UNDERSTANDING LIFE OF LOVE

THE LIFESTYLE OF LOVE

LESSON 4

THE NATURE OF LOVE:

1.      Love begins with God, for God is love. John 3:16, 1John 4:8.

2.       Love is the new commandment that Christ gave, the summary of all the commandments.           1Cor. 13:13, John 13:34.

3.      Love is kind. Rom. 2:4, Lk. 6:33-35,

4.      Love is patient. Gal. 5:22

5.      Love does not envy. Jas. 4:2, 1John 3:12, Lev.19:17

6.      Love does not boast (is not arrogant). 1Pet. 3:8. 1Cor. 4:7

7.      Love is not rude. 1Pet. 3:9

8.      Love does not insist on its own way. Rom. 14:1, 14-17.

9.      Love is not irritable (not resentful). 1Pet. 4:8,1Pet. 1:22.

10.  Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness. Eph. 5:11, 1Cor. 13:6

11.  Love rejoices with the truth. 3John 3-4

12.  Love bears all things. Lev. 19:18

13.  Love believes all things. 1John 4:10-11

14.  Love hopes all things. Rom. 5:8

15.  Love endures all things. Rom. 8:38-39.

LESSON 5

THE LOVE OF GOD:

1.      God is love. 1John 4:8, 16.

2.      God gave us His only Son to show us His love. John 3:16, Tit. 3:3-4, 1John 4:9-10

3.      While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Rom. 5:6-10, John 15:13, Gal. 2:20, Eph. 5:2,25.

4.      The love of God is eternal. Rom. 8:35-37, Jer. 31:3

5.      Is a pattern for all husbands. Eph. 5:25-28.

6.      Is the reason for our creation. Rom. 1:7, Jude 1, Eph. 1:4, 1Thes. 1:4.

7.      Is the reason behind our salvation and adoption. 2Thes. 2:13-16, Isa. 63:9, Isa. 38:17.

8.      God expressed His love towards us by giving us His Holy Spirit. Rom. 5:5, Isa. 49:15, Lk. 11:13.

9.      God corrects us as a Father in love. Heb. 12:5-7, Psa. 94:12, Jas. 1:12.

LESSON 6

THE LOVE FOR GOD:

1.      It is commanded in the Scriptures. Deut. 6:5, Matt. 22:37.

2.      God first loved us. Rom. 5:8, John 3:16, Jer. 31:3.

3.      We love God when we keep His commandments. Deut. 13:3-4, 1John 5:2-3.

4.      We have to serve God in response to love. Psa. 16:12-13.

5.      We must show love to others in response of our love for God. 1John 4:20-21

6.      We show our love for God when we see to the progress and well-being of His Kingdom.                  Psa. 97:10, Rom. 12:9, Eph. 5:11.

7.      By walking in line with His purpose for us.

LESSON 7

THE LOVE FOR SELF:

We have cogent reasons to love ourselves, to express our joy and gratitude to God for who we are.

1.      We are created in the image of God. Love for self is appreciation of the handiwork of God.          Gen. 1:26, Eph. 2:10.

2.      We are fearfully and wonderfully made. God designed us to fit into the purpose he has destined us to. Psa. 139:14, Jer. 1:5, SOS. 4:7.

3.      We are spirits, the sons of God. God is more interested in our spirit man and status than the physical. 3John 2, 1John 3:1, 1Sam. 16:7

4.      Love for yourself will keep you from sinning against yourself (alcoholism, drugs, tattoos, adultery and fornication, gluttony, stealing, etc.), because you know the harm it will bring to you. Rom. 12:2, 1Cor. 3: 16-17, Prov. 20:1.

5.      We are perfect in Christ, and must give no man reason to despise us. We must be content with what we have. 1Tim. 6:6, 1Tim. 4:12, Php. 4:13.

6.      Take control of your thoughts and do not be intimidated by evil doer. Value the company of those who appreciate and value you. Php. 4:8-9, Psa. 37:1-40, John 15:9.

7.      You love yourself when you love your spouse. Eph. 5:29, Matt. 22:39.

8.      We must forgive ourselves and others of the past, and let go of our past mistakes knowing that our righteousness is of God. Isa. 43:25, Heb. 12:15, Psa. 103:12.

LESSON 8

LOVE FOR OTHER BELIEVERS:

1.      We have been commanded by Jesus Christ to love one another the way He has loved us.                John 13:34, 15:12,17; 1John 3:23.

2.      He that loves has fulfilled the law. Rom. 13:8-10, 1Cor. 13:4-7.

3.      The level of love we show tells the light of God in us. 1John 3:14-15, 4:7; Col. 1:4-5.

4.      Love for others is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Col. 1:8

5.      Love entails making sacrifices for others. John 15:13, 1Cor. 13:4-7.

6.      This love involves bearing one another’s burden and caring for the needy. 2Cor. 8:7-8, Isa. 58:6-8.

7.      It is love that builds up one another. 1Cor. 8:1, Eph. 4:15-16.

8.      It is love for one another that qualifies us as true disciples. John 13:35.

9.      It ensures true fellowship with others.

LESSON 9

LOVE FOR ALL HUMANITY:

1.      We are commanded to love our neighbours as ourselves. Lev. 19:18, Matt. 22:39, Rom. 13:9, Gal.5:14, Jas. 2:8

2.      We must show love to strangers. Lev. 19:34, Deut. 10:19, Heb. 13:2.

3.      Do good to all men. Gal. 6:10

4.      We are commanded to love even our enemies. Matt. 5:43-45, Rom. 12:20-21; 1Pet. 3:9.

5.      Love is the highest of all Christian virtues. 1Cor. 13:13, John 13:15.

6.      Everything is valueless without love. 1Cor. 13:1-3.

7.      Love is selfless in nature. 1Cor. 13:4-7

8.      Love will last forever. 1Cor. 13:8-13