Dr. Rob White - September 13, 2026
A Couple Of Things About Love
In today’s fast-paced world, we often throw the word "love" around casually, using it to describe everything from our favorite desserts to our family members. But in the sermon "A Couple of Things About Love," Dr. Rob White of the Athens Universal Life Church challenges us to examine the true depth and meaning of love as presented in 1 John 3:11-18. The message draws a clear distinction between fleeting human emotions and the profound, self-sacrificing love of God.
Scripture References: 1 John 3:11-18
From Series: "Love and Marriage"
The Bible teaches that marriage is a cooperative effort of respect, love, and service.This 4-week series encourages spouses to make their marriage a priority.
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September 13, 2026
A Couple Of Things About Love
Dr. Rob White
1 John 3:11-18
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When we think of Jesus, we often immediately picture the “Prince of Peace,” envisioning a life of harmony and storybook endings. However, in Luke 12:49-56, Jesus startles us with a radically different message: “I came to bring fire on the earth… Do you think that I came here to give peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!” In the sermon “Uncomfortable Blessings,” we explore this challenging paradox of the Christian faith.
Jesus warns His followers that discipleship is not a wide, smooth highway, but a narrow road pocked with potholes. He explicitly states that His message will cause division, even tearing apart the closest of family bonds. This happens because Jesus came to redeem a sinful world that often resists redemption. He calls us into an “Upside-Down Kingdom” where the first are last, the vulnerable are prioritized over the powerful, and living by God’s rules inherently causes friction with the world’s systems.
Yet, this discomfort is not without purpose. The sermon highlights real-world examples of believers, from pastors facing bounties on their heads to missionaries living in dangerous territories, who embrace this difficult calling. Drawing on Philip Yancey’s distinction between “stars” and “servants,” the message reminds us that while the world’s idols often find misery, those who “lose their lives” in service to the poor and broken ultimately find true life.
Amidst this turbulent reality, Jesus also calls us to interpret the present time. He urges us to pause and notice the beauty of God’s creation—the rainbows, the fresh bread, the warmth of a hug—and to live gratefully in the present moment.
Ultimately, the conflict and division Jesus brings are not meant to destroy, but to heal. Like a surgeon’s knife, His truth cuts away the sin and complacency of our world to bring about true restoration. Seeking God’s kingdom first is undeniably an uncomfortable journey, but it is the only path that leads to the ultimate, enduring peace that only Christ can provide.
