Reach One - Love is the Language
Love IS the Center

Jon Maurer • Lead Pastor
August 18, 2026

6 Minute Read

Summary

In part three of the "Reach 1" series, this week focuses on the foundational role of love in sharing faith with others. The central message is simple but profound: before you open your mouth, open your life. Drawing from John 13:34-35 and 1 John 3:16-18, the challenge is for the believer to love their "one" (a person they are praying for and building a relationship with) in ways that are visible, costly, and genuine. The most common mistake in outreach is to lead with sharing the gospel with only words and not demonstrating the gospel in every action and thought towards others; made visible through love.

Love is defined, not as a feeling, but as a decision rooted in agape, a self-giving, sacrificial, unconditional love that contends for the highest good of others in every situation. This love expresses itself through justice, truth, and grace. Using a personal story about a pastor named Steve Nicholson who invested in him during a painful season of failure, Pastor Jon illustrates how practical, costly acts of love open doors in people's hearts toward God. The conclusion is clear: people are not argued into the kingdom of God, they are loved into it.


Intro Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for bringing us together today. As we open Your Word and reflect on what it means to truly love the people around us, we ask that You soften our hearts and open our eyes. Remove any distractions or preconceived ideas we may have brought into this room. Speak to each of us in the way we personally need to hear from You today. May this time together not just be about gaining knowledge, but about being transformed by Your love so that it flows freely through us to others. In Jesus' name, amen.


Ice Breaker

Think of a time when someone did something unexpectedly kind for you. What did they do, and how did it make you feel?


Key Verses

  1. John 13:34-35
  2. 1 John 3:16
  3. 1 John 3:17-18
  4. Leviticus 19:18


Questions

  1. A little girl named Ruth asked a question: 'If God is bigger than us and lives inside of us, wouldn't He show through?' How would you honestly answer that question about your own life right now?
  2. Agape love is described as love that 'contends for the highest good in every situation until it is present tense.' How does that definition challenge or expand the way you normally think about love?
  3. Jesus called love a commandment, not a suggestion. What is the difference between treating love as a feeling you wait for versus a decision you make? How does that shift change the way you approach relationships?
  4. 'The most common mistake in outreach is leading with the message before the life behind the message is visible.' Have you ever experienced this, either as the person sharing or the person receiving? What happened?
  5. John 13:35 says the world will know we are Jesus' disciples by our love for one another. What do you think the people around you, especially your "one," would say about the love they see in your life and in this church?
  6. Love is described as expressing itself through justice, truth, and grace. Which of these three comes most naturally to you, and which one do you find most difficult to live out? Why?
  7. Steve Nicholson, who loved Pastor Jon through a painful season with a phone call, a plane ticket, a prayer meeting, and a teapot. What stands out to you about that story, and what does it teach you about what love actually looks like in practice?
  8. Think about your "one." What do you know about what they are currently carrying? What is one specific, practical, and possibly costly act of love you could offer them this week?


Life Application

This week, choose one person in your life, your "one," and take a step toward loving them in a way that costs you something. Start by slowing down enough to ask them a real question, such as "How are you really doing?" or "How is your soul?" Then listen without trying to fix anything. Based on what you hear, identify one specific act of love you can offer, whether that is bringing a meal, following up on something they mentioned before, sitting with them in a hard moment, or simply showing up. Let the love you extend this week be visible, intentional, and rooted in a genuine desire for their highest good.


Key Takeaways

  • If God truly lives in us, His love should be visible to the people around us before we ever say a word about our faith.
  • Jesus raised the standard of love from 'love your neighbor as yourself' to 'love one another as I have loved you,' a sacrificial, unconditional agape love that has no limit and never gives up.
  • Love is not a feeling to wait for but a commandment and a decision. It is the primary witness we bring to the world, and it is the proof that we are disciples of Jesus.
  • Love expresses itself in three visible ways: justice (showing up for the overlooked), truth (honest and genuine care), and grace (continuing to show up even when it is not earned).
  • People are not argued into the kingdom of God. They are loved into it. Practical, specific, and costly acts of love open doors in people's hearts toward God.


Ending Prayer

Lord, thank You for this time together and for the reminder that love is not just a nice idea but the very proof of Your presence in our lives. We confess that we often move too fast to notice the needs of the people right in front of us. Slow us down. Open our eyes to what our "one" is carrying. Give us the courage to ask the deeper questions and the patience to truly listen. Fill us with Your agape love, the kind that contends for the highest good of others even when it is costly, even when it is not returned. May the people in our lives see something in us that they cannot fully explain outside of You, and may that draw them closer to You. We trust You with the pace and the outcome. In Jesus' name, amen.

