We use the word "love" for everything from steaks to spouses — and our culture is obsessed with love while drowning in loneliness. In week eight of the "Proof of Life" series through 1 John, Pastor Justin Sturgeon takes us into one of the most stunning passages in all of Scripture: 1 John 4:1–21. Here John doesn't just say God loves; he says God IS love. This message at First Christian Church of The Dalles unpacks what that actually means — that love is not permissive, not conditional, not just a feeling, but the truest thing about God, made visible in Jesus, and demanding a response. Pastor Justin pushes past the sentimental, weaponized, and watered-down versions of love we've all settled for, and points us back to the cross, where real love is defined once and for all. If you've ever felt unloved, or been afraid to be fully known, or wondered whether God's love really applies to you, this sermon is for you. If this message encouraged you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Visit fcctd.org to learn more about FCC — we'd love to worship with you this Sunday