1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Love First: The Foundation of the Harvest
- Everything God grows in our lives — relationships, purpose, impact — is rooted in love.
- Over the next few weeks, we’re going to explore how receiving God’s love changes how we live, lead, and love others. Because when love comes first, the harvest follows.
1 John 4:19 We love because He first loved us.
When love is received, we are changed.
- Jesus meets us before we deserve it.
- And if you want to see that clearly — look at Paul, also called Saul, in the bible.
- Before Saul ever wrote about love… he hated the people that followed Jesus.
Acts 9:1 Saul was still breathing out threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.
He was Religious… passionate… convinced he was right… but he was completely wrong.
And right in the middle of that — Jesus steps in.
Acts 9:3-5 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
Romans 5:8 While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
While Saul was persecuting… Jesus was pursuing.
- And that’s not just Saul’s story — that’s how Jesus meets all of us.
It’s that moment when you’re lying awake at night thinking… “Something in my life isn’t right…”
It’s when you hear truth — in a conversation, a sermon, a song — and it hits deeper than you expected.
It’s that quiet feeling that says, “There has to be more than this.”
That’s not guilt… That’s not punishment… That’s pursuit.
- That’s Jesus stepping close and saying, “I’m here… and I still want you.”
- Your part is to stop… to be honest about where you are… and to respond.
Maybe your response is praying a simple, “God, I need You.”
- Maybe it means listening instead of running.
- Maybe it means taking one step back toward Him.
- You don’t have to have it all figured out — you just say yes to the moment.
- Because that’s how love steps in first — meeting you right where you are.
When love transforms us, we love differently.
The Spirit reshapes how we love people
After Saul’s encounter with Jesus, everything changes.
- He’s blinded… helpless… dependent on the very people he once hunted.
- Then God does the unexpected.
- He sends Ananias — a believer who was terrified of Saul — to lay hands on him.
Acts 9:17-18 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord — Jesus, who appeared to you on the road — has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.
- The man who terrified believers… is welcomed like family.
In that instant, Ananias isn’t speaking to Saul’s past — he’s calling out his new identity.
- Love speaks first: “You belong.”
- That’s transforming love.
Romans 5:5 The love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit…
Love flows in → love flows out.
No inflow = no overflow.
- When grace flows in, it’s meant to flow out.
- When we keep receiving and sharing, momentum builds and life spreads.
- But when we try to contain what we receive, stagnation begins.
- God didn’t design us to collect and store. He designed us for inflow and outflow —
When inflow becomes overflow… you are Giving what you have away… life multiplies.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
“Love is patient…”
- Patience means letting people grow at God’s pace, not yours.
“Love is kind…”
- Kindness is strength choosing gentleness.
“Love keeps no record of wrongs…”
- Some of us forgive… but we keep receipts.
- Real love drops the ledger.
- Love expects the best instead of keeping receipts.
POINT 3 When love gathers, the harvest follows.
- When God’s love fills your heart and the overflow happens… it doesn’t stay inside.
- It starts impacting the people around you.
Bring a Friend Sunday is NEXT WEEK!
Here is what Saul did…
Acts 9:20 “At once he began to preach… that Jesus is the Son of God.”
Acts 9:28 “So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely… speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.”
Acts 11:26 “…For a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people.”
Acts 14:21 “They preached the gospel… and won a large number of disciples.”
Acts 15:41 “He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.”
Acts 20:24 “…My only aim is to finish the race… and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me.”
That’s what happened to Saul. After he encounters Jesus… everything shifts.
- The man who once pushed people away from God… now spends his life helping people find Jesus.
- The man who once scattered people… now travels city to city bringing them together.
1 John 4:12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.
1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
That’s how harvest happens.
- Changed hearts… reaching people.
- We gather people because we love them.
I love what Jesus did with Saul…
- Jesus didn’t crush him… He transformed him.
- Love received… became love formed… became love released.
- And if Jesus can rewrite Saul… what could His love do in you?
Jesus is saying today: “Come back to love first. Let Me fill your heart again.”