TRUTH: The love of God is offered freely to everyone!
God’s love is…

1. Unlimited
Ephesians 3:18-19 :: May have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

2. Unimaginable
Isaiah 53:4-6 :: Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

3. Unconditional
1 John 5:1 :: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.

4. Unstoppable
Romans 8:31 :: What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be[a] against us?

What does this mean for me?
Accepting the love offered by God means…
1. My past has been covered
2. My present is a choice
3. My future can be bright

TRUTH: Love has repeated connection with it’s source

Why maintain constant prayer?

1. Because our good God is kind
Luke 18:4 :: For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man

2. Because it helps us maintain faith
Luke 18:8 :: I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

What does this mean for me?
1. My attempt to be loving may fall short if I disconnect from the source
2. My ability to stay passionate is greater if I stay connected to the source

TRUTH: A genuine Christian will be excited to share the love of Jesus with others!

Passion to share God’s love exists when…

1. We taste it for ourselves
Acts 18:25 :: He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.
Psalms 34:8 :: Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

2. We speak out about it
Acts 18:26 :: He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
Luke 8:39 :: “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

3. We serve others in need of it
Acts 18:27 :: And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed,
1 Peter 4:10 :: As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace

4. We boldly champion it
Acts 18:28 :: for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
Ephesians 6:19 :: and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel

What does this mean for me?
1. My actions demonstrate to a degree my own understanding of the depth of God’s love for me!
2. As I grow in God’s love, my level of passion to share it will also grow

TRUTH: LOVE allows hurts and wrongs to be set aside

A LOVING stance…

1. Understands that our own wrongs won’t be counted
Matthew 18:27 :: And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

2. Sets aside the hurts/wrongs from others
Matthew 18:30 :: He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.

3. Remembers the reward/consequence
Matthew 18:35 :: So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

What does this mean for me?
1. My unwillingness to set aside hurts and wrongs indicate a lack of Trust in God
2. My insistence to seek vengeance will hinder my hope for Heaven

TRUTH: Love treats others as if they are family

Being LOYAL to others requires…

1. Determination
Ruth 1:18 :: And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.
Galatians 6:9 :: And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

2. Sacrifice
Ruth 2:11 :: But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before.
Mark 10:45 :: For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

3. Trust
Ruth 3:5 :: And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 :: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

What does this mean for me?
1. Decide and Follow-Through
2. Offer Grace
3. Take Risks
4. Do not Give Up

TRUTH: There is no place for selfishness in love

Selfishness means…

1. I haven’t denied my own wants
Philippians 2:6 :: who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

2. I’m not considerate of others needs
Philippians 2:7 :: but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

3. I intend to serve myself, and not God
Philippians 2:8 :: And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

What does this mean for me?
1. What I want must be set aside
2. What you need must be considered
3. What God wants must be pursued

TRUTH: Love’s hope points toward Heaven

1. Hope provides a foundation
1 Timothy 4:10 :: For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

2. Hope gives perspective
1 Corinthians 15:9 :: For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

3. Hope sees the end and beginning
Romans 5:3-4 :: Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope

What does this mean for me?
1. Love requires me to point to Christ
2. Love does not need all the answers
3. Love keeps heaven as it’s focus

TRUTH: Genuine LOVE will serve the LORD!


Serving the Lord is…

1. Not exclusive!
Romans 12:4-8 :: For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

2. Not optional!
Luke 17:7-10 :: “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

3. Not about me!
Romans 16:17-18 :: I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
Matthew 6:24 :: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

4. Not about others!
Galatians 1:10 :: For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Colossians 3:24 :: knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.


What does this mean for me?

1. I cannot retire from serving
2. I will have to put away self
3. I will need to listen to the Holy Spirit

TRUTH: Love concerns itself with the glory it brings to the name of Christ Love that is not rude will…

1. Not bring offense
1 Corinthians 10:32 :: Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God

2. Not dishonor Christ
1 Corinthians 11:4-5 :: Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.

3. Have a higher standard than the world
1 Corinthians 11:32 :: But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.


What does this mean for me?

1. Understand that my actions leave a message

2. Recognize that my actions may impact another’s pursuit

3. Remember that my goal is to bring glory!

TRUTH: Love sticks like glue to the things of God

What is good?

1. It is not just about what I do
Matthew 19:16 :: And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
Matthew 19:18 :: He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness

2. It is about who I know
Matthew 19:17 :: And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”
Matthew 19:21 :: Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

3. It is a heart that is selfless
Matthew 19:22 :: When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.


What does this mean for me?

1. “Holding fast” means that I am willing to walk with Jesus even when I don’t want to

2. I don’t get to decide what is good

3. The more selfless my heart becomes, the more love I demonstrate