Do Not Love The World

What are some of the things in your life that tend to take priority over God? Things that you find yourself giving your affection and attention to instead of him? As Christians, we all say that we love God, and I am certain that many of us do. Yet, we still find ourselves drawn to and distracted by the things of this world even though we know they are empty, temporary, and will never satisfy. Only Christ can.

This Sunday, we’re going to look at 1 John 2:15-17 and see the instruction given to not love the world or the things in the world. But how can we actually live that out? As I already mentioned, this is something we all struggle with constantly.

Join us as we continue our series, Real Love, and look to God’s Word to reorient our hearts toward what should be our ultimate pursuit. Spoiler: it should not be anything else or anything less than God himself.

Series: Real Love
Message 5: Do Not Love The World
Text: 1 John 2:15-17
Patrice Charade
Harvest Alliston
May 10, 2026

When I love God above all else, I will…

…set the world aside (v. 15)

John 13:34-35

Matthew 6:24

The love of the world is essentially idolatry, and God will not be worshiped side by side with idols. You cannot send your heart at the same time in two opposite ways—toward evil and toward good.
– Charles Spurgeon

…see the world for what it is (v. 16-17a)

…pursue the will of God (v. 17b)

Romans 12:2

The followers of the world share the death of the world: the children of God share His eternal life.
– Alfred Plummer