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From this Collection: Sermon Guides
August 18, 2026 • 6 Minute Read
Reach One - Love is the Language
Summary In part three of the "Reach 1" series, this week focuses on the foundational role of love in sharing faith with others. The central message is simple but profound: before you open your mouth, open your life. Drawing from John 13:34-35 and 1 John 3:16-18, the challenge is for the believer to love their "one" (a person they are praying for and building a relationship with) in ways that are visible, costly, and genuine. The most common mistake in outreach is to lead with sharing the gospel with only words and not demonstrating the gospel in every action and thought towards others; made visible through love. Love is defined, not as a feeling, but as a decision rooted in agape, a self-giving, sacrificial, unconditional love that contends for the highest good of others in every situation. This love expresses itself through justice, truth, and grace. Using a personal story about a pastor named Steve Nicholson who invested in him during a painful season of failure, Pastor Jon illustrates how practical, costly acts of love open doors in people's hearts toward God. The conclusion is clear: people are not argued into the kingdom of God, they are loved into it. Intro Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for bringing us together today. As we open Your Word and reflect on what it means to truly love the people around us, we ask that You soften our hearts and open our eyes. Remove any distractions or preconceived ideas we may have brought into this room. Speak to each of us in the way we personally need to hear from You today. May this time together not just be about gaining knowledge, but about being transformed by Your love so that it flows freely through us to others. In Jesus' name, amen. Ice Breaker Think of a time when someone did something unexpectedly kind for you. What did they do, and how did it make you feel? Key Verses John 13:34-35 1 John 3:16 1 John 3:17-18 Leviticus 19:18 Questions A little girl named Ruth asked a question: 'If God is bigger than us and lives inside of us, wouldn't He show through?' How would you honestly answer that question about your own life right now? Agape love is described as love that 'contends for the highest good in every situation until it is present tense.' How does that definition challenge or expand the way you normally think about love? Jesus called love a commandment, not a suggestion. What is the difference between treating love as a feeling you wait for versus a decision you make? How does that shift change the way you approach relationships? 'The most common mistake in outreach is leading with the message before the life behind the message is visible.' Have you ever experienced this, either as the person sharing or the person receiving? What happened? John 13:35 says the world will know we are Jesus' disciples by our love for one another. What do you think the people around you, especially your "one," would say about the love they see in your life and in this church? Love is described as expressing itself through justice, truth, and grace. Which of these three comes most naturally to you, and which one do you find most difficult to live out? Why? Steve Nicholson, who loved Pastor Jon through a painful season with a phone call, a plane ticket, a prayer meeting, and a teapot. What stands out to you about that story, and what does it teach you about what love actually looks like in practice? Think about your "one." What do you know about what they are currently carrying? What is one specific, practical, and possibly costly act of love you could offer them this week? Life Application This week, choose one person in your life, your "one," and take a step toward loving them in a way that costs you something. Start by slowing down enough to ask them a real question, such as "How are you really doing?" or "How is your soul?" Then listen without trying to fix anything. Based on what you hear, identify one specific act of love you can offer, whether that is bringing a meal, following up on something they mentioned before, sitting with them in a hard moment, or simply showing up. Let the love you extend this week be visible, intentional, and rooted in a genuine desire for their highest good. Key Takeaways If God truly lives in us, His love should be visible to the people around us before we ever say a word about our faith. Jesus raised the standard of love from 'love your neighbor as yourself' to 'love one another as I have loved you,' a sacrificial, unconditional agape love that has no limit and never gives up. Love is not a feeling to wait for but a commandment and a decision. It is the primary witness we bring to the world, and it is the proof that we are disciples of Jesus. Love expresses itself in three visible ways: justice (showing up for the overlooked), truth (honest and genuine care), and grace (continuing to show up even when it is not earned). People are not argued into the kingdom of God. They are loved into it. Practical, specific, and costly acts of love open doors in people's hearts toward God. Ending Prayer Lord, thank You for this time together and for the reminder that love is not just a nice idea but the very proof of Your presence in our lives. We confess that we often move too fast to notice the needs of the people right in front of us. Slow us down. Open our eyes to what our "one" is carrying. Give us the courage to ask the deeper questions and the patience to truly listen. Fill us with Your agape love, the kind that contends for the highest good of others even when it is costly, even when it is not returned. May the people in our lives see something in us that they cannot fully explain outside of You, and may that draw them closer to You. We trust You with the pace and the outcome. In Jesus' name, amen.

