Actions, 1 June 2025
Actions
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Series: 1 John
June 1, 2025
1 John 3:11-24
Series Big Idea: One of Jesus’ best friends offers timeless teaching on following Jesus.
Big Idea: Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
Although it’s not an exact quote from the Bible, there’s a phrase I like to use. It was mentioned in 1628 by John Pym in the UK’s Parliamentary records. Mark Twain, Abraham Lincoln, and Dale Carnegie believed it. Thomas Mantono’s sermons 1693 refer to it. Cultures from Africa to Japan have spoken it. The phrase…actions speak louder than words.
We’re in the middle of a series on the short book of 1 John. It’s an epistle, a letter to first-century Christians. Throughout the series, we’ve seen certain words and phrases repeated including the word love which appears seven times in today's text.
For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. (1 John 3:11)
I know it’s not popular to “should” people, but John “shoulds” his audience. Obviously this isn’t shocking news. Jesus said, “Love one another” in John 13:34. Romans 13:8 records it. Peter said it twice in his first epistle. John mentions it in both 1 and 2 John.
It has been heard from the beginning. Amazingly, the first use of the English word “love” in the NIV translation of the Bible besides husband/wife intimacy is in Genesis chapter 20! In the NLT, it’s not until the 22nd chapter of Genesis where God says to Abraham,
“Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” (Genesis 22:2, NLT)
Certainly the concept of love has been expressed by God since creation in the first verse of the Bible, both God’s love for us and human love for one another. The English language uses the same word “love” to describe many different things. The love I have for my wife, sister, mom, God, and ice cream are different. John uses the Greek word agapao, agape love. It means benevolence, goodwill, pure, sacrificial love. It desires the highest good of others and is the highest form of love, demonstrated in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, rooted in God’s character.
For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. (1 John 3:11)
We should agape one another.
Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.
(1 John 3:12)
It’s obvious to say don’t murder, but the first brothers are a great example of the contrast between evil and righteousness. Murder is not love!
Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. (1 Jn 3:13)
It amazes me how people are surprised when the world doesn’t embrace the Kingdom of God. The world hates it. It hates Jesus. It hates his followers. You can’t love God and the world. You must choose who will you follow. Jesus said,
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13)
You cannot serve both God and money.
You cannot serve both God and fame.
You cannot serve both God and power.
You cannot serve both God and yourself.
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. (1 John 3:14)
Love = life
No love = death
Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. (1 John 3:15)
You may be thinking, “I haven’t murdered anyone!” Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. (Matthew 5:21-22)
Jesus always raises the bar, making it harder to achieve perfection. He knows we can’t, which is why we need him. We need the cross and empty tomb. We need forgiveness and mercy and grace, which we will remember in a few moments.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. (1 John 3:16)
“Jesus, let’s not get carried away! Die for others?” That’s what love requires. That’s what following Jesus looks like in the real world. It’s radical! It’s not just a warm, fuzzy feeling in my head. It requires action.
If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? (1 John 3:17)
This one might be harder! How many opportunities do we have to die for someone? But how often do we see a brother or sister in need? Probably every Sunday! Maybe every day!
I’m going to open a can of worms for a moment. There are many reasons why people are in need. Some are self-inflicted, others are what people would call “bad luck.” Some people do not want to get well. Others require professional help. Often the worst thing we can do is offer handouts instead of hand-ups. I’m grateful for Christian Clearing House, City Mission, the Women’s Resource Center, and other local ministry partners who are able to screen people and assess if they really want to get well.
I have people show up on our campus frequently asking for help. I want to love them well, but what they want and what they need may be two different things. Hancock County has a great directory of over 100 different resources available to help with housing, mental health, food, crisis, clothing, transportation, and finances, just to name a few. We have copies at our office window.
Let’s not forget our brother and sister may be on the other side of the world, which is why I appreciate the work of the Global Reach of the Churches of God, General Conference and groups like Compassion International.
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18)
Talk is cheap. Walk the talk. Actions speak louder than words. As my friends at That Neighborhood Church in Toledo say, “Love God. Love others. Prove it!” Sometimes prayer can be a way to love someone, but often people need time, labor, wisdom, money, a ride, shelter, or other things that require more than good thoughts or happy vibes.
This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. (1 John 3:19-22)
I like to say God’s love language is obedience.
And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. (1 John 3:23)
Love one another. That’s how we please God. That’s how we love God!
The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. (1 John 3:24)
We will talk more about the Holy Spirit next week on Pentecost Sunday at 10 AM before our annual picnic. I can’t wait!
So What?
Our world is filled with cultural Christians, Sunday Christians, religious Christians. The true test of our faith is a four-letter word…L-O-V-E. If you need a refresher, here’s what it looks like:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Does that describe your life, your love? I pray we would be known not for our politics, policies, or dogma, but by our love. Sacrifice. Actions speak louder than words.
