Love Handles: Protect

If something is worth loving, it’s worth protecting—and the best way to protect your relationships is by living the way God calls you to live.

In this week’s message, Austin Garrett continues our Love Handles series with a powerful reminder that the way we live directly affects the relationships we have. Drawing from Ephesians 5:3–20, Austin shows us the sharp contrast between worldly living—driven by selfish desires, impurity, and careless words—and proper living—a life filled with thanksgiving, holiness, and light.

Using the story of NFL player Michael Oher from The Blind Side, Austin paints a vivid picture of what it means to protect the people we love. Just as Oher’s “protective instincts” made him an incredible offensive lineman, our faith should drive us to protect our relationships through proper living. When we align our lives with Scripture, our actions safeguard our families, friendships, and faith communities from the enemy’s attacks.

Austin reminds us that living wisely, making the most of every opportunity, and being filled with the Spirit are not just personal disciplines—they are relational protections. Healthy relationships with others flow from a healthy relationship with God. When we live in the light, our lives become a reflection of the grace and love of Jesus to a world desperately in need of both.

Key Takeaways:
*Proper Living protects relationships—worldly living destroys them.
*We protect those we love by living according to God’s Word.
*Healthy relationships with others begin with a healthy relationship with the Father.
*Five commands for proper living: Be Careful, Capitalize Each Moment, Comprehend His Will, Be Consumed with His Spirit, and Pursue Him in Community.
*Our relationships are a witness—when we love differently, the world takes notice.