Church On Mission: Continuing The Mission by LOVING OTHERS
Week 3 of the "Church on Mission" sermon series, titled "Continuing the Mission: Loving Others". The core message emphasizes that biblical love is "action driven affection," not just emotion or obligation, and that loving others is primarily defined by sharing the gospel of reconciliation through Christ. While acts of service and caring for others—referred to as "gospel adornments"—are necessary and important, the speaker asserts that the central, unique mission of the church is to be Christ's ambassadors who proclaim the message of forgiveness, and that the greatest good is spiritual good.
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Study Guide: The Church on Mission - Loving Others
This guide is designed to review the key concepts presented in the third week of the "Church on Mission" sermon series, focusing on the theme of "loving others."
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Short-Answer Quiz
Instructions: Answer the following questions based on the provided sermon transcript. Aim for answers that are 2-3 sentences in length.
What is the three-part mission of the church as defined in the first week of the sermon series?
How does the speaker critique the cultural phrase "love is love"?
What biblical passage is cited as the source for "loving God and loving others," and what is this teaching commonly called?
How is biblical love defined in the sermon, and what are the potential pitfalls of having only emotion or only action?
According to the speaker, what are the two primary ways the church loves others, and which one is most important?
What distinction does pastor Kevin DeYoung make between the central mission of the church and its other activities?
Based on the reading from Second Corinthians chapter 5, what role are Christians called to play in the world?
According to the C.S. Lewis quote, what is the sole purpose for which the church exists?
Can an act of service, or "doing good," be valuable on its own even if the gospel is not explicitly shared?
What does the speaker describe as an "incomplete picture" of loving others?
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Answer Key
The mission of the church is to be a place that helps people continually grow in three areas: loving God, loving others, and making disciples. This was the central point established in the first week of the sermon series.
The speaker critiques "love is love" as a simplistic quip that nobody actually believes. He argues that we naturally understand there are different forms and depths of love, such as the difference between loving a spouse and loving a cheeseburger, which proves the phrase is not a sufficient definition.
The biblical source is Mark chapter 12, verses 28-34. In this passage, Jesus identifies the most important commandments as loving God and loving your neighbor, a teaching which is known as the Great Commandment.
Biblical love is defined as "action driven affection." If love is only emotion, it becomes mere sentimentality; if it is only action, it can become a joyless obligation. Both components are necessary for a complete, biblical expression of love.
The church loves others by, most importantly, sharing the gospel with them. The church also loves others by caring for and serving them. The sermon stresses that sharing the gospel is the central and most crucial element.
Kevin DeYoung identifies the central mission of the church as sharing the good news of Jesus, which is the unique call of the church. Other activities, such as serving the community, are described as "gospel adornments" that supplement this central mission.
According to Second Corinthians 5, Christians are called to be "Christ's ambassadors." They are sent by a greater authority (Christ) to carry the message of reconciliation to the world, acting as the means through which God makes his appeal to others.
The C.S. Lewis quote argues that the church exists for nothing else but to draw people into Christ and to "make little Christs." All other activities, from constructing cathedrals to holding services, are a waste of time if they do not serve this primary purpose.
Yes, an act of "doing good" can be an end in itself. The speaker uses his personal example of helping a woman move furniture to illustrate that God views such an act as good, even if it doesn't immediately lead to a gospel conversation, though it could be a "greater thing" if the gospel were shared.
An incomplete picture of loving others involves focusing on only one part of the equation. A person who boldly proclaims the gospel but never shows kindness or serves people is incomplete, as is a person who only serves people but never looks for opportunities to share the gospel.
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Essay Questions
Instructions: The following questions are designed for deeper reflection on the sermon's themes. Formulate a comprehensive response to each, drawing evidence and examples from the source text.
The sermon emphasizes that loving others involves two key elements in a specific order: sharing the gospel and caring/serving. Discuss this hierarchy, explaining the reasoning provided in the text and using the "central thing vs. adornment" analogy to support the argument.
Analyze the concept of being "Christ's ambassadors" as presented in the sermon's explanation of Second Corinthians 5. What does this role entail, what is the core message ambassadors are meant to carry, and why does the speaker find this calling so profound?
The speaker contrasts the biblical definition of love with the general cultural understanding. Elaborate on this contrast, explaining why the phrase "love is love" is considered insufficient and how the sermon defines "biblical love" as "action driven affection."
Discuss the relationship between "doing good" (acts of service) and sharing the gospel. Can one exist without the other? Use the speaker's personal story about helping the woman with furniture to illustrate how these two aspects can be both distinct and interconnected.
Drawing on the quotes from C.S. Lewis and the overall argument of the sermon, explain what the speaker believes is the "ultimate thing" for a church. Why might activities like having a great kids' ministry, amazing snacks, or even paying someone's oil bill be considered secondary to this ultimate purpose?
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Glossary of Key Terms
Term
Definition from the Source Context
Action Driven Affection
The definition of biblical love, which requires both activity (doing) and emotion (feeling). It is meant to avoid the pitfalls of love becoming either a mere obligation or simple sentimentality.
Ambassador (Christ's)
A believer who is sent by the authority of Jesus Christ to bring the message of reconciliation to the world. Paul's teaching in Second Corinthians 5 identifies this as a central role for Christians.
Church on Mission
The title of the sermon series, which focuses on defining the core purpose and function of the church.
Gospel
The "good news" of Jesus. It is the message of reconciliation, through which people can have their sins forgiven and restore their broken relationship with God.
Gospel Adornments
A term attributed to pastor Kevin DeYoung that refers to the additional, secondary activities the church engages in, such as caring for and serving others. These actions "adorn" or supplement the central mission of sharing the gospel.
Great Commandment
Jesus's teaching from Mark chapter 12, which states that the most important commandments are to love God with all one's heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.
Loving God
The theme of the second week of the sermon series. It is defined as growing one's relationship with God, where one's actions flow out of that relationship ("be before we do").
Loving Others
The theme of the sermon. It is defined as a two-part action: most importantly, sharing the gospel with people, and secondarily, caring for and serving them.
Mission of the Church
As defined in the sermon series, the mission is to help people continually grow in loving God, loving others, and making disciples.
Reconciliation
The restoration of harmony in a broken relationship. In the Christian context, it refers specifically to humanity's relationship with God being restored through the forgiveness of sins offered by Jesus Christ.
The Story
A short video recommended by the speaker as a practical tool that can be easily shared with others to explain the gospel.
