Scripture: Mark 12:30–31

Dr. Jamal Bryant opened February’s Unusual Love series by teaching that loving others begins with loving yourself, grounding the message in Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor as yourself.” He challenged the congregation to confront how deeply self-hatred and low self-esteem have been normalized—especially in Black communities—and named self-love as a spiritual, revolutionary act.

Using cultural, psychological, and biblical examples, he explained that the enemy’s strategy is often self-sabotage: convincing people to devalue themselves, make harmful choices, and “throw themselves down,” as Satan tempted Jesus to do. True love, he argued, never encourages self-harm, self-betrayal, or constant crisis. Maturity looks like refusing to put yourself in situations where you always need to be rescued.

Key themes and takeaways:

• Self-love is not arrogance; it’s obedience. Loving yourself honors God’s image in you.

• Many people forgive others easily but struggle to forgive themselves—yet God calls us to extend ourselves grace.

• When you love yourself, your standards rise, your circle may shrink, and you stop compromising your values.

• Self-love shows up in practical care: protecting your body, mind, time, finances, and relationships.

• People often treat others poorly because they don’t love themselves.

• You cannot truly love your neighbor until you first agree that you are worthy to be loved.

The sermon moved into a powerful altar call for those who had “fallen out of love with themselves,” declaring healing from depression, self-sabotage, suicidal ideation, and emotional brokenness. Dr. Bryant prayed for renewed identity, wholeness, and courage to see oneself as God sees them.

He closed by affirming that loving yourself positions you to love others without harm, competition, or jealousy—and that this season is about standing up for yourself, not throwing yourself down.