Atmosphere of Love in the Home  Marriages falling apart like all around us.  Vows broken: “Till death do us part”  Experts searching for cause or causes.  Major Factor: Failure of husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church.  As leader – husband bears chief responsibility in the home.  Husband’s sacrificial love will breathe life into the marriage. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her...So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies…For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. (Eph. 5:29)

Atmosphere of Love in the Home Priority in the Home of a Christian Jesus said to him, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself… (Matt. 22:37-40) Governed by Commands: For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other com- mandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Rom. 13:9-10)

Atmosphere of Love in the Home Qualities of Love: Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Cor. 13:4-7)

Atmosphere of Love in the Home Necessity of Love Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. (1 Cor. 13:1-3)

Atmosphere of Love in the Home Love Suffers Long; Is Not Provoked:  Patient; long-tempered – Contrast: Short-tempered  Not easily angered; not have a short fuse  Love controls the passions, keeps a cool head.  Sexual adjustments  Money management  Personal habits  Child training & discipline  Other tensions  Seeks explanations  Searches for understanding  Rids explosive atmosphere that creates tension and confusion in the home

Atmosphere of Love in the Home Love is Kind:  Useful; needful  Charitable spirit  Considerate; always provides what is of value  Sick spouse  Disagreeable neighbor  Disobedient children  Dangerous activities  Spiritual well-being  Compassionate  Sees need & seeks to satisfy  Seeks to relieve burdens, not be a burden

Atmosphere of Love in the Home Love Does Not Envy:  Jealous: Original meaning of word “boil with heat”  Carnal spirit that heats up between rivals  Competition that creates division & strife in the home  Security of love missing  Favoritism  More attention given to others—mate neglected  More attention given to career or hobby—family neglected  Praise  Assurance of love  Time and attention given to mate’s needs and children’s needs

Atmosphere of Love in the Home Love Does Not Parade Itself, Is Not Puffed Up, Seeks Not Its Own:  Braggart; inflated view of oneself; proud, arrogant  Puts self at center; Feels world revolves around him  Demands others gravitate toward him & his interest  Serve others in the home  Consider others better than self  Give top priority to others  Be giving: of yourself, your time, your understanding  Selfish  Expects others to serve him  Mate neglected, ignored, mistreated  “What’s in it for me?”

Atmosphere of Love in the Home Love Does Not Behave Rudely:  Unseemly, shameful, unbecoming  Literal Meaning: “against the scheme”  Action that is against God’s scheme or plan for man  Acts properly toward others  Gives mate no cause for distrust  Lewd, lascivious, immoral  Flirtatious, immodest acts  Fit of anger  Unfair treatment  “Silent treatment”

Atmosphere of Love in the Home Love Thinks No Evil:  Keeps no record of wrongs; forgiving  Does not take into account a wrong suffered  Forgive and forget past wrongs  Deal with the present  Forgiveness brings families together  Remember wrongs and regurgitate at slightest provocation  Remind others of wrongs committed by mate  Carries a grudge  Peace is suffocated

Atmosphere of Love in the Home Love Bears, Believes, Hopes and Endures All Things:  Overcomes all obstacles  Severe problems: Loves bears them  When confidence seems foolish: Love trusts  When all seems lost: Love sees good shining through  When the feeble tremble: Love remains firm

Atmosphere of Love in the Home The Source of Love:  Fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)  Comes as we study and live by the gospel (Eph. 3:14-19; Rom. 10:17)  Gospel is food that strengthens the spirit (1 Pet. 2:1-2; Heb 5:11-14)  Nourishes us (1 Tim. 4:6)  Works in believers (1 Thess. 2:13)