When have you experienced God's love most tangibly?

How does obedience to God's commands actually increase our experience of love?

What does sacrificial love look like in our community today?

How can we move from understanding love as a feeling to practicing love as a choice?

In what areas of your life is God calling you to a deeper, more sacrificial love?