God's love is defined as sacrificial love (agape) that involves laying down one's life for others. Jesus demonstrated this by sacrificing his life for humanity. We are called to love others in the same way Jesus loved - by forgiving, understanding others, finding common ground, sharing our lives with them, and sharing our relationship with God, in order to transform enemies into friends. When we love others in this way, it completes God's love among us and allows us to experience God's presence in our lives.

1. What is Love?April 25, 2010

2. What does God look like?But," He said, "you cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live.“ -Exodus 33:20No 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 4:12This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from allsin. -1 John 1:5-7

3. We know that we have come to know Him if we obeyHis commands. -1 John 2:3A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.-John13:34

4. But, how do we love?This is how we know we are in Him: 6Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did. -1 John 2:6A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.-John13:34

5. What does Jesus’ love look like? 9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. -John 15:9-13

6. What does this love look like?This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and intruth. -1 John 3:16-18

7. What is this love called?Agape = sacrificial love 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. -1 Corinthians 13:4-7

8. Agape in ActionWhat does it mean to…to lovea person in this room whom you know the least. What would it look like? to love your boss at work or your professor at school? to love someone who has made it very clear that he or she hates (or dislikes) you for whatever reason?

9. What Jesus meant…8"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.-John 15:18-19 43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighborand hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemiesand pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. –Matt 4:43-48

10. Steps to Take…Pray for everyone, especially those you don’t especially care for or have a difficult time relating to. Forgive easily and seriously put bad situations behind you. Seek to understand and empathize (listen actively). Accept them and find common ground (connect). Open your heart and reach out to them (share). And most importantly, shareyour relationship with Jesuswith them. This will show them that God loves them. “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

11. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in Him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like Him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.19We love because He first loved us. 20If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.-1 John 4:19-21

12. What is the result of this love?The man who says, "I know Him," but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But if anyone obeys His word, God's love is truly made complete in Him. -1 John 2:4-5This means: God's love, which originates in Himself (vs 7-8) and was manifested in His Son (vs 9-10), is made complete or perfect when it is lived out in His people. God's love for us is completed only when it is reproduced in us or among us…

13. Concluding RemarksOur love for one another is evidence of God's presence in us. If we fulfill the command to love one another, then we experience God's presence in our lives.We can see God and His love for us when we love each other.

14. Action ItemThink of at least one person in your life who still needs love from you. Make it a point to pray for them, and tangibly show them today that you care and that God loves them.