Growing in Love
Pastor David Crammer • Sunday January 30, 2022
Notes
Philippians 1:9–11 NKJV
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
1. Love Is
1 John 4:7-8 NKJV
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
There are four Greek words to describe what we call love.
Eros – Romantic love
Self satisfaction- I love you because you make me happy!
A love that is emotional involvement based on body Chemistry.
It leads to children, family, joy and laughter. It is good and right, but it is usually not enough to sustain a relationship long term. Eros is an exulted and beautifully idealistic love, usually between a man and woman,
A love that is emotional involvement based on body Chemistry.
It leads to children, family, joy and laughter. It is good and right, but it is usually not enough to sustain a relationship long term. Eros is an exulted and beautifully idealistic love, usually between a man and woman,
Phileo – friendship
If Eros is the love of the body, Phileo is the love of the soul. It is easy love and affection, it is bent towards our natural tastes and preferences. It embodies culture and beliefs. It’s about the friendship you feel towards people like you, with the same interests, social graces, and style. In the scriptures, this kind of friendship love is used to describe many relationships.
Storge – Family loyalty
Natural Affection
– This is the love of community and family. Often dutiful, sometimes unfeeling, but very strong none the less. It is a natural, carnal love.
– This is the love of community and family. Often dutiful, sometimes unfeeling, but very strong none the less. It is a natural, carnal love.
Agape – Unconditional love
Thayer Lexicon describes agape beautifully when it says, “To take pleasure in the one, and to prize it above all other things, be unwilling to abandon it or do without it.”
– Agape is not kindled by the merit or worth of its object but it originates in its own God-
– Agape is not kindled by the merit or worth of its object but it originates in its own God-
given nature. God is love.
– It delights in giving.
– This love keeps on loving even when the loved one is unresponsive, unkind, unlovable, and
unworthy. It is unconditional love.
– Agape desires only the good of the one loved. It is a consuming passion for the well-being of others.
This is the love that God has for us which inspired him to sacrifice His son and for His son to obey and sacrifice himself.
God’s Love is multi Dimensional.
Ephesians 3:16-19
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
2. YOU ARE LOVED
1 John 4:18–19 NKJV
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.
Jeremiah 31:3 NKJV
The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.
He loves you forever and ever and his love never runs out!
Ephesians 3:19 NLT
19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
3. YOU HAVE IT IN YOU
Since we do not fully understand God’s love for us, we fail in loving others. We can’t give away what we don’t know we have.
Romans 5:5 NKJV
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Christ in Our Place
Christ in Our Place
The more room you make for God in your life, the more love you will have flowing out of your life
1 John 4:9 NKJV
9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.