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18)
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Series: 1 John
June 1, 2025
1 John 3:11-24
Series Big Idea: One of Jesus’ best friends offers timeless teaching on following Jesus.
Big Idea: Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
Although it’s not an exact quote from the Bible, there’s a phrase I like to use. It was mentioned in 1628 by John Pym in the UK’s Parliamentary records. Mark Twain, Abraham Lincoln, and Dale Carnegie believed it. Thomas Mantono’s sermons 1693 refer to it. Cultures from Africa to Japan have spoken it. The phrase…actions speak louder than words.
We’re in the middle of a series on the short book of 1 John. It’s an epistle, a letter to first-century Christians. Throughout the series, we’ve seen certain words and phrases repeated including the word love which appears seven times in today's text.
For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. (1 John 3:11)
I know it’s not popular to “should” people, but John “shoulds” his audience. Obviously this isn’t shocking news. Jesus said, “Love one another” in John 13:34. Romans 13:8 records it. Peter said it twice in his first epistle. John mentions it in both 1 and 2 John.
It has been heard from the beginning. Amazingly, the first use of the English word “love” in the NIV translation of the Bible besides husband/wife intimacy is in Genesis chapter 20! In the NLT, it’s not until the 22nd chapter of Genesis where God says to Abraham,
“Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” (Genesis 22:2, NLT)
Certainly the concept of love has been expressed by God since creation in the first verse of the Bible, both God’s love for us and human love for one another. The English language uses the same word “love” to describe many different things. The love I have for my wife, sister, mom, God, and ice cream are different. John uses the Greek word agapao, agape love. It means benevolence, goodwill, pure, sacrificial love. It desires the highest good of others and is the highest form of love, demonstrated in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, rooted in God’s character.
For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. (1 John 3:11)
We should agape one another.
Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.
(1 John 3:12)
It’s obvious to say don’t murder, but the first brothers are a great example of the contrast between evil and righteousness. Murder is not love!
Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. (1 Jn 3:13)
It amazes me how people are surprised when the world doesn’t embrace the Kingdom of God. The world hates it. It hates Jesus. It hates his followers. You can’t love God and the world. You must choose who will you follow. Jesus said,
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13)
You cannot serve both God and money.
You cannot serve both God and fame.
You cannot serve both God and power.
You cannot serve both God and yourself.
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. (1 John 3:14)
Love = life
No love = death
Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. (1 John 3:15)
You may be thinking, “I haven’t murdered anyone!” Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. (Matthew 5:21-22)
Jesus always raises the bar, making it harder to achieve perfection. He knows we can’t, which is why we need him. We need the cross and empty tomb. We need forgiveness and mercy and grace, which we will remember in a few moments.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. (1 John 3:16)
“Jesus, let’s not get carried away! Die for others?” That’s what love requires. That’s what following Jesus looks like in the real world. It’s radical! It’s not just a warm, fuzzy feeling in my head. It requires action.
If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? (1 John 3:17)
This one might be harder! How many opportunities do we have to die for someone? But how often do we see a brother or sister in need? Probably every Sunday! Maybe every day!
I’m going to open a can of worms for a moment. There are many reasons why people are in need. Some are self-inflicted, others are what people would call “bad luck.” Some people do not want to get well. Others require professional help. Often the worst thing we can do is offer handouts instead of hand-ups. I’m grateful for Christian Clearing House, City Mission, the Women’s Resource Center, and other local ministry partners who are able to screen people and assess if they really want to get well.
I have people show up on our campus frequently asking for help. I want to love them well, but what they want and what they need may be two different things. Hancock County has a great directory of over 100 different resources available to help with housing, mental health, food, crisis, clothing, transportation, and finances, just to name a few. We have copies at our office window.
Let’s not forget our brother and sister may be on the other side of the world, which is why I appreciate the work of the Global Reach of the Churches of God, General Conference and groups like Compassion International.
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18)
Talk is cheap. Walk the talk. Actions speak louder than words. As my friends at That Neighborhood Church in Toledo say, “Love God. Love others. Prove it!” Sometimes prayer can be a way to love someone, but often people need time, labor, wisdom, money, a ride, shelter, or other things that require more than good thoughts or happy vibes.
This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. (1 John 3:19-22)
I like to say God’s love language is obedience.
And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. (1 John 3:23)
Love one another. That’s how we please God. That’s how we love God!
The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. (1 John 3:24)
We will talk more about the Holy Spirit next week on Pentecost Sunday at 10 AM before our annual picnic. I can’t wait!
So What?
Our world is filled with cultural Christians, Sunday Christians, religious Christians. The true test of our faith is a four-letter word…L-O-V-E. If you need a refresher, here’s what it looks like:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Does that describe your life, your love? I pray we would be known not for our politics, policies, or dogma, but by our love. Sacrifice. Actions speak louder than words.
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18)