Why is it that trusting Jesus can feel simple, but loving people can feel like the hardest part of following Him?
In this message, we take an honest look at something most believers feel but rarely say out loud – loving people can be complicated. Not because we lack faith, but because real relationships ask something of us. They touch the places where we’ve been stretched, disappointed, or guarded. So how do we love others in a way that reflects Jesus without pretending, performing, or pushing past our limits? And what does it look like to love people with Jesus rather than for Jesus?
As we round down our Am I the Only One series, we explore the quiet tension many mature believers experience – the desire to love people well and the hesitation that rises from real life. This message looks at how Jesus meets us in that tension, how His Spirit fills what we lack, and how love expressed with Him awakens and strengthens our faith. It’s not about pressure or performance. It’s about presence, honesty, and learning to love from the life of Christ within us.
If you missed the live service or want to reflect further, you can watch the full message above anytime after. We’ve also included discussion questions to dig deeper into the message and a handout with fill-ins to guide your reflection. You can find the handout by clicking the “Download” button above. Whether you watch this on your own or share it with your small group, we hope this message encourages you.
Discussion Questions
- What part of loving people feels the most natural to you and what part tends to make you hesitate or pull back?
- Where do you notice the difference between loving for Jesus and loving with Jesus in your own relationships?
- How has past hurt or disappointment shaped the way you approach new relationships or maintain existing ones?
- In what ways have you seen God meet you in moments when you felt guarded or unsure how to love someone?
- When you think about Romans 5:5, what does it look like in your real life for the Holy Spirit to fill your heart with God’s love?
- How do you personally discern the difference between healthy boundaries and emotional withdrawal?
- Which part of the Colossians 3 “wardrobe” feels easiest for you to put on, and which garment feels hardest to reach for?
- Where have you experienced faith waking up or becoming more alive when you offered even a small act of love with Jesus?
- How do you stay connected enough to Jesus in daily life so that love can flow through you instead of coming from your own supply?
- What is one simple, Spirit-led expression of love you can practice this week that doesn’t overwhelm you but keeps your heart open?
