We are a community ROOTED in Christ,
being TRANSFORMED by the Spirit,
SUSTAINED by God’s love,
actively INVITING the faces we see each day into the way of Jesus.
On Sunday we will begin a 4 part series centered around the ‘sustained by God’s love’ part of our vision statement. This first Sunday we will take a close look at the word love. In our current American culture and in our English language the word love is very common. This Sunday we will give attention to ‘LOVE: What are We Sayin’?’
An exercise to begin: Try using the word love in a sentence. To whom or what would you apply the word love. What famous phrase you know includes the word love. Try coming up with at least a dozen uses for this word.
Some Scriptures to consider:
Song of Solomon 1:2-4
Oh, that he would kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
or your love is more delightful than wine.
The fragrance of your perfume is intoxicating;
your name is perfume poured out.
No wonder young women adore you.
Take me with you—let us hurry.
Oh, that the king would bring me to his chambers.
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Exodus: 20:12
Honor (love) your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
Romans 12:10: “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”
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John 13:34-45
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. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
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Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
In the above scriptures the word love is used many times yet in different ways. Some languages have separate words to express those differences. English does not. As you look over the scriptures above can you begin to identify different aspects of love that are being talked about. Some of the differences are very subtle, some are not.
