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In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode of the HeavenEarth Church Podcast; Pastor Ross Stackhouse leads us through a powerful journey of faith, self-examination, and the transformative effects of love. Drawing from personal stories, biblical passages, and honest reflections from the gathered community, Ross’s narration explores what it truly means to stretch out your hand in love—both in giving and receiving.

At the heart of this episode is the central question: What will you do with the love God has extended to you? Through a blend of storytelling and scriptural analysis, Ross encourages listeners to consider how their actions—what they extend outward—are a direct reflection of their inner “treasury of goodness.” The episode’s flow is a contemplation of both personal history and the greater story of human response to divine love.

Ross opens with a moving prayer, asking for illumination and transformation, before diving into the Gospel story of the little boy raised in West Baden, Indiana—a story of radical hospitality and generational faith. He recounts how a Methodist church embraced and uplifted this boy, not only welcoming him but involving and elevating him. This example sets the theme for the episode: love shown through stretching out and extending oneself to others.

Three Major Takeaways:

1. Love Must Be Received to Be Extended

Ross reminds that authentic love grows from the inside out; it cannot be faked or patched onto our lives. Drawing from the biblical imagery of abiding in Christ, he explains that only by first receiving Jesus’s love can we truly extend it to others–even to our enemies. This episode challenges us to examine whether our acts of kindness arise from genuine spiritual transformation or simply social expectation. Listeners are invited to reflect personally through self-examination and to surrender their need for approval or control, trusting that true change begins within.

2. The Contrast Between Human Response and Divine Invitation

A recurring theme is the stark contrast between how humans respond to God’s generosity and how Jesus relentlessly extends love. Ross walks through Gospel accounts—from Judas’s betrayal to crowds that shift from praise to violence—showing again and again how people misdirect what has been given to them. Yet Jesus’s response is never forceful; instead of violence or rejection, he meets betrayal and denial with unwavering love and presence. The episode highlights Matthew 26:51, where Jesus instructs against violence even in the face of danger, underlining that the Kingdom of Heaven is built on non-violent, self-giving love.

3. The Daily Choice to Align Our Allegiance With Jesus’s Way

The episode concludes with an invitation for listeners to make a daily commitment to align their allegiance with the way of Jesus, not with political, social, or personal agendas. Ross is candid about the ongoing struggle—within himself and within Christian traditions—to consistently choose love, humility, and service. The Last Supper and Communion ritual become moments to tangibly receive Christ’s love anew, equipped to extend that love outward.

Whether you are deeply rooted in faith or simply exploring what it means to live a life of radical love, this episode offers encouragement, challenge, and practical steps to embody the intense, transformative love that Jesus models.