Love Vs. Knowledge
Mature - Part 4
October 26, 2025
You can have theology in your head and still be hollow in your heart.
Faith that never moves you never matures you.
“14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him? 15If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food 16and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,’ but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? 17In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. 18But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works. 19You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder. 20Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? 21Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? 22You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, 23and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. 24You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route? 26For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” James 2:14-26 (CSB)
James lays out four faces of faith:
- Dead Faith — All talk, no walk.
- Demonic Faith — All belief, no behavior.
- Dynamic Faith — Faith that moves and serves.
- Devoted Faith — Faith that loves because it’s been loved.
“37He said to him, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38This is the greatest and most important command. 39The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.’” Matthew 22:37-40 (CSB)
The measure of your maturity isn’t how much you know—it’s how much you love.
“36Then one of the Pharisees invited Him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house. She brought an alabaster jar of perfume 38and stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with her hair, kissing them and anointing them with the perfume.” Luke 7:36-38 (CSB)
POINT 1 — LOVE THAT’S THEORETICAL
You can have Jesus in your house and still not have Him in your heart.
You can know the right answers and still live the wrong story.
You can know the Bible and still miss the author.
Q1 - Where in your life has your faith become something you talk about more than you actually live out?
“39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching Him—she’s a sinner!’ 40Jesus replied to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ He said, ‘Say it, teacher.’” Luke 7:39-40 (CSB)
POINT 2 — LOVE THAT’S CONDITIONAL
We can stare at people’s sin so long that we stop seeing their soul.
Head faith will always try to hide behind theology when it should be humbled by grace.
Q2 - Who do you find hardest to love, and what does that reveal about your view of grace?
“41‘A creditor had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42Since they could not pay it back, he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?’ 43Simon answered, ‘I suppose the one he forgave more.’ ‘You have judged correctly,’ He told him. 44Turning to the woman, He said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has washed my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You gave me no kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing my feet since I came in. 46You didn’t anoint my head with olive oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfume.’” Luke 7:41-46 (CSB)
POINT 3 — LOVE THAT’S SACRIFICIAL
If your faith never costs you anything, it’s probably not Christlike.
You can tell who’s been with Jesus by how they treat people who don’t deserve it.
Q3 - Where is God inviting you to love in a way that costs you something?
“47‘Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.’ 48Then He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ 49Those who were at the table with Him began to say among themselves, ‘Who is this man who even forgives sins?’ 50And He said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’” Luke 7:47-50 (CSB)
POINT 4 — LOVE THAT’S TRANSFORMATIONAL
Devoted faith is what happens when grace finally drops from your head to your heart and starts showing up in your hands.
Maturity is when love finally catches up to your faith.
Q4 - Do you truly believe you’re forgiven—or are you still living like you’re trying to earn God’s approval?
“19We love because He first loved us. 20If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and yet hates his brother or sister, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother or sister whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21And we have this command from Him: The one who loves God must also love his brother and sister.” 1 John 4:19-21 (CSB)
PRACTICAL WALKOUT — THE 5 S’s
- Slow Down: Love requires margin; compassion can’t be rushed.
- Show Up: Don’t say, “I’ll pray for you.” Pray with them right there.
- Speak Life: Truth without tone is just noise.
- Serve Someone: Find one person who can’t pay you back—and bless them anyway.
- Stay Teachable: The most mature believers are still learning how to love.
The measure of your maturity isn’t how much you know—it’s how much you love.
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