The TrueLife Mandate: Love
Jesus declared that He came to give us life and life more abundantly. That promise is the foundation of everything we do. We don’t just gather as a church; we exist so that people can truly experience the life God intended. In this message, you’ll hear the heart behind TrueLife—how God shaped our vision through four defining words: Love, Learn, Live, and Lead. You’ll also discover the culture He’s forming within us: Love, Faith, Fun, and Generosity.
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NOTES
Matthew 16:18
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
The rock is the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
This is the first time the word “church” is used in the NT.
Gates of Hades - The power of death
Cannot prevent the resurrection of Christ (AMP)
Church, the Greek word ekklesia.
Ekklesia - “the called-out ones.”
This was not a religious word. It was used in Greek culture to describe a governing assembly, or citizens called out to gather to influence decisions in a city.
Refers to people who have been summoned and gathered together to govern the affairs of a city.
Ekklesia has always been about people gathering with a purpose.
In the New Testament, ekklesia refers to: The body of believers in Jesus Christ, or a spiritual community that has been called out.
Called out of sin, Called into purpose, Called to gather, Called to be like Jesus on this earth.
You’ve been called out of darkness into light, bondage into freedom, and now you’re called into an assignment.
A church must include at least three things: a pastor, a place to gather, and a clear assignment.
The church is not just a place we attend, it’s a people God has pulled out, set apart, and sent back into the world with an assignment.
The Church is a people called out by God to influence the world.
Jesus wasn’t saying: “I will build a gathering.” He was saying: “I will build a governing, influencing body that hell cannot stop.”
The church is the only entity with the unique ability to address root issues.
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We started TrueLife in July of 2011 with no money, no equipment, and a handful of people. Our slogan has been, “Is there more to life than what you are experiencing? Jesus came to give you life and life more abundantly. Why do we exist as a church? We exist so that people will experience true life.” The Lord gave us 4 vision words: Love, Learn, Live, and Lead. He also gave us 4 words for our culture: Love, Faith, Fun, and Generosity. That’s who we are. That’s what Jesus is building in us.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever shall believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life
God
The Creator
So
Emphasizes the extent to and degree of.
For example, it’s so hot, it’s so cold, He’s so tall, I’m so hungry
Loved
Agape - unconditional love; all giving; unselfish; a love by choice and not by chance.
World
People, you and I
That
What did this love cause Him to do?
It’s not just who you love, it's how you love.
He Gave
To completely hand over to
You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving.
Only
Jesus is the only thing God had just one of
Jesus was the only thing God could give that cost Him something
Whosoever
This includes you and me.
There was a chance that whosoever may reject Jesus.
Believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life
To believe in Jesus is to believe in how much you are loved
Romans 8:35-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Separate - to divide, to divorce, to depart.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
Compel - to hold together, to grip tightly, to seize, or to control
The driving force of your life is the love of Christ filling your heart.