“Love”

What does the word “love” bring to mind?

What are you expecting from a series on love?

Important: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (ESV) If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Important: 1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV) So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Mark 12:28-31 (ESV) And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

“Love”

Definitions: Noun “A strong feeling of affection and concern toward another person, as that arising from kinship or close friendship.” A strong feeling of affection and concern for another person accompanied by sexual attraction. A feeling of devotion or adoration toward God or a god.

Definitions: Verb “To feel love for (a person)”. We love our parents. I love my friends. To feel sexual love for (a person). To feel devotion to (God or a god). “A profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person. A feeling of warm personal attachment” “Sexual intercourse”

Cultural Definitions: Sex: “make love” “love affair” “romance” Undefined or indefinable A generic word “I love pudding”

Actual human Definition: “I love how you make me feel”

Biblical Definition: “Love” over 400 times in the Bible Greek words for love: a) Agape = God’s love b) Phileo = brotherly love c) Eros = not in the Bible Love is a commandment

Commandments: Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (ESV) “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. John 13:34 (ESV) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Commandments: Matthew 5:43-44 (ESV) “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 1 John 4:7 (ESV) Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

Love is demonstrated: 1 John 4:9-10 (ESV) In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Love is demonstrated: Romans 5:8 (ESV) but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. John 15:13 (ESV) Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Love is demonstrated: James 2:15-16 (ESV) If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

Love is unconditional: 1 John 4:10 (ESV) In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Romans 5:8 (ESV) but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Love & Affection: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (ESV) If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Action & Affection: 1) Real love is selfless 2) Real love requires action 3) Real love includes desire

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