It was interesting, because our general conversation at the beginning - unprompted by any leading questions or direction - worked its way through much of my notes on the subject. We talked about concern for others, serving the body in the church, and deliberate decisions to express love. Then we got into the study.
Here's a link to the outline notes. I'll paste the notes at the bottom of this post for quick reference, too.
Some observations that came out of discussion:
- Comparing love to brotherly kindness:
Brotherly kindness may be like giving a hand out to someone of something you're not going to use anyway - often called "charity" in today's world.
Love is wanting for that person what you have and enjoy - necessities, opportunities, comforts, etc - Agape love is not something you fall in our out of, it's definitely a deliberate choice. But more than that, it is not something that comes naturally for everyone you meet. God grants you this love by the Holy Spirit sometimes. One of our group who works in medicine (and is not Sunni) told a story of how she often cares for people dying of heart failure. A few days ago she met one man and immediately felt this overwhelming compassionate love for him. She wanted for him the same thing she wants for her children - eternal life with God. This impulse to share the gospel with this man out of love was something she doesn't feel with every patient she cares for. But for this time, God placed within her that love so that she could effectively share with this man. There was no dramatic conversion that day, but he's still hanging on physically and now has her personal phone number as well as seeing her in the hospital on occasion.
- Does this love mean we should be close to people - even Christians - who bring us down? Even among the body, there are unfortunate times when bad things happen among brothers. Love calls us to forgive, but does it necessarily mean it calls us to maintain a close relationship that may cripple our own walk with Christ? Maybe love in this case calls us to forgive and show kindness but not be close to that person. One analogy mentioned was that we're at different places in the same journey, so we can't walk together right now. I may be a mile or 2 ahead or a mile or 2 behind that other person. Walking together would pull one or the other back.
I'm still thinking on that 3rd observation: loving my brother in Christ but intentionally not "hanging out" (for lack of a better term) with him. Is that because of the "I love him but I don't like him" excuse and I need to get over it to truly grow in love, or is it out of necessity at this point in our journey?
I'd love to hear others' thoughts on these or any other observations as you take a glimpse into our study.
Add to Brotherly Kindness, Love
agapē n.
ἀγάπη
1) affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love
Where brotherly kindness is a concern for other’s needs, agapē desires the highest good for others.
Root word:
agapaō v.
ἀγαπάω
1) of persons
a. to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly
2) of things
b. to be well pleased, to be contented at or with a thing
Agapaō has been described as love which “prized” something or someone. Yet it is not an impulse based on feelings, nor does it focus itself upon someone in whom you have discovered only attraction. It’s based on reason – deliberate choice.
Unselfish commitment
The kind of love God exhibits to sinners – John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:9-11
Character qualities of love from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Suffers all things – not easily roused to resentment
Is kind – inclined to be of good service to others
Vaunts not itself – does not toot its own horn
Is not puffed up – is not swelled with pride
Not easily provoked – does not have thin skin or a short fuse
Thinks no evil – does not keep a record or wrongs
Rejoices not in iniquity – does not enjoy that which is offensive to God
Rejoices in the truth – is moved emotionally by truth
Bears all things – Is protective, covers, and is supportive
Believes all things – Is not gullible, but believes until proven wrong
Hopes all things – Is not negative or critical, but positive
Endures all things – Sustains the assault of the enemy
Love never fails – Unlike leaves and flowers, love never falls off
Illustration – The woman who anointed Jesus with oil: Mark 14:3-9
Vs 9: Jesus calls this expression of love “gospel”.
Galatians 5:22
1 John 4:7-8
1 Peter 1:22 (both brotherly kindness & love)
1 Peter 2:17 agapao adelphotes
John 13:34
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