^{Wizard of OZ, pulling back the curtain}

^{Review of the last few sermons:}

^{Four Types of Love mentioned in the Bible}

^Eros

^{Refers to physical or sexual love. The word comes from the mythological Greek god of love, Eros, whose Roman counterpart was Cupid. The word “erotic” comes from “eros”.}

^Philia

^{Means “affectionate regard, friendship”. It is usually “between equals” and is a dispassionate virtuous love.}

^Storge

^{Refers to familial love, such as that of a mother for her baby or of a brother and sister for each other.}

^Agape

^{The highest of the four types of love in the Bible. This term defines God’s immeasurable, incomparable love for humankind. It is the divine love that comes from God. Agape love is perfect, unconditional, sacrificial, and pure.}

LOVE:DEFINED

1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 NLT

⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Who Does Love Affect? 

The Tristate of LOVE:  Godly Love, Neighborly Love, Self Love

We talk a lot about the first 2 in church, but barely speak of the 3^rd

Love:Defined

WHAT LOVE IS:

Patience – the capacity to accept or tolerate trouble or suffering without getting angry or upset.

Kindness – the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.

WHAT LOVE IS NOT:

NOT Jealous – the feeling or showing of envy of someone or their achievements or advantages.

NOT Boastful/Proud – excessive pride and self-satisfaction in one’s achievements. Possessions or abilities. 

NOT Rude – offensively impolite or ill mannered

NOT Demanding – making others work hard or meet high standards

NOT Irritable – having or showing a tendency to be easily annoyed or made or angry

Does not keep record of being wronged – being unjustly injured (emotionally, spiritually or physically) 

Does not rejoice about Injustice – lack of fairness 

ACTIONS OF LOVE:

It never gives up

Never loses faith

Always Hopeful 

Endures – remains firm under suffering or misfortune without yielding

Luke 15: 11-32

Parable of the Lost Son

¹¹ To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. ¹² The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.

¹³ “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. ¹⁴ About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. ¹⁵ He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. ¹⁶ The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

¹⁷ “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! ¹⁸ I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, ¹⁹ and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’

²⁰ “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. ²¹ His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.^[b]’

²² “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. ²³ And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, ²⁴ for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

²⁵ “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, ²⁶ and he asked one of the servants what was going on. ²⁷ ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’

²⁸ “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, ²⁹ but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. ³⁰ Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’

³¹ “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. ³² We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”

LOVE:DEFINED – THOURGH THE FATHER

LOVE:DEFINED – THROUGH THE BROTHER

LOVE:DEFINED – THOURGH THE PRODICAL SON