Week 5 of Rooted Lives, Thriving Church teaches that relationships aren’t optional to faith but the primary “classroom” where discipleship becomes real, grounded in Jesus’ command in John 13:34 to “love one another… as I have loved you.” Set within the larger biblical story - - creation’s design for community, sin’s fracture of trust and connection, and Jesus forming a new people under God’s reign - - the sermon shows that a thriving church is recognized not mainly by programs but by visible, Christlike love. That love looks like presence (being fully attentive and moving toward people), shared community that strengthens and sharpens us (Proverbs 27:17), and courageous, humble work through conflict that leads toward forgiveness and reconciliation as “kingdom practice.” As believers take concrete steps to encourage, reconnect, and commit to shared life, their rooted lives become a living testimony that helps build a thriving church and makes the King recognizable to the world.