"Love Takes Time"- Pastor John D. Putnam
February 15, 2026
Pastor John D. Putnam
In this week’s sermon, Pastor John D. Putnam delivers a powerful and deeply practical message titled “Love Takes Time.” In a culture built on speed, instant results, and quick gratification, Pastor Putnam challenges believers to embrace a biblical truth that runs counter to modern expectations: real love is not formed in a moment—it is developed through process. Drawing from Philippians 1:6, this message reminds us that salvation is the beginning of our journey, not the finished product. While God’s love toward us is immediate and unconditional, our growth into Christlikeness requires shaping, refining, and time. Love is not microwaved; it is formed. “Love Takes Time” is a call to surrender our timelines to God and allow Him to complete the work He has begun. Whether you are a new believer or decades into your walk with Christ, this message will challenge you to stop resisting the formation and start embracing the refinement. God is not finished with you yet. You are still on the wheel. And if you remain faithful in the forming, He will complete what He started. To hear more about what God is doing in Sheboygan County and beyond, visit us at posc.church!
Episode Notes
Main Point: God’s love for us is immediate—but our love for Him is formed through time, process, obedience, and spiritual growth.
- Salvation is a moment, but spiritual maturity is a lifetime.
- God does not microwave disciples—He forms them through development, refinement, and testing.
- Like clay in the potter’s hands, believers must submit to shaping, pressure, and even fire in order to become useful vessels.
- Trials are not punishment—they are preparation.
- If God elevated us before we were rooted, we would collapse under the weight of what He wants to give us.
- Love is not proven by emotion, but by endurance, obedience, humility, and faithfulness over time.
Key Scriptures:
- Philippians 1:6 – “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
- Jeremiah 18:1–6 – The potter and the clay.
- James 1:2–4 – Trials produce endurance and maturity.
- 1 Peter 1:6–7 – Faith tested by fire proves genuine.
- Romans 5:3–5 – Tribulation produces perseverance, character, and hope.
Major Themes:
- Process Over Instant Gratification: God develops disciples through seasons, not seconds.
- Formation Through Pressure: Like clay and steel, strength comes through shaping and heat.
- Roots Before Height: Growth beneath the surface prepares us to stand when elevated.
- Caves Before Crowns: David worshiped in caves before he ruled in a palace.
- Trust the Potter: God is not breaking you—He is building you.
Reflection Questions:
- Have I grown spiritually in the last year—or have I resisted God’s shaping?
- Am I trying to rush what God is trying to refine?
- Where might God be using pressure or delay to prepare me for greater purpose?
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