Father's Day 2025

A Father’s Day Call to Love: Sermon Reflections from Mission Bible Church

Father’s Day 2025

Date: June 15, 2025

Location: Mission Bible Church

Speaker: Pastor Tony Wood

Scripture Focus: John 13:31-35, 1 John 3:16-17, 1 John 4:20, 1 Peter 1:22-23, 1 Corinthians 13:1-7

The World’s Search for Love

In every decade, humanity has clamored for something elusive—a unifying force called love. From the 1960s anthems of Bob Dylan and John Lennon, to the 1980s’ “We Are the World,” to the 1990s’ dreams of soaring skies, and the 2000s’ cries of “Where is the love?”—the world has sought connection, harmony, and meaning. Yet, riots in Los Angeles, missiles in the Middle East, and division across the globe reveal a persistent ache: the world cannot quite grasp what it seeks.

As Pastor Tony Wood shared on Father’s Day 2025, the church is called to be a beacon of this love—a love so profound that it stops the world in its tracks. Quoting Francis Schaeffer from the 1970s, he reminded us: “If the church loses the ability and power of love, it will have nothing to offer the world.” The church may have grown in buildings, broadcasts, and branding, but its true power lies in embodying the love of Christ.

Jesus’ Command: A New Kind of Love

In John 13:31-35, Jesus delivers two of His most famous statements:

• “Where I am going, you cannot come.”
  Jesus speaks of His impending departure, preparing His disciples for a mission they must carry forward.

• “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.”
  This is no ordinary love—it’s a sacrificial, divine love modeled by Jesus Himself.

Jesus declares that the world will recognize His disciples by their love for one another. Not by their buildings, programs, or knowledge, but by a jaw-dropping love that transcends division. Imagine a community where every nation, creed, color, and age stands in unison, singing, serving, and caring for one another. This is the church’s calling—a glimpse of God’s kingdom that makes the world say, “They have it figured out.”

The Apostles on Love: Evidence, Purpose, and Usefulness

The apostles John, Peter, and Paul expand on Jesus’ command, showing us that love is not optional—it’s the heartbeat of the Christian life.

John: Love as Evidence of Conversion

In 1 John 3:16-17 and 1 John 4:20, John makes a bold claim: love is the proof of our transformation in Christ.

• “By this we have known love, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” (1 John 3:16)
  True love is sacrificial, seen in Jesus’ death for us. If we see a brother in need and close our hearts, “how does the love of God abide in us?”

• “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar.” (1 John 4:20)
  John connects vertical love (for God) to horizontal love (for others). You cannot claim to love the Father if you don’t love His children. As fathers, we understand this: how we treat others reflects how we truly feel about God.

Peter: Love as the Purpose of Conversion

In 1 Peter 1:22-23, Peter calls us to “fervently love one another from the heart”—a love of choice that stretches to the limits. Why can we love this way? Because “you have been born again… through the living and enduring word of God.”

When we are born again, something changes at the core of our hearts. We take on heavenly genetics, resembling our Heavenly Father rather than our old, self-focused nature inherited from Adam. Conversion transforms us to reflect God’s love, enabling us to love others with divine strength.

Paul: Love as the Usefulness of Conversion

In 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, Paul delivers a piercing truth: without love, all our efforts are nothing.

• “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”

• “If I have the gift of prophecy… and all faith… but do not have love, I am nothing.”

• “If I give all my possessions… and surrender my body… but do not have love, it profits me nothing.”

Paul’s recurring theme—nothing, nothing, nothing—cuts like a spearhead. Knowledge, gifts, and sacrifices are useless without love. As Pastor Tony warned, “The worst people are seminary professors and former pastors” who amass knowledge but fail to pour out God’s love in humility. Love is the knife point of Christianity, without which all else is noise.

Checking the Engine Lights: Are We Loving Well?

Paul provides a dashboard of engine lights in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 to evaluate our love. Pastor Tony challenged us to ask these questions, not only as individuals but as families and discipleship groups:

• Am I Patient?
  “Love is patient…”
  The church is not a courtroom but a hospital, where we bear with one another’s growth and struggles.

• Am I Kind?
  “Love is kind…”
  Do our words and actions reflect the gentle, compassionate heart of Christ?

• Am I Humble?
  “Love… does not brag, is not puffed up.”
  We must park our status and pride, working together to send people to heaven.

• Am I Sacrificial?
  “Love… does not seek its own…”
  Does following Christ cost us anything? True love gives without expecting return.

• Am I Forgiving?
  “Love… bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
  We forgive as God forgave us, releasing wrongs and hoping for reconciliation.

These questions are not just for reflection—they’re a call to action. Pastor Tony urged fathers and families to “go to lunch and open it up for feedback.” Ask: “Do you know I value you and care for you? How is the wake of my life?” Every person leaves a wake—both in effectiveness (what we accomplish) and feeling (how others experience us). Dare to check your engine lights.

A Vision for the Church: A Place of Unmistakable Love

Imagine a church where every person who steps onto the campus feels cared for, valued, and seen. A place where Christ moves mightily, and outsiders say, “That’s the place where they’ve figured out love.” This is the church Jesus envisioned—a community so unified in love that it reflects His glory.

Pastor Tony painted a vivid picture: “Imagine your kids growing up in that.” A church where love is not just preached but lived, where every interaction—from the parking lot to the pew—radiates the heart of Christ. This is the legacy fathers are called to build, not only for their families but for the world.

A Father’s Day Challenge

As we celebrate Father’s Day, let’s heed Jesus’ new commandment: love one another as He has loved us. This love is the evidence, purpose, and usefulness of our faith. It’s the mark of true disciples, the antidote to a divided world, and the legacy we leave for our children.

So, fathers, families, and followers of Christ, let’s check our engine lights. Let’s love fervently, sacrificially, and humbly. Let’s build a church that the world cannot ignore—a place where love is not just a word, but a way of life.

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

— John 13:35

Mission Bible Church: A Place Where Love Lives

This article is based on sermon notes from Pastor Tony Wood’s Father’s Day message on June 15, 2025, at Mission Bible Church. All scripture quotations are from the Legacy Standard Bible (LSB).