In John 13, Jesus speaks to His disciples just before His crucifixion. He gives them a new command:

“Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another.”

This love isn’t a suggestion. It’s a defining mark of what it means to follow Christ.

Pastor Pete reminds us: Love is messy. People can be hard to love, but love is not optional. If you’re a follower of Jesus, love isn’t just something you do, it’s who you are.

Romans 5:8 says, “But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

That’s the kind of love we’re called to show: sacrificial, unconditional, and rooted in grace. Jesus didn’t wait for us to clean up our mess. He loved us in it. Now He calls us to do the same for one another and for the world around us.

In John 8, religious leaders bring a woman caught in adultery before Jesus, hoping to trap Him into endorsing her execution. Instead, Jesus responds with grace. He says, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” One by one, the accusers leave. Jesus, the only one without sin, chooses not to condemn her. He tells her, “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Pastor Pete reminds us of a powerful truth: We’re often quick to see the mess in others but slow to recognize our own. The reality is, all of humanity is caught in the mess of sin. God had every right to judge us, to throw stones, to walk away. But He didn’t.

Instead, He sent Jesus, not to condemn, but to love. Jesus didn’t throw stones. He brought grace. He didn’t turn away. He drew near. He didn’t give up on us. He gave His life for us.

Jesus loves you, even in the mess. And He invites us to love others the same way.

In John 8, religious leaders bring a woman caught in adultery before Jesus, hoping to trap Him into endorsing her execution. Instead, Jesus responds with grace. He says, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” One by one, the accusers leave. Jesus, the only one without sin, chooses not to condemn her. He tells her, “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Pastor Pete reminds us of a powerful truth: We’re often quick to see the mess in others but slow to recognize our own. The reality is, all of humanity is caught in the mess of sin. God had every right to judge us, to throw stones, to walk away. But He didn’t.

Instead, He sent Jesus, not to condemn, but to love. Jesus didn’t throw stones. He brought grace. He didn’t turn away. He drew near. He didn’t give up on us. He gave His life for us.

Jesus loves you, even in the mess. And He invites us to love others the same way.

In Acts 9, Saul, once a fierce persecutor of Christians, tries to join the disciples in Jerusalem. Understandably, they’re afraid, but Barnabas steps in, vouching for Saul’s transformation and helping others see what God is doing in his life.

Pastor Pete reminds us that loving people well means embracing three powerful truths:

- Don’t overlook someone’s past, but don’t let it define them. Everyone has a story, and sometimes it’s messy. Jesus didn’t ignore our past; He redeemed it.

- Love people in the present. Accept them as they are today. That’s where healing and connection begin.

- Look for the potential in others. Saul became Paul—the greatest missionary of the early church. You never know what God is growing in someone’s life.

Jesus modeled this kind of love for all of us. If we want to love like Him, we must be willing to get past the past, embrace the present, and believe in the future of others even when it’s messy.

In Acts 9, Saul, once a fierce persecutor of Christians, tries to join the disciples in Jerusalem. Understandably, they’re afraid, but Barnabas steps in, vouching for Saul’s transformation and helping others see what God is doing in his life.

Pastor Pete reminds us that loving people well means embracing three powerful truths:

- Don’t overlook someone’s past, but don’t let it define them. Everyone has a story, and sometimes it’s messy. Jesus didn’t ignore our past; He redeemed it.

- Love people in the present. Accept them as they are today. That’s where healing and connection begin.

- Look for the potential in others. Saul became Paul—the greatest missionary of the early church. You never know what God is growing in someone’s life.

Jesus modeled this kind of love for all of us. If we want to love like Him, we must be willing to get past the past, embrace the present, and believe in the future of others even when it’s messy.

In Luke 25, Jesus responds to a lawyer’s question: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus turns the question back to him, asking what the Law says. The lawyer answers correctly: “Love the Lord your God… and love your neighbor as yourself.” But seeking to justify himself, he asks, “Who is my neighbor?”

Jesus replies to the lawyer's neighbor question not with an answer but with the parable of the Good Samaritan, and in doing so, he makes three significant claims about what it truly means to love. In this message, Pastor Pete identifies how love is simple, but not easy. Love is secure, but not safe. Love is free, but not cheap.

In Luke 25, Jesus responds to a lawyer’s question: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus turns the question back to him, asking what the Law says. The lawyer answers correctly: “Love the Lord your God… and love your neighbor as yourself.” But seeking to justify himself, he asks, “Who is my neighbor?”

Jesus replies to the lawyer's neighbor question not with an answer but with the parable of the Good Samaritan, and in doing so, he makes three significant claims about what it truly means to love. In this message, Pastor Pete identifies how love is simple, but not easy. Love is secure, but not safe. Love is free, but not cheap.

Pastor Pete draws from Ephesians 2:4–5 to highlight a powerful truth about our identity in Christ: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!” (HCSB)

This message reminds us that our significance doesn’t come from what we do, but rather it comes from what God has done. Even when we were spiritually dead, broken, and undeserving, God chose to love us, revive us, and give us purpose through Jesus.

Pastor Pete emphasizes that:

- God’s mercy and love are the foundation of our worth.

- We are not insignificant or forgotten, even if the world tries to make us feel that way.

- Being made alive in Christ means we matter deeply to God, and we have a role to play in His story.

This message is a call to reject the lies of insignificance and embrace the truth that you are significant because God says you are. Your life has meaning, your story matters, and your identity is rooted in grace.

Pastor Pete draws from Ephesians 2:4–5 to highlight a powerful truth about our identity in Christ: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!” (HCSB)

This message reminds us that our significance doesn’t come from what we do, but rather it comes from what God has done. Even when we were spiritually dead, broken, and undeserving, God chose to love us, revive us, and give us purpose through Jesus.

Pastor Pete emphasizes that:

- God’s mercy and love are the foundation of our worth.

- We are not insignificant or forgotten, even if the world tries to make us feel that way.

- Being made alive in Christ means we matter deeply to God, and we have a role to play in His story.

This message is a call to reject the lies of insignificance and embrace the truth that you are significant because God says you are. Your life has meaning, your story matters, and your identity is rooted in grace.

Pastor Pete centers this message on a foundational truth from John 1:12: “But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12, HCSB)

This verse is a powerful declaration of identity. It tells us that being a child of God isn’t earned, it’s received. It’s a gift given to those who believe in Jesus and accept Him. Pastor Pete emphasizes that this identity is not based on performance, background, or status, but on faith and relationship.

This message challenges listeners to reflect on how they see themselves. Many people struggle with feelings of inadequacy, rejection, or confusion about who they are. But this message reminds us that our truest identity is found in being God’s child—loved, accepted, and secure.

Being a child of God means:

- You belong to a family that cannot be broken.

- You have access to the Father’s love, guidance, and protection.

- You are no longer defined by your past, but by your position in Christ.

Listen and learn to live in this identity, not just know it intellectually. When we truly grasp that we are God’s children, it changes how we pray, how we face challenges, and how we treat others.