Over the past decade or so, we’ve had two dogs—Sugar, the Wonder Dog and Dakota—the other dog.

Sugar was a dream. She didn’t bark, bite, or shed. She was hypoallergenic, emotionally intelligent, and probably had a higher EQ than most people I know. She could have solved climate change if she had opposable thumbs. Old folks loved her. Kids adored her. The vet wanted to adopt her. The groomer wanted to marry her. Even people who hated dogs were like, “Okay, but Sugar’s different.” She was a certified therapy dog and a Canine Good Citizen—the dog version of being knighted.

And get this—when I tossed her first backyard poop behind the bushes, she took the hint and only pooped there for the next year. That’s not just a good dog. That’s a considerate roommate.

Then there’s Dakota. She’s more of a “free spirit with anxiety issues.” She barks like it’s her full-time job—and she’s working overtime. But not at burglars—at our friends. Meeting Dakota is like meeting a furry hurricane. She greets you by jumping on you, yelling at you, and sniffing you in places that require therapy. Her hair looks like it was styled by a blender. She pees in the house, steals pizza, and has mood swings like a reality TV star.

But both dogs are still part of the family. Sugar wasn’t perfect—she had a weird habit of rolling in poop right after a bath, like she was trying to undo the cleanliness. And Dakota? Well, she can catch popcorn. That’s… something.

The point is: there are good dogs and… let’s say sanctifying dogs. And the church is full of both. At CCC, saintly dogs and criminal dogs are welcome here. Because we have all kinds—single moms and former inmates, drug addicts, homeless people, newlyweds, divorced folks, and even a few CEOs. And we all come to church because we expect to meet God and be changed.

The Apostle John had dealt with all kinds of people by the time he wrote 1 John. He’s probably in his 70s or 80s, and he’s sending this general letter to remind the church of the most important pieces of the faith for all kinds of people in all kinds of situations.

And here’s his headliner:

“For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.”
– 1 John 3:11

Love is the main idea. It’s in the law. It’s the second greatest command according to Jesus. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” It’s also how people will know you belong to Jesus—if you love one another.

But then comes a warning:

“Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother.”
– 1 John 3:12

Cain’s story is one of jealousy and ignoring God’s warning. He didn’t bring his first and best—just some leftovers. And when God showed favor to Abel instead, Cain got angry and jealous. God said:

“Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
– Genesis 4:7

Cain didn’t listen. He let jealousy fester and sin take over. And the truth is, sin is crouching at our door, too—whether it’s jealousy, anger, addiction, secret sin, or just apathy. And God, in His mercy, still warns us.

So pause and ask: Is there anything God is warning you about today? Something He’s stirring in you during prayer, or Scripture, or silence? The anger, the financial mess, the double life, the resentment? God says, “You must rule over it.” Why? Because sin always takes you further than you wanted to go, keeps you longer than you wanted to stay, and costs you more than you can imagine.

This Is How We Know

John doesn’t just give commands—he gives clarity. He answers the questions people were asking: How do we know what love is? How do we know we belong to the truth? How do we know He lives in us?

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
– 1 John 3:16

That’s the first gauge. Not a definition—but a picture. Love is laying yourself down. It’s putting others first. It’s sacrificial. In a world that says “you do you” and “love yourself first,” the way of Jesus says: Give yourself away, and you’ll be filled.

But let’s be practical: it’s hard to love your brothers and sisters if you don’t know your brothers and sisters. If you just sneak into CCC on Sundays and sneak out, that’s a good first step—but you’re missing what church is really about: family. Love happens in groups, in relationships, in knowing and being known.

John goes further:

“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”
– 1 John 3:17

We see this all the time at CCC—meals after a baby is born, cars loaned after an accident, money shared when someone loses a job. That’s not just kind—it’s love in action. And every time you give to the One Fund, part of it helps meet material needs in the family, the city, and even overseas.

Then John moves to the second gauge:

“This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence...”
– 1 John 3:19

When we walk in obedience—loving others, believing in Jesus, and doing what pleases God—our hearts rest. Not because we’re perfect, but because we’re aligned. And if we’re not—if we’re holding out, playing the Christian game, but not obeying—it shows up. We lose confidence. We shrink back.

“And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.”
– 1 John 3:23

Believe in Jesus. Love one another. That’s the thread running through everything John writes.

And finally:

“This is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.”
– 1 John 3:24

This sets up the next part of the message—but for now, it’s a reminder that we don’t do this on our own. The Spirit is our helper, our guide, and our assurance.

And here’s the beautiful part: just like Dakota still gets food, walks, and care—not because she’s earned it, but because she’s adopted—we are loved not because we’re good, but because God is.

You might have identified yourself as a “good dog” and think, “I’m good enough. I don’t really need grace.” But you still roll in poop once in a while.
Or you may think, “I’m a bad dog. I don’t deserve the favor of God.” And you don’t.
But He gives it to you anyway.

He wraps you in love. Puts you in community. Invites you to be changed. And in that environment, we become more like Jesus. Not because we’re so good—but because He is so good to us.

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Message recap adapted from August 3, 2025, message by Minister Mark Ashton

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