If You Love Me... | John 14:15-21 - Sonrise Church, Santee

If You Love Me… | John 14:15-21

This message explores one of the most powerful “if-then” statements in Scripture—Jesus’ words in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Spoken during the Last Supper, just before His crucifixion, these words carried immense weight for the disciples. Jesus, knowing the cross was near, promised the coming of the Holy Spirit and taught that love for Him must be expressed through obedience. The message unpacks the meaning of this command, reminding us that to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength means to make His priorities, concerns, and purposes our own. When we love Him fully, loving others flows naturally from that relationship.

This message then challenges us to examine whether their lives give evidence of their love for Jesus. This message asks whether our faith shows up in our families, friendships, work, and private moments, urging us to “preserve” Christ’s words through our actions. The message encourages followers to let God’s love be visible in their lives so that His light shines through them, reminding us that when we truly love Jesus, it will show up in everything we do.

Love

In this inspiring message titled ‘Love,’ Pastor Scott Smith explores how embracing God’s boundless love transforms our hearts and empowers us to love others the way Christ does.

Soul Food | John 6:22-35

In John 6, after feeding the five thousand, Jesus tells the crowd that while they seek him for temporary bread, he alone is the true “bread of life” who can satisfy the soul and give eternal life. The message challenges us to stop chasing temporary things like anger, jealousy, lust, money, or self-image, and instead anchor our lives in Jesus, the only one who can truly save and satisfy.

The Pruning Process | John 15:1-5

This message focuses on Jesus’ bold statement in John 15: “I am the vine; you are the branches,” teaching that true life and purpose come only from staying connected to Him. To “abide” means to remain close and surrendered to Jesus, letting His way shape our character and actions. It reminds us that God’s pruning—removing selfishness, bitterness, and other spiritual disease—is not punishment but preparation for greater fruitfulness. We are called to trust the pruning process, stay with Jesus, and let His life flow through us so we can grow stronger in faith.