Introduction: The High Bar of Jesus
Jesus calls his followers to love as he loved, serve as he served, and sacrifice as he sacrificed. That is a high bar—one that leaves us asking: How can I really do this? This sermon explores what will be required: a love energized by faith.
What Is Faith?
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” But faith is more than a slogan—it is a deep conviction, a willingness to be all in even when there is uncertainty. It is stepping into the unknown, trusting that God will see us through.
Transformation from the Inside Out
We can appear religious on the outside while something very different is happening within. Jesus does not simply want outward performance; he wants an inside-out transformation. We cannot give what we have not received—we cannot pour out, feed, touch, or heal without first being filled by God.
Who We Are and Whose We Are (1 John 3)
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1). God adopts us—people from vastly different backgrounds and cultures—and shapes us into His family. Our true authentic self is not found in following every impulse, but in the identity God has given us as His sons and daughters. That identity reshapes our behavior, our thinking, and our decisions.
A Love That Requires Faith (1 John 4:7–13)
Relationships within God’s family are challenging. Sometimes family hurts us. To love deeply—even our “enemies”—requires faith, because it means stepping into vulnerable, unknown territory rather than replaying the old tapes in our heads. “Everyone who loves has been born of God” (1 John 4:7). When we love by faith, God resides in us and His love is made complete.
Learning from Jesus in Mark 9
A closer look at Mark 9 reveals what love energized by faith looks like in practice:
- Compassion in the chaos. After a grueling season—John the Baptist killed, no time to eat—Jesus seeks rest, but the crowds arrive ahead of him. Instead of retreating, he sees them “like sheep without a shepherd” and begins to teach them. Love notices; love chooses compassion over self-preservation.
- Feeding the 5,000 (Psalm 23). With only five loaves and two fish, Jesus feeds thousands until all are satisfied. “The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing.” The good shepherd takes care of the sheep.
- Dismissing the crowd. Unlike any politician or celebrity, Jesus actually sends the crowd away—then goes off alone to pray. Prayer is his food source. To stop in the midst of exhaustion and trust God for supernatural strength requires faith.
- Walking on water; healing all who touch him. Still without rest, he heals everyone throughout the region. This is love that does not quit—and it flows from faith, not from personal reserves.
Faith Is Relational, Not Just Willpower
Faith is not “gutting it out.” It is relational—connection, dependence, surrender. It means acknowledging: I am empty. I need to be filled. I need to be changed from within. At some point the example of Jesus must become life in us, not merely an inspiration we admire from a distance.
Seeing and Savoring Jesus
To savor something is to enjoy it slowly, noticing every nuance. God invites us to engage with Jesus that way—not driven merely by what he provides, but drawn by the passion, the character, and all the different dimensions of who he is. Seeing and savoring Jesus means allowing that vision to shape how we actually live.
Jesus’ Own Faith in the Garden
Even Jesus had to surrender by faith. In Gethsemane he wrestled: “I don’t want to do this—yet not my will, but yours.” He trusted that the Father would raise him, that his death would mean salvation. His life of love was fueled by faith in his Father—and so must ours be.
Communion: Our Love Fueled by Faith
As we come to the Lord’s table, we remember that Jesus was all in—fully committed, fully surrendered. Our communion with him and with one another is itself an act of faith. As we eat and drink together, our love is fueled by the same trust that carried Jesus through the cross and out of the tomb.