Check Your Vertical | Philip Anthony Mitchell | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Check Your Vertical

Philip Anthony Mitchell

2819 Church • Feb 8, 2021 • 93 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

Real love begins vertically in our relationship with God before it can properly flow horizontally to others. When our vertical relationship with God is intact and prioritized, it establishes the standard, motivation, and power needed to love others unconditionally, non-transactionally, and sacrificially. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called not merely to talk about love or post about it, but to tangibly prove it in our daily lives and relationships.

Themes

Vertical Intimacy with GodHorizontal Love for OthersUnconditional and Sacrificial LoveAuthentic Christian WitnessEmotional Deficits and HealingThe Parable of the Good Samaritan

Pastor's Points

1.

1. The Direction of Love

2.

2. The Deficiency of Love

3.

3. The Demonstration of Love

Key Points

1.
1. The Direction of Love: Real love must flow vertically between us and God first before it can flow horizontally to others.
2.
2. The Deficiency of Love: Having extensive biblical knowledge without active love results in empty, cold religion that steps over broken people.
3.
3. The Demonstration of Love: True love is defined by God's sacrificial, unconditional nature rather than the worthiness or behavior of the recipient.
4.
4. We were created in God's image with inherent worth and value, and in His likeness with the capacity for divine love.
5.
5. God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, removing any excuse for believers not to love others.
6.
6. Selective submission to Scripture allows believers to accumulate biblical knowledge while remaining bankrupt of practical love.
7.
7. Not loving others carries a far higher cost than caring, leading to broken souls, damaged spirits, and missed opportunities to grow.

Sermon Moments

“The story of Jennifer, who grew up in an emotionally cold home with a love deficit, constantly seeking affection in unhealthy relationships.”

“The story of the woman at Kroger wearing a button that asked, 'Does anybody love anymore?'”

“A purpose unknown makes abuse inevitable; if we don't understand the purpose of love, we will naturally abuse it.”

“You can move a room, but you can't move a heart.”

“Selective submission keeps so many of us from growth—full of piety without compassion, full of self-righteousness without selflessness.”

“Caring may cost us tangible things, but the cost of not caring is broken hearts, broken souls, and broken spirits.”

“The best symbol of love is probably not the heart; it's probably the cross.”

This Week

Check your vertical relationship with God daily through prayer and scripture reading to cultivate horizontal love for others.

Stop placing performance-based criteria or conditions on the love you offer your spouse, children, and friends.

Intentionally pray for and show love toward those you consider enemies or critics instead of retaliating.

Identify practical opportunities to notice and serve broken people around you rather than passing by them.

Repent of selective submission by practicing the scriptures that challenge your behavior, not just those that offer comfort.

Apologize quickly and resolve lingering anger or conflict in your home before going to sleep.

Share God's love tangibly by participating in community outreach and serving those who are less fortunate.

Remember This

True Christian love begins vertically with God and must be proved horizontally through practical, unconditional action toward others.

A Challenge for You

The world doesn't need to keep hearing Christians preaching about love; they need to see us modeling love. If you call yourself a follower of Jesus and the love of God is in you, then I challenge you to prove it.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.