Who Do You Love? | Matt Chandler | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Who Do You Love?

The Village Church • Feb 2, 2026 • 49 min

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

Summary

In 1 John 2:3–17, Pastor Matt Chandler examines three essential biblical tests that reveal whether a person truly knows God: ongoing obedience to His commands, growing Christlike righteousness, and active love for fellow believers. Rather than calling disobedient or worldly individuals to simply try harder or exert more self-discipline, Scripture shows that authentic transformation occurs only through total surrender to Jesus Christ and the internal work of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual conviction is not a cause for shame, but a loving invitation from God to step out of darkness, reject passing worldly pleasures, and walk in the enduring assurance of eternal life.

Themes

Assurance of SalvationMarks of True FaithSpiritual Growth and RighteousnessLove for the Body of ChristOvercoming WorldlinessConviction and Repentance

Pastor's Points

1.

Test 1: Walking in ongoing obedience to God's commands (1 John 2:3-4)

2.

Test 2: Growing in moral righteousness and Christlike character (1 John 2:5-6)

3.

Test 3: Loving brothers and sisters in the family of faith (1 John 2:9-11)

Key Points

1.
Knowing Jesus Christ means having a deep, personal relationship with Him rather than merely possessing intellectual facts or recognizing Him in circumstances.
2.
True assurance of salvation is demonstrated through ongoing, habitual obedience to God's commands rather than past religious experiences.
3.
Spiritual growth gradually reshapes a believer's character over time to walk as Jesus walked, producing an increasing desire for holiness.
4.
Active love for fellow believers serves as vital, indispensable evidence that a person abides in Christ and walks in God's light.
5.
Scripture does not instruct disobedient religious people to try harder or exercise more self-discipline, but to be born again through total surrender to Jesus Christ.
6.
Chasing the world through sensual gratification, material covetousness, and self-exalting pride reveals a heart separated from God.
7.
The temporary desires and pleasures of this passing world will dissolve, but the one who does the will of God endures forever.
8.
Holy Spirit conviction is a gracious invitation into deeper joy and freedom, calling believers to step out of darkness and trust fully in God.

Sermon Moments

“Knowing him is not knowing facts about him... It is knowing him personally from oneself.”

“You don't need to try harder. You need to be born again.”

“Conviction is like this really sweet invitation into deeper and greater joy.”

“The testimony of Jane Thompson, a deacon's wife playing the church piano who realized mid-service that she knew facts about Jesus but did not personally know Him.”

“Coveting is making an accusation against God by declaring that we know better than Him what we deserve and need.”

“The contrast in spiritual battle between zealous young believers eager to confront the enemy directly and mature believers who know spiritual warfare requires long-term endurance and community.”

“There is a weariness that sets into the soul when we keep trying to earn from God what He is trying to give us for free.”

This Week

Evaluate your life honestly against God's Word to determine if your daily walk reflects a pattern of obedience or persistent disobedience.

Stop relying on self-discipline or past religious activity, and fully surrender your heart to Jesus Christ for genuine internal transformation.

Examine your heart for any bitterness, hatred, or resentment toward fellow believers, actively seeking reconciliation and walking in Christlike love.

Identify areas where worldly desires—sensual indulgence, material covetousness, or self-exalting pride—are competing with your devotion to God.

Receive Holy Spirit conviction not as a source of shame or guilt, but as a loving invitation into deeper freedom, joy, and repentance.

Reflect on your spiritual journey over recent years, thanking God for the slow, steady ways He is forming Christ's character within you.

Surround yourself with mature Christian community and accountability to help keep your life anchored in biblical truth.

Remember This

True assurance of knowing God comes not from self-discipline or worldly pursuit, but from a life transformed by the Holy Spirit that produces ongoing obedience, spiritual growth, and active love for others.

A Challenge for You

I don't want you to leave concerned. I want you to leave knowing because the text says that you can know that you know. As soon as we stand and begin to sing Resurrender, I'd love for you to come up to our prayer team, grab a hand, and then just kind of flesh out what's happening in you so that we might pray over you and encourage you.

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