Jon Maurer

Lead Pastor

August 14, 2026 • 5 Minute Read
Reach One- Partner With God
Summary This sermon, part of a series on sharing faith naturally, focuses on Acts 8 and the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. This passage especially illustrates that God is already at work in the lives of people around us, and our role is simply to notice what He is doing and join in. Philip did not follow a program or a script. He followed the Holy Spirit's specific prompting, asked one good question, and started where the man already was, leading to the gospel reaching the ends of the earth. Through the story of Philip and a personal story about a college roommate named Timmy, Pastor Jon paints a picture of organic, relational, friendship-based evangelism. The key posture is not manufacturing spiritual conversations but paying attention to what God has already been doing in someone's life. We are called to be bridges, not converters, trusting that God has been preparing the people around us long before we ever showed up. Intro Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for bringing us together today. As we open Your Word and discuss what it means to share our faith naturally and relationally, we ask that You open our hearts and minds to what You want us to receive. Help us to set aside our own agendas and truly hear what Your Spirit is saying to us as a group. Give us eyes to see what You are already doing in the lives of the people around us, and give us the courage to join in. We trust You, Lord. Lead this conversation. In Jesus' name, amen. Ice Breaker Think of a time when a random or unexpected conversation turned into something meaningful. What happened, and how did it make you feel? Key Verses Acts 8:26-40 Isaiah 53:7-8 Isaiah 56:3-5 Deuteronomy 23:1 Questions God was already at work in the Ethiopian eunuch long before Philip arrived. Can you think of a time in your own life when you could look back and see that God had been preparing you for something before you even realized it? Philip received a very specific prompting from the Holy Spirit to go to a particular road and approach a particular chariot. How do you personally recognize or discern the nudges of the Holy Spirit in your everyday life? We often have random intruding thoughts that we dismiss, but some of those might actually be the Holy Spirit prompting us. How do you tell the difference, and what would it look like to act on those promptings more often? Philip asked just one simple question: 'Do you understand what you are reading?' Why do you think one humble, curious question can be more effective than a prepared presentation or a rehearsed pitch? We are described to have the posture of salt and light as joining a conversation that is already happening rather than imposing one. What does that look like practically in your relationships with people who are not yet connected to faith? In the story about Timmy, Pastor Jon said he just joined in what God was already doing, and so did Emma. What barriers, fears, or habits keep you from joining in what God is already doing in the lives of people around you? 'You are a bridge. Bridges do not decide who crosses. They just connect two places.' How does thinking of yourself as a bridge rather than a converter change the way you approach sharing your faith? Who is your 'one'? What do you already know about what God might be doing in that person's life, and what is one practical step you could take this week to pay attention and show up for them? Life Application This week, choose one person in your life who is not connected to a church community. Pray daily and ask God, 'What are You already doing in their life, and how can I partner with You?' Then take one simple step toward them. Send a text, make a call, or ask them one deeper question like, 'How are you really doing?' Do not overthink it and do not wait for the perfect moment. Just show up, listen well, and trust that God has been preparing them long before you arrived. Key Takeaways God is already at work in the people around you. Your role is not to manufacture spiritual moments but to notice what He is doing and join in. The Holy Spirit gives specific promptings and directions. Paying attention to those nudges, rather than dismissing them, is central to living a life of organic, relational witness. One good, humble, curious question can open a door far more effectively than a rehearsed presentation or a confrontational approach. Effective witness starts where the other person already is, listening to the questions they are actually asking and meeting them there rather than imposing a script. You are a bridge, not a converter. Your job is to connect people to Jesus and trust Him to do what only He can do in their hearts. Ending Prayer Lord, thank You for this time together and for the reminder that You are already at work in the lives of the people around us. We confess that we often overthink it, hold back out of fear, or wait for a perfect moment that never comes. Forgive us for that, and give us fresh courage. Help each of us to carry the posture of Philip into our week: open eyes, give us attentive hearts, and a willingness to ask one good question. We lift up our 'ones' to You right now. You know their names, their stories, and the questions they are quietly carrying. Go before us, Lord, and prepare the way. We trust that You have been working in their lives long before we ever thought to pray for them. Use us as bridges, and may the people we love find their way to You. In Jesus' name, amen.

