What Compels You?

Key Text: 2 Corinthians 5:14–21 (NASB 1995)
Supporting Texts: John 15:13; John 3:16; Hebrews 2:9; Romans 6:23; Luke 19:10; Ephesians 2:1; Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 26:24–29; Matthew 9:36–38

Introduction

• There’s no place like your home congregation. Familiar faces, familiar worship, familiar responsibility.
• The question that exposes the heart:
  • What compels you?
  • What controls you?
  • What restrains you?
  • What moves you to be the kind of person you are?
• If laws disappeared tomorrow, what would remain inside you?
  • Would you still do right when no one can punish you?
• For the Christian, the answer isn’t merely “good upbringing” or “good habits.”
  • “For the love of Christ controls us…” (2 Corinthians 5:14)

Sermon Outline

I. The Love of Christ Must Control the Christian

A. The controlling force is not just external law—it's the love of Christ

• 2 Corinthians 5:14 — “For the love of Christ controls us…”
  • Controls: restrains, compels, governs, presses forward.
• Many avoid sin because of consequences.
• But the stronger anchor is this: Christ’s love trains the heart to obey God even when nobody is watching.

B. A sober truth: not everyone who knows the Bible is compelled by Christ’s love

• Some understand Scripture and still refuse to obey it.
• They keep God in second, third, or fourth place.
• The problem is not lack of information—it's lack of surrender.

Application:

• Ask plainly: What really controls my choices—Christ or my appetites?
• If Christ’s love doesn’t move you, you will always find a reason to put yourself first.

Warning:

• Knowledge without obedience hardens the heart.
• “Talk” is cheap if life is unchanged.

II. Christ’s Love Is Proven by Sacrifice—And It Demands a Response

A. Jesus showed the highest love by laying down His life

• John 15:13 — “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
• Jesus calls His disciples friends—and proved it at the cross.
• He didn’t wait for us to deserve it.
• He didn’t measure our worthiness.
• He loved first, and loved fully.

B. God’s love is not vague—it has an “extent”

• John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world…”
  • That word “so” points to the measure of His love:
  • He gave His only begotten Son.

C. The cross was for everyone—because sin’s payment is death

• Hebrews 2:9 — Jesus tasted death “for everyone.”
• Romans 6:23 — “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
• We earned death.
• God offers life.
• Christ’s love compelled Him to give Himself—so His love should compel us to live for Him.

Encouragement:

• The gospel is not God offering you a self-improvement plan.
• It is God offering you life through His Son.

Rebuke (where needed):

• Don’t sing “I live for Jesus” and then live for self the rest of the week.
• Don’t confuse worship noise with obedience.

III. Christ’s Love Exposes “Show Christianity” and Demands Real Daily Living

A. It’s easy to make Christianity a performance

• Singing can be loud.
• Amen can be strong.
• Clothes can be sharp.
• But if life doesn’t follow—it’s show.

B. Illustration: “Show” without substance (4-H horse showing)

• A person can present something well in public and still be empty behind the scenes.
• Christianity can become:
  • Sunday display
  • Sunday vocabulary
  • Sunday emotions
  • But no Monday obedience

Application:

• Measure your faith by what happens when nobody is impressed.
• Measure your love by what you obey when it costs you.

Warning:

• A polished “religious image” cannot substitute for repentance and holiness.

IV. Christ’s Love Changes How We See People, Ourselves, and Our Mission

A. Christ’s love compels us to see the lost differently

• Luke 19:10 — “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

• Jesus didn’t come to applaud the self-satisfied.

• He came to rescue the lost.

• Ephesians 2:1 — outside of Christ, people are spiritually dead.

  • That changes how we view neighbors, co-workers, family:
  • Not as annoyances.
  • Not as projects.
  • As souls.

B. Christ’s love compels us to see ourselves differently: we are ambassadors

• 2 Corinthians 5:20 — “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ…”
• Matthew 28:19–20 — the mission is to make disciples:
  • go
  • teach
  • baptize
  • teach them to observe all Christ commanded

Application:

• Stop saying, “I wish I knew what to say.”
• You know enough to invite, to speak, to warn, to plead, to open a Bible and show the gospel.

C. Paul’s example: he begged people to obey

• Acts 26:24–29
  • Festus called Paul insane.
  • Paul answered with sobriety and urgency:
  • “I would wish… that all who hear me today might become such as I am…”
• The gospel makes you urgent, not passive.

Encouragement:

• One conversation can alter an eternal destination.
• Don’t underestimate obedience in small moments.

V. If Christ’s Love Does Not Compel Us, People Will Remain Lost

A. Jesus felt compassion because the crowds were helpless

• Matthew 9:36–38
  • They were “distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.”
  • The harvest is plentiful, workers are few.
  • Pray for workers—and then become one.

B. A hard reality: indifference leaves people damned

• When Christ’s love fails to control us:
  • the lost stay lost
  • families stay broken
  • souls stay unrescued
  • the church becomes a club instead of a mission

Warning:

• This life is the closest some will ever come to heaven.
• This life is the closest some will ever come to hell.
• Your silence can be part of someone’s destruction.

