The next awkward moment with that church member you “just can’t stand” is probably an invitation from God to showcase His grace. This sermon walks through our sinful resistance to loving fellow believers, the love of Jesus that overcomes it, and the Spirit’s ongoing work that keeps us serving side-by-side. You can do nothing apart from Jesus, so the risen Lord pours His power into word, water, bread, and wine for us to receive and then share.

Takeaways:

• Our default is to shut off affection when friction arises, but Christ's love dissolves that excuse.

• The Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead equips us to say no to sin and yes to sacrificial service.

• Regular reception of Word and Sacrament keeps us abiding in Christ, the Vine, and bearing lasting fruit.

• Congregations that put others first become magnetic witnesses to a watching world.