Character Development:

Gods Love
Main Point: Discuss what biblical Love is, its importance in the life of the Christian, and how the bible says we can grow in our love for God and men. In your own honest perspective as you view things at this very moment, complete these statements: To me Love is/is not ___________________________________ ___________________________________. Questions: 1. What is the view in todays society on what love is? (emotionally, physically, spiritually) 2. Do you ever consider that their perspective is true? Why? It is very important that we grasp what it means to walk in love as believers in Jesus Christ. Q: Why so important? A: For multiple reasons: LOVE is more than just something God does. It is who He is. Read 1 John 4:16 2. We are commanded to imitate God as dearly LOVED children. As He is, so are we in this world. Read Ephesians 5:1, 1 John 4:17 3. Love is the summation of all of Gods commands and if we love Him, we will do what He tells us to do. Read Matthew 22:40, John 14:15 And the list could keep going. The old and new testament is full of the importance and relentlessness of Gods love for us and instruction on how to love Him and others. With this in mind it is crucial that we find out what biblical Love is so that we can line up with Gods perfect will is for us 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease, where there are tongues, they will be stilled, where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 1.

Questions: Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 3. What does God say love is and is not? (patient, kind, not envious, etc.) 4. We can see in this scripture that the biblical view of Love is more than just saying that you love God and people but there are actions involved. Can you see yourself operating in the way God calls us to love? 1 John 4:10-18 This is real lovenot that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. Questions: Read 1 John 4:10-18 5. 6. 7. 8. What is REAL Love? (God sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.) How do we know for sure that we are living in God and God in us? (see verse 16) Can love be made perfect in us? How? (see verse 17) How do we know we are not walking in perfect love with God and people? (fear of
judgement [verse 17-18)

God wants to develop our love walk towards people so that He can express His truly good nature through us. John 13:35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. Mark 12:31 Love your neighbor as yourself The only way to truly understand the Gods love is to spend time with him in his word and in fellowship/prayer. I pray that out of his glorious riches(A) he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lords holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledgethat you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19 I challenge you to pray this prayer over yourself and and your brothers and sisters in Christ and expect growth in your biblical Love walk!