/
RSS Feed
Bruce Hempel discusses the hallmark of Christian faith as love within the early church, emphasizing how this love was demonstrated through radical generosity, unity, and care for one another. He highlights Jesus’ commandment in John 13:34-35 and shows how this was lived out in Acts, where believers shared possessions and met each other’s needs. The sermon also addresses the imperfections of the early church and the ongoing need for love to cover conflicts and sins.
Bullet points with key content:
- [00:00:00] Bruce introduces the topic of love as the hallmark of the early church, referencing Jesus’ command in John 13:34-35.
- [00:02:16] He turns to Acts 2:41-47, describing how the early church grew rapidly and shared resources to meet needs.
- [00:05:48] Acts 4:32-37 is cited to show the unity and generosity of believers, with Barnabas as an example.
- [00:07:16] Acts 6:1-6 illustrates how the early church addressed conflicts (e.g., neglect of Hellenistic widows) by appointing deacons.
- [00:10:09] Bruce notes the early church wasn’t perfect but was being perfected through love.
- [00:13:12] 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 is read, showing the Thessalonians’ love for one another.
- [00:15:45] Love covers sins (1 Peter 4:8) and is essential for resolving conflicts in families and churches.
- [00:20:05] The church is described as a family (brothers/sisters) and a household of faith (Galatians 6:10).
- [00:25:46] Bruce shares a story from The Jesus Family in Communist China to illustrate sacrificial love.
- [00:28:28] Philemon 15-16 is referenced, showing how Paul urged Philemon to treat Onesimus as a brother.
- [00:32:32] 1 Peter 2:17 commands believers to “love the brotherhood.”
- [00:38:06] 1 Peter 1:22 is highlighted: “Love one another earnestly from the heart.”
Scripture References
- John 13:34-35
- Acts 2:41-47
- Acts 4:32-37
- Acts 6:1-6
- 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
- 1 Peter 4:8
- Galatians 6:10
- Philemon 15-16
- 1 Peter 2:17
- 1 Peter 1:22
Generated by AI model deepseek-chat