Conclusion / Call to Action

• We can talk about it.
• We can sing about it.
• We can build programs and put on appearances.
• But until the love of Christ truly controls us, it’s all noise.

Call:

• Examine your spiritual condition today.
• If you have unrepented, unconfessed sin, don’t pretend it’s harmless.
• Turn now. Make it right.
• Let the love of Christ compel you to obey, to live faithfully, and to rescue the lost while there is time.

Slide Deck (10–15 Slides)

Slide 1 — What Compels You?

Main Content:

• What controls you?
• What restrains you?
• What moves you to do right? Scripture (if applicable):
• 2 Corinthians 5:14 Design Intent:
• Background tone: light / warm
• Emphasis: serious / searching
• Mood: reverent / direct

Slide 2 — The Core Answer

Main Content:

• “For the love of Christ controls us…”
• Real faith is driven from the heart Scripture (if applicable):
• 2 Corinthians 5:14 Design Intent:
• Background tone: neutral / light
• Emphasis: instructive
• Mood: steady / sober

Slide 3 — Knowledge Without Obedience

Main Content:

• Some know Scripture…
• …and still put God last
• The issue isn’t information—it’s surrender Scripture (if applicable):
• 2 Corinthians 5:14 (theme) Design Intent:
• Background tone: light
• Emphasis: warning
• Mood: challenging

Slide 4 — The Greatest Love

Main Content:

• Love is proven by sacrifice
• Jesus laid down His life for His friends Scripture (if applicable):
• John 15:13 Design Intent:
• Background tone: warm / light
• Emphasis: hopeful
• Mood: reverent / grateful

Slide 5 — “So Loved” Means “This Much”

Main Content:

• God’s love has an extent
• He gave His only Son Scripture (if applicable):
• John 3:16 Design Intent:
• Background tone: light
• Emphasis: awe / gratitude
• Mood: worshipful

Slide 6 — Sin Pays Death, God Gives Life

Main Content:

• Wages of sin: death
• Gift of God: eternal life
• Christ exchanged His life for ours Scripture (if applicable):
• Romans 6:23
• Hebrews 2:9 Design Intent:
• Background tone: neutral / light
• Emphasis: clarity / urgency
• Mood: serious / hopeful

Slide 7 — Show Christianity Isn’t Christianity

Main Content:

• Loud singing ≠ obedient living
• A religious performance can fool people
• It cannot fool God Scripture (if applicable):
• 2 Corinthians 5:14 (theme) Design Intent:
• Background tone: light
• Emphasis: rebuke
• Mood: firm / corrective

Slide 8 — Live It Every Day

Main Content:

• Not Sunday-only faith
• Daily obedience
• Daily holiness Scripture (if applicable):
• 2 Corinthians 5:15 (live for Him) Design Intent:
• Background tone: light / warm
• Emphasis: practical
• Mood: motivating (not hype), steady

Slide 9 — See People Like Jesus Sees Them

Main Content:

• Jesus came to seek and save the lost
• The lost are not interruptions—they are the mission Scripture (if applicable):
• Luke 19:10 Design Intent:
• Background tone: light
• Emphasis: compassion
• Mood: tender / urgent

Slide 10 — Outside of Christ: Spiritually Dead

Main Content:

• Lostness is real
• Death is real
• The gospel is rescue Scripture (if applicable):
• Ephesians 2:1 Design Intent:
• Background tone: neutral / light
• Emphasis: warning
• Mood: sober / urgent

Slide 11 — You Are an Ambassador

Main Content:

• You represent Christ
• You carry His message
• You speak for the King Scripture (if applicable):
• 2 Corinthians 5:20 Design Intent:
• Background tone: light
• Emphasis: responsibility
• Mood: serious / commissioning

Slide 12 — The Mission: Make Disciples

Main Content:

• Go
• Teach
• Baptize
• Teach them to observe Scripture (if applicable):
• Matthew 28:19–20 Design Intent:
• Background tone: light / clean
• Emphasis: action
• Mood: purposeful

Slide 13 — Paul’s Urgency

Main Content:

• The gospel is not entertainment
• Paul pleaded for obedience Scripture (if applicable):
• Acts 26:24–29 Design Intent:
• Background tone: light
• Emphasis: urgency
• Mood: firm / persuasive

Slide 14 — If Love Doesn’t Compel Us…

Main Content:

• People remain lost
• Sheep remain without a shepherd
• The harvest rots in the field Scripture (if applicable):
• Matthew 9:36–38 Design Intent:
• Background tone: light
• Emphasis: warning
• Mood: heavy / urgent

Slide 15 — Today: Let Christ’s Love Control You

Main Content:

• Repent where you’ve been drifting
• Stop living on “talk”
• Obey Christ—fully Scripture (if applicable):
• 2 Corinthians 5:14–15 Design Intent:
• Background tone: warm / light
• Emphasis: call to action
• Mood: urgent / hopeful