Pastor Scott Applegate

“Let love be your highest goal…” 1 Corinthians 14:1 NLT

To seek love as my highest goal:

1.I need to view love as a choice and an action, not a feeling (a biblical understanding of love).

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18-19 NIV

The four loves: 

• Eros: Romantic

• Storge: Affection

• Phileo: Companionship

• Agape: God like, servant, sacrificial, unconditional love

“God is love…” (Agape) 1 John 4:8

2. I need to pursue obedience to the command to love (love and discipleship).

 “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your          strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”                                    Mark 12:30-31 NIV

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34 NIV

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.” John 14:15 NIV

• Love marks the disciple of Jesus

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  John 13:35 NIV

• Love is the mark of real spiritual growth and maturity

“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” 1 John 4:12 NIV

3. I need to evaluate my relationships (how is love truly being lived out in my life?).

“Do everything in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14 NIV

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:10-11 NIV

• How do I know if I am loving well or not?

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NLT

Assessing my relationships: Am I seeking love as my highest goal with …?

God: 1—-3—-5—-7—-9

Bad                 Great

Myself:1—-3—-5—-7—-9

Bad                 Great

Church 1—-3—-5—-7—-9

Bad                 Great

Friends:1—-3—-5—-7—-9

Bad                  Great

Spouse:1—-3—-5—-7—-9

Bad                  Great

Children:1—-3—-5—-7—-9

Bad                  Great

Parents:1—-3—-5—-7—-9

Bad                  Great

Neighbors: 1—-3—-5—-7—-9

Bad                  Great

Co-workers: 1—-3—-5—-7—-9

Bad                  Great