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Explore the centrality of love through Romans 12 and 1 Tim. 1:5, delving into the significance of different forms of love—Eros, Phileo, and Agape. Learn how investing time, communication, and emotions can strengthen relationships, moving from casual acquaintances to intimate connections. Discover the importance of loyalty, affection, and shared goals in fostering deep, meaningful relationships. Embrace the idea of unconditional love and personal growth in creating fulfilling connections.
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Practical Stepsto Becoming a BetterLover Romans 12: the “Love Series”
The Centrality of Love 1 Tim. 1:5 But the goal of our instruction is love... Love Love Love
Thus Romans 13:8-10 • [8] Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. • [9] For this, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." • [10] Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Various Words for Love: • Eros “The Passion that overwhelms”(Erotic!!!!!)
jileo(Phileo) • “Brotherly Love”, “Family Love”, Philadelphia Happiness Wisdom A Typical American Family
Agape Love • “A commitment to give of myself in every area for the good of another” • Agape Makes ALL Relationships Work ! ! ! ! !
“Love” Usually Means: ME ! ME! ME ! ME ! Self-Centered, Conditional
Agape Love Means: You You You Other-Centered, UNconditional
Areas of Investment: • Common Experience • Investing Time spent together… • Personal Inner Workings • Investing Communication: knowledge about the other person. • Emotional Sharing • Human relationships have emotional ties. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. 1 Thes. 2:8
How many of your acquaintances are actually “friends”? How many people count as “intimate” relationships?
Sporadic Short-Term. “Fun” times. A General knowledgeinterests,dreams,background,… RequiresInterest Real warmth,Enthusiasm Planned time Quality time Shared Goals Pointed questions… Promote potential Problem-Solving! Loyalty,Affection,Thankfulness Encouraging Casual Close Intimate • Extensive time commitment • Availability • Shared worlds • Completely Open • Safe to be Intimate • Accountability(2-way!) • Affectionate Often • Verbal expressions CommonExperience Personal InnerWorkings Emotions
So What ! ? • Identify a problem area • Commitment, Emotional Warmth, etc… • Appropriate God’s Power • Reject Fatalism! • Deepen Your Relationships to the Next Level: • What relationships do you have? • What relationships do you want to have? • You need relationships at ALL levels! • Open Up and let the Body of Christ HELP!
Casual Close Intimate* YourSupport We need relationships in all three categories. Tonight: God has insight to make all three levels work… The goal: to increase love at all 3 levels of relationships. 3 Levels of Relationships
How many of your acquaintances are actually “friends”? How many friends are “close”?