09/02/2026
LOVING PEOPLE BEFORE THEY CHANGE
Kingdom Culture Church family, please remember that we will not have Midweek Service tonight. Although we will not gather in person, I want to leave this pastoral word with you:
You have to love people.
Not merely love the person you believe they could eventually become. Not only love them after they have changed, healed, matured, or made better decisions. We must learn to actively love people where they are.
Sometimes we look at someone’s life from the outside and ask:
“Why are they still in that relationship?”
“Why do they keep returning to that situation?”
“Why haven’t they moved forward by now?”
But we are attempting to understand from the outside what is happening deep within their heart. We may not understand how love was defined for them, what they experienced growing up, what wounds they are carrying, or why a particular relationship still feels familiar—even when it is unhealthy.
People are not projects to be repaired. They are human beings made in the image of God who need to be seen, heard, loved, and patiently guided toward truth.
The Corinthian church was spiritually active. The gifts of the Spirit were operating among them. There were tongues, prophecy, knowledge, and demonstrations of spiritual power. Yet Paul confronted a painful reality: they had spiritual gifts flowing, but they did not have the fruit of love governing how those gifts were used.
That is why, in the middle of his teaching about spiritual gifts, Paul wrote:
“And yet I show you a more excellent way.”
—1 Corinthians 12:31
Then he declared:
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.”
—1 Corinthians 13:1
A church may be gifted and still be unloving.
We may speak powerfully, discern accurately, preach boldly, and still fail to represent the heart of the Father. Spiritual activity is not a substitute for spiritual maturity, and gifts are never permission to live without love.
Some may wonder why we speak so much about love when there is sin that must be confronted. Yes, Scripture confronts the darkness within us. The Word exposes selfishness, pride, greed, lust, bitterness, unforgiveness, and every other condition that keeps us from becoming like Christ.
But we could spend years talking about the sins and struggles within the Church, while ignoring the question that should bring every believer to their knees:
Where is the love of God in the Church?
It does not require great spiritual discernment to recognize someone’s visible struggle. We can often see where people are hurting, failing, or falling short. But will we walk closely enough with the Holy Spirit to love them while God is still working on them?
Will we be bold enough to love people before they become the person we believe they should be?
Jesus did not wait for us to become worthy of His love.
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
—Romans 5:8
God did not love the world because the world had already changed. God loved the world and gave His Son so that through Christ, the world could be saved and transformed.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…”
—John 3:16
Love does not mean approving everything. Love does not ignore destructive behavior, excuse abuse, or call darkness light. Biblical love speaks truth—but it speaks truth with patience, gentleness, humility, and a genuine desire to see people restored.
Love does not stand at a distance announcing what is wrong with someone. Love comes near.
Love listens.
Love creates room for honesty.
Love protects without controlling.
Love confronts without condemning.
Love tells the truth without stripping people of their dignity.
Love remains present while healing takes place.
There are many broken people moving from church to church and from relationship to relationship. They are not simply looking for a place that appears safe. Deep within, they are searching for a people who will genuinely love them.
They are asking:
“Can I be honest here?”
“Can I bring my wounds here?”
“Will you still see me if you discover my struggle?”
“Will you walk with me while God is transforming my life?”
The answer of the Church must be yes.
“Love suffers long and is kind… bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
—1 Corinthians 13:4, 7–8
This is the love upon which we must build our lives.
This is the love upon which we must build our marriages.
This is the love upon which we must build our families.
And this is the love upon which Christ is teaching us to build His Church.
Children of God, let us not merely talk about love. Let us become living demonstrations of the Father’s love—loving people where they are while faithfully walking with them toward the freedom, healing, truth, and transformation found in Jesus Christ.
The Church must be a place where truth is preached, grace is practiced, and broken people are loved back toward wholeness.
I am still growing in my understanding of the width, length, depth, and height of the love of Christ—a love so great that it surpasses knowledge and fills us with the fullness of God.
“That you… may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge.”
—Ephesians 3:17–19
We love you, Kingdom Culture Church family and community. We are praying for you, and we look forward to gathering together this Sunday at 11:00 a.m. We can’t wait to see you!
Love you,
Pastor Kelvin Ellis
Kingdom Culture Church
Discipling the Church to impact the world through Jesus Christ.
