Lakewood Midweek | Look Within

Main message: Love begins with God — because God is love and first loved us — so learning to love others requires first looking within, receiving God's love, and allowing that security to shape sacrificial, outward-focused relationships. The sermon offered practical ways to examine and grow in love for yourself, your neighbors, and God.

Key points:

• God is love (not just something God does); our love for others is a response to God’s love for us.
• 1 Corinthians 13 is a corrective to a dysfunctional church (not just a wedding reading): gifts and actions without love are empty.
• Jesus’ summary: Love God fully and “love your neighbor as yourself” — we often can’t love others well if we don’t know how to love ourselves rightly.
• Use the mirror metaphor: examine yourself to reflect God’s love, not to shame — align with God before critiquing others.
• Four reflective questions to ask before responding in conflict: What is God revealing in me? Where do I need healing? Am I responding from insecurity or identity? Have I spent time receiving God’s love before giving my opinion?
• Practical expressions of love include sacrificial presence (not rushing), serving others in small ways, healthy boundaries, and seeking healing/grace to love oneself and others.

Scriptures mentioned: 1 John 4:16, 1 John 4:19, 1 Corinthians 13, Mark 12, Matthew 7:5, Proverbs 3:3