Love God Well

When we talk about love, we could mean a variety of things. For example, we say we love our family, and then declare that we love Italian food! Clearly, we do not mean the same thing. The Bible uses a variety of words to describe the various kinds of love we experience. John gave us the most basic definition when he said, "God is love". Paul gave a longer definition that we often hear at weddings. Join us for part one of LOVE WELL, as we try to understand the kind of love the Bible calls us to have and how to direct that love to God.

Love God; Love People

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:37-40 (ESV)

Four Greek words translated as "LOVE":

Eros: Erotic or sexual “love;” Lust

  Storgē: The natural love one has for a child or parent

Phileō: “Brotherly love” or love for a friend or community

Agapê: A love that is not kindled by the merit or worth of its object.

This Week's Memory Verse:

“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. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” – Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)

Suggested Reading:

The Four Loves, C.S. Lewis
The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God, D.A. Carson
Crazy Love, Francis Chan