Love Out Loud: Letting Faith Overflow into Every Corner of Life
Let’s be real—most of us have the whole “Sunday routine” thing down pretty well. We show up, sit in the same pew, and listen to the sermon. We might even toss in an occasional kind act during the week to keep things balanced. And don’t get me wrong—those things matter. But is that really all Jesus had in mind when He said, “follow me”?
Something tells me He had a little more in mind than just a weekly church pit stop and the occasional good deed.
I’m gonna challenge you a little bit: Church isn’t just about checking a box or clocking in for an hour on Sunday. The real deal is living a faith that spills over into every part of your life, not just on the day of rest. It’s about letting your love for God pour out into every relationship, every decision, every thing you do.
And this isn’t just a solo gig—it’s what our whole LIFT (Living in Faith Together) discipleship program is all about. This isn’t just a tagline; it’s how we’re trying to live as a community. We’re on a journey together, learning what it means to love God out loud in real, everyday life.
Usually when presented with this sort of challenge, people agree in general, but then shrug their shoulders and say but how? This is an answerable question and it centers around the one thing Jesus said all Christians were to do. In Matthew 28 he clearly spelled out that the overriding task of the church is to make disciples. If you don’t know what that looks like concretely, that’s OK but it’s not OK to stay that way. What we’re doing with LIFT is putting legs on that concept.
When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment is, He didn’t hesitate. Love God with everything you’ve got, and love your neighbor like you love yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). Simple, right? Except… not so simple. Loving out loud is about putting that love into action in real, practical ways.
We can’t just talk about loving God and call it good—we’ve gotta let that love overflow.
Let’s get into what this looks like with the five essentials:
- Believing that Jesus is God – We start by recognizing Jesus for who He is, and that faith in Him changes everything.
- Following Him – This is about more than agreeing with what Jesus said. It’s about walking the way He walked, living the way He lived.
- Loving God with all we are – Not just with part of our hearts, but with everything. This impacts how we live, how we think, how we interact.
- Loving our neighbor – Simple, but not always easy. This is where we let that love out, especially when it’s inconvenient.
- Making disciples – It’s about passing this life on. Real love always invites others in, always helps others grow.
These aren’t just nice ideas to ponder—they’re a roadmap for living a faith that matters. And this is where LIFT comes in. We’re learning together how to live these out in practical, messy, imperfect ways. Trying to figure this out all by yourself is the absolute opposite of Jesus’ plan for this. It’s a very American/western thing to do, but it is the absolute repudiation of the way of Jesus. We were meant to pursue discipleship in community. That’s where LIFT comes in.
Faith That Spills Over: Relationships First
Loving out loud means more than a pat on the back for doing the bare minimum. It’s about the kind of love that starts with God and leaks into everything else, especially how we treat people.
Think about it: The people we bump into every day—spouses, kids, coworkers, that guy who’s always in a hurry at the grocery store—what if we let our faith shape how we respond to them? What if, instead of snapping when things go sideways, we respond with the grace and patience we’ve been shown? Or what if when we snap, we get curious and share this with our community to go deeper and unravel the power of that temper?
This is where our LIFT groups really come into play. We’re learning how to let God’s love spill over into our everyday lives, relationships, and beyond. We’re talking about showing kindness when it’s not convenient, forgiving even when it’s hard, and going the extra mile when it’s easier to sit back.
Call to Action #1: Jump into LIFT
So, let’s get practical—how do we do this? Start by getting involved. If you’ve been coming to church but haven’t plugged into a smaller group, I’m telling you, LIFT is where it happens. That’s where we take the faith we hear about on Sundays and figure out how to live it Monday through Saturday. We’re all still learning—none of us have this down pat—but it’s a place where we grow together.
You don’t have to be some super-Christian to jump in—just be willing to show up, listen, and share. That’s how we live in faith together. It’s not too late to join. You just heard this from the person who’s leading it and running it. So I’ll repeat it again, it’s not too late to join.
Let Your Love Overflow: Faith in Real Life
If there’s one thing Jesus showed us, it’s that love isn’t meant to stay hidden. He didn’t just love people in His prayers or sermons. He got out there and showed it—healing the sick, feeding the hungry, hanging out with outcasts. He loved loud and bold.
What would it look like if we did the same?
Here’s a quick gut check: Are there places in your life where your faith feels, well… quiet? Maybe it’s with your family, maybe it’s at work, or maybe it’s with that friend who’s always testing your patience. What if, this week, you let your love for God overflow into those spaces?
It doesn’t have to be flashy. Maybe it’s an extra dose of patience when your spouse is driving you nuts. Maybe it’s offering to help a neighbor without being asked. Small things can make a big difference.
Call to Action #2: Let Your Faith Overflow
Here’s a challenge for you: This week, pick one relationship where you can let your love for God overflow. What’s one small but intentional way you can love out loud? A kind word, an unexpected favor, a little more patience than usual. Look for an opportunity to do something, even if it’s small. The point is to let God’s love show up in real, practical ways.
Remember, this isn’t about trying to impress anyone. It’s about living out the love we’ve been given.
Making Disciples: Love on a Mission
Here’s the thing about love: when it’s real, it spreads. It doesn’t stop with us. When we love out loud, we naturally invite others into this life of faith. Jesus didn’t just tell us to love people and call it a day—He said go out and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). And making disciples isn’t some super-spiritual thing reserved for pastors. It’s what we’re all called to do. It’s simple, garden-variety, Christianity.
In our LIFT groups, we’re all about this. We learn from each other, encourage each other, and hold each other accountable. We’re not just sitting around talking about love; we’re finding ways to live it.
Call to Action #3: Bring Someone Along
Who do you know that could use a little encouragement or a nudge toward Jesus? Maybe it’s someone who’s been on the fringes, or maybe it’s a friend who’s been asking questions about faith. I challenge you to invite them. Sometimes all it takes is a simple invitation to a LIFT group, a conversation over coffee, or just being there for them when they need it.
Don’t overthink it—just invite them to take a step closer to Jesus. That’s what making disciples is all about.
Conclusion: Loving Out Loud, Together
At the end of the day, this life of faith isn’t about playing it safe. It’s about letting love out. The love we have for God should be visible—it should overflow. Not just on Sundays, but every day, in every interaction, in every part of our lives.
That’s what we’re all about here—living in faith together. And let me tell you, it’s a wild, messy, beautiful journey. So, what do you say? Ready to love out loud and see what God can do through you? Let’s do this together.
Pastor Mark
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