Jon Maurer

Lead Pastor

August 4, 2026 • 6 Minute Read
Reach One - You Don't Have to Be Weird
Summary This sermon opens a new series called "Reach 1," focused on helping everyday Christians share their faith in natural, relational ways. The pastor addresses the three most common fears that keep believers silent: looking weird, not knowing enough, and damaging relationships. Rather than promoting a scripted program or formula, the message calls people to simply be who they already are in Christ, because Jesus declared His followers to be salt and light, not as a goal to strive toward but as a present reality to live out. The theological foundation of the series is that God is already at work in the lives of the people around us. Our role is not to manufacture spiritual conversations or pressure anyone, but to notice what God is already doing and join it. The pastor challenges each person to identify "their one," a specific person in their life who is not connected to a church, and to commit to building a genuine relationship, loving that person like Jesus, sharing their personal story of faith when the time is right, and eventually inviting them into community. The goal is a relationship with intention, not a campaign or a program. Intro Prayer Heavenly Father, we come together grateful for the truth that you are already at work in the world around us. As we open your Word and discuss what it means to be salt and light, we ask that you quiet our fears and open our hearts. Holy Spirit, speak to each person in this group in the way they most need to hear today. Let this time not just be about information, but about transformation. Show us who you are calling us toward, and give us the courage and the love to step into that. In Jesus name, amen. Ice Breaker What is one food that you think tastes completely different without salt, and why does salt make such a big difference to it? Key Verses Romans 10:14 Matthew 5:13 Matthew 5:14 Questions Pastor Jon named three common fears that keep Christians from sharing their faith: looking weird, not knowing enough, and damaging the relationship. Which of these fears resonates most with you personally, and why? Jesus declared in Matthew 5:13-14 that His followers ARE salt and light, not that they should try to become salt and light. How does that distinction change the way you think about sharing your faith? Pastor Jon said that God is already at work in the lives of the people around us, and our job is simply to notice what God is doing and join it. How does that idea shift the pressure you might feel about evangelism? Think about the story of the neurologist named Nick in the coffee shop. What moment in that story stands out to you most, and what does it teach you about stepping through awkwardness? The pastor said that sometimes "I don't know" is one of the most beautiful things you can say to someone who has a hard question about faith. Do you agree with that? Why or why not? The "Reach 1" approach is described as organic, relational, and friendship-based rather than scripted or programmed. What does a relationship with intention look like practically in your everyday life? The pastor suggested praying differently for the people we care about, shifting from "Lord, save them" to "Lord, show me what you are already doing in their life." How might that kind of prayer change the way you see and interact with your one? Is there a person whose face came to mind during this sermon as your one? Without sharing more than you are comfortable with, what feels like the most natural next step you could take toward that person this week? Life Application This week, identify one specific person in your life who is not connected to a church community and write their name somewhere you will see it every day, whether on a card on your fridge, in your Bible, or as a note on your phone. Then do one simple, no-agenda thing to show up in their life. Send a text, invite them to coffee, or follow up on something they mentioned recently. No script, no pressure, just salt showing up. Pair that action with a new kind of prayer: ask God to show you what He is already doing in that person's life and to help you notice the open doors. Key Takeaways Jesus declared His followers to be salt and light right now, as a present reality, not as a future goal to work toward. You already are what you are called to be in Christ. The number one reason most Christians do not share their faith is not theological but social. Fear of being awkward, pushy, or weird keeps people silent, but awkwardness is almost always on our side and not as threatening as we imagine. God is already at work in the lives of the people around you. Your role is not to start something new but to notice what God is doing and simply join it. You do not need a theology degree, a script, or all the answers to share your faith. You only need your own story of what God has done in your life. The Reach 1 challenge is about choosing one specific person, loving them like Jesus, sharing your story when the time is right, and inviting them into community. It is a relationship with intention, not a program or a campaign. Ending Prayer Lord, thank you for this time together and for the reminder that you have already gone ahead of us into the lives of the people we love. We confess that fear has sometimes kept us quiet when your love in us was meant to shine. Today we choose to say yes to being salt and light, not in our own strength, but because that is who you have already made us to be. We lift up our ones to you right now. You know their names, their struggles, and the exact work you are already doing in their hearts. Give us eyes to see it, courage to step into it, and love that feels genuine and real to the people around us. May your kingdom grow through ordinary people who are simply willing to show up. In Jesus name, amen.

Jon Maurer

Lead Pastor