Sunday, February 5, 2023 | Relationship Goals | Part One: Agape
Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Real love is _______________________.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 14:1 (TLB)
Let love be your greatest aim…
Matthew 5:23-24 (NIV)
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
1 John 2:9-10 (NIV)
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.
Matthew 22:35-39 (NIV)
One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Love (Greek):
_______________: natural affection
______________: friendship
__________: physical attraction
______________: unconditional love
Romans 5:8 (NIV)
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Agape: An __________________ and ____________________ expression that chooses to do something caring or helpful regardless of the cost or consequence to oneself.
Love is giving a person what they ____________, not what they ________________.
John 13:34-35 (NIV)
“A new command I give you: Love (agape) one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
1 John 4:7-8 (NIV)
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Ephesians 3:17-19 (NIV)
(I pray)… that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
The World’s Love
“I have made a decision to love you, but it will be within the limitations of how I feel combined with what circumstances will allow. I hope to be able to passionately love you, but it will depend mainly on if I can keep a positive feeling about you and if you keep doing well. I commit to loving you, but want you to know that you will pay if you do me wrong. I’m not going to let you take advantage of me, and I will do to you – good or bad – according to what you deserve based on what you do for me.”
God’s Unconditional love
“I have made the decision to do what is best for you regardless of emotions or circumstances. I have chosen to passionately love you, and it isn’t based on how I feel about you or how you are performing. I will always love you and respond to your failures with love, grace, and redemption. This will never change.”
RightNow Media Weekly Suggestion:
“LOVE FIRST” by DON MCLAUGHLIN