What does real Christian love look like in the complexity of everyday life? In this message from Romans 12:9–13, we explore how love that is shaped by the mercy of God is more than mere politeness or outward niceness. Genuine Christian love is authentic in heart—it refuses to pretend and is rooted in God’s transforming love. It’s selfless in action—taking delight in honouring others, flipping the honour-seeking culture of the ancient Roman world and our modern world on its head. And it is steadfast in hardship—remaining patient, prayerful, and open-hearted even in suffering, rejection, and disappointment.

We’ll look at powerful biblical examples and historical stories—from the bold love of Jesus, to the lives of John Owen and Richard Baxter, to Jean Vanier’s legacy of honouring the overlooked. Whether you’re feeling crushed by pain or just needing a deeper vision of love, this message will point you back to the God whose faithful love is both the pattern and power for ours. Listen in to be reminded that Christian love is not a performance—it’s a miracle of grace lived out in the messiness of real life. Romans 12:9-13

How do we respond to this passage? Let's dive into it together.

Revelation 20:11-15

1 Corinthians 15:35-52 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 John 3:3-8 Hebrews 10:15-25 2 Corinthians 5:14-19 Luke 9:23-27 Jude 8-9 Acts 19:11-16 Matthew 7:21-23 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

In this message, we explore how spiritual gifts, while vital for the church’s flourishing, must be exercised with deep humility and in close community. Paul begins Romans 12 not with a call to action but with a warning: “Don’t think you are better than you really are.” Before serving with our gifts, we need to examine our hearts. Gifts are not achievements, but grace-gifts from God. The church is a body, not a platform, and pride can quickly distort even the most powerful gifts — as illustrated in the tragic fall of Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church. Each gift, whether prophecy, service, teaching, or encouragement, is given “for doing certain things well” — not everything — reminding us that we need one another and must discern our callings in mutual dependence. Romans 12:3-8

The Christian faith has always faced two great distortions of the gospel: legalism and lawlessness. Legalism insists that you must earn God's love through strict obedience, turning faith into performance and God into a distant taskmaster. Lawlessness, on the other hand, twists grace into permission to sin, offering cheap affirmation without transformation. Both errors sound convincing, even biblical, but miss the heart of the gospel. Through the story of John Newton and the contrasting voices he might have heard—one of judgment, one of excuse, and one of grace—we’re reminded that neither rigid moralism nor permissive compromise can set us free. Only the gospel can.

Titus 2 tells us that grace not only saves but also trains us to say no to sin and yes to godliness as we await Christ’s return. Grace gives us a new identity, a new power, and a new purpose. It doesn’t demand change to earn love, nor does it eliminate the call to holiness—it changes us because we are already loved. Whether you’re weary from striving or numb from compromise, the good news is this: Jesus meets you with grace that transforms. And it’s my prayer that here at St Andrews, this grace—not the lie of legalism or the lure of lawlessness—will shape lives across the Canterbury Plains.

Galatians 3:1-3, 10-11, Jude 4, 18-21 & Titus 2:11-14

Not everyone who claims the name of Jesus truly belongs to Him. In this striking passage, Jesus warns that outward signs—words, spiritual gifts, even miracles—are not the ultimate test of genuine discipleship. What matters is whether our lives reflect a growing obedience to the will of the Father, shaped by grace and empowered by the Spirit.

As Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount, He draws a sharp line between true and false disciples. This message explores six key truths from the text, showing that mere profession is not the same as possession, and that Christ desires relationship, not performance. The final judgment will reveal the state of every heart—not just what was said or done, but who we truly were.

This is not a call to strive in fear, but an invitation to examine our hearts and cling to Christ. The grace that saves does not leave us unchanged—it reshapes our desires, our character, and our lives.