FOCUS SCRIPTURE: (30) And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. (31) And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” ~ Mark 12:30-31 KJV
SUMMARY: In “Reaching Out in Love,” the opening message of the “Called to Outreach” series, we are reminded of the two greatest commandments found in Mark 12:30–31: to love God and to love others. This sermon explores how love flows in three powerful ways that reflect God’s divine order and purpose for our lives. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture outlines a divine love story that begins with God and ends in us reaching out to others. Let’s explore how love flows:
- Love Flows From God to Us: The first mention of “love” in Genesis 22:2 is prophetic—Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac foreshadows God offering His only Son, fulfilled in John 3:16. God’s love is sacrificial, redemptive, and foundational. Revelation 3:19 reminds us that God’s love also corrects and directs us toward repentance. His love initiates, covers, and transforms us.
- Love Flows From Us to God: Mark 12:30 commands us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, a call rooted in Deuteronomy 6:4–5. We respond to God’s love by giving Him our full devotion. 1 Peter 2:9 identifies believers as a chosen people, called to reflect God’s glory. 1 John 4:18–21 teaches that our love for God is proven by our love for others—without it, our claim to love God is empty.
- Love Flows From Us to Others: Mark 12:31 tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. This aligns with the structure of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20), where the first four focus on loving God and the last six on loving others. Jesus established a new covenant through His blood (Luke 22:20), making us the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27) with a mission to continue His work in the world (John 9:4). Loving others completes the cycle of divine love flowing through us.
Supporting Scriptures: Genesis 22:2, John 3:16, Revelation 3:19, Deuteronomy 6:4–5, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 John 4:18–21, Exodus 20:3–17, Luke 22:20, 1 Corinthians 12:27, John 9:4
Positive Affirmation: God loves me. I love God. I love people.