Equipped 2026: "From the Beginning" by Dan Winkler Part 2

April 25, 2026 - Equipped 2026 - Day 3 - 8:00 AM Session

In this episode Brother Dan continues the series examining the operative phrase "from the beginning" in the New Testament, focusing on 1 John 2:7–11 and its connection to Jesus’ command to "love one another." He traces the phrase across the Gospels and Epistles, showing how the command appeared from the start of Jesus’ ministry and is reinforced throughout John, Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Corinthians, Colossians and more.

The sermon outlines five vivid biblical descriptions of love—love as a badge, blockade, buffer, boundary, and bond—and explains what each image means for Christian life and witness. Brother Dan emphasizes that love should be visible to the world (John 13:34–35), fulfills the law (Romans 13:8–10), tempers conviction with affection (1 Corinthians 16:13–14), keeps us in bounds (Ephesians 5:1), and binds the church in harmony (Colossians 3).

He also gives five practical directions for where our love should flow: toward those who mistreat or hate us (Luke 6), toward those who have sinned and now come home (2 Corinthians 2), toward those we have already forgiven (Ephesians/Titus), toward our families (Ephesians 5; Titus 2), and toward people who are different or marginalized (James 2). Each category is illustrated with memorable anecdotes and pastoral counsel.

Along the way Brother Dan uses personal and cultural illustrations—from Texas and Tom Landry to a desert-island parable, a childhood football memory, a child with one hand at Bible class, and a cautionary reference to Madeleine Murray O'Hare’s diary—to underscore how love must look and act in ordinary life. He warns against factionalism, gossip, backbiting, and punitive treatment of repentant brothers and sisters, urging the church to practice forgiveness, reaffirmation, and visible unity.

Key takeaways include: Jesus’ command to love was present from the beginning of His ministry; love should be both principled and practical; love protects and corrects without harming; forgiveness requires active comfort and restoration; and a loving church is the strongest testimony to the world. Listeners will leave with scriptural pointers and pastoral challenges to love one another more deeply and visibly.

Duration 45:45