Jonathan Ashford's sermon emphasizes the importance of genuine love and service within the Christian community, drawing a parallel between a man who performs superficial acts of love for his wife but neglects her fundamental needs and Christians who might engage in outwardly good acts but miss the essence of truly serving Christ.
He uses the analogy of a man sending flowers to his wife daily without truly caring for her basic needs to illustrate how Christians might engage in commendable actions but overlook more critical aspects of their faith. Ashford stresses that loving and serving Christ is primarily about loving His people, a theme he argues is central throughout the New Testament.
He references John 14:15 and 15:12, where Jesus states that loving Him involves keeping His commandments, especially the command to love one another. This point is reinforced through various New Testament scriptures, such as 1 Peter 4:7-9 and 1 Corinthians 12:14-26, emphasizing the unity and interconnectedness of believers as the body of Christ.
Ashford argues that when Christians gather together, they embody the presence of Christ on Earth. He notes that personal spiritual practices are valuable, but they should not be prioritized over the communal aspects of faith. He emphasizes that loving and serving the church body is akin to loving Christ Himself, as seen in Matthew 25:34-40 and other passages.
The sermon further explains that this call to love is grounded in the fact that believers are bought with the price of Christ's sacrifice, making them immensely valuable. Ashford underscores the practical implications of this love, including caring for physical needs and using individual gifts for the benefit of the church community, as outlined in Romans 12 and 1 Peter 4.
In conclusion, Ashford challenges listeners to evaluate their lives and ensure they are not neglecting the essential commandment to love one another. He uses 1 Corinthians 13 to highlight the futility of all spiritual gifts and actions without love. The sermon ends with a prayer for the Spirit's guidance in genuinely loving and serving within the church, reflecting the true essence of following Christ.
