New Life Christian Church

What's Love Got To Do With It? (Linton Hall Sermon)

·43 min·4 clips
Paul summons his spiritual sons for a last goodbye, knowing he faces death in Jerusalem.
The episode begins with the speaker acknowledging the cold weather and offering a prayer for Preston and Meg, setting a communal tone. He introduces the sermon's focus on love from Acts 20, describing it as a practical and emotional passage. The speaker provides background on Luke as the author of Acts and Paul's three-year investment in the Ephesian church. He explains that Paul, on his third missionary journey, calls the elders to Miletus for a final meeting, knowing he faces suffering and death in Jerusalem. The sermon then details ten characteristics of genuine love derived from Paul's actions and words: presence, action directed toward God, humility, compassion, faithful endurance, eternal perspective, Spirit-yielded obedience, mission-driven intentionality, speaking truth in love, and unselfishness. Throughout, the speaker illustrates points with personal stories, such as a divine appointment at a wedding and conversations on a ski lift. He references cultural examples like a video clip about romantic miscommunication, quotes from C.S. Lewis and Rick Warren, and anecdotes about NFL quarterbacks and missionary Jim Elliott. The speaker warns against moralistic efforts, instead urging listeners to yield to God's grace. He concludes by highlighting Jesus as the perfect example of love and leads a prayer for transformation.

As heard by us

A church-centered sermon on grief, community, and the freedom of worth grounded in God.

The sermon opens in shared grief, holding Preston and Meg in prayer and urging the church to stay near people who are hurting. From there, it moves through a Chris Berman pop quiz, the cold morning outside, and a broader question about where Christians should place their sense…

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Why you'd press play

You can start with a church family learning how to mourn with hope and end up asking where your own worth is really anchored.

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