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Cultivating Love: The Heart of Christian Faith

Discover how love is the pinnacle of spiritual graces and the foundation that binds believers together and to God. Learn how it plays a role in fellowship, forgiveness, mercy, and sharing the Gospel. Explore ways to grow in love by reflecting on God's love, making choices aligned with love, praying for growth, and rejecting selfishness. Embrace the challenge and beauty of embodying virtues for the benefit of both God and others. Keep cultivating love to experience spiritual growth and faithfulness!

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Cultivating Love: The Heart of Christian Faith

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  1. Love add to your faith… (2 Pet. 1:5-9)

  2. Previous Characteristics • faith - conviction of truth of divine things • virtue - courage to choose right from wrong • knowledge - understanding of God’s word • self-control - mastery of thoughts, actions • perseverance - staying the course • godliness - seeking first to please God • brotherly kindness - the special kinship and care we reserve especially for brethren

  3. Introduction • love (agaph) – actively seeks the good of others, even at own expense • pinnacle of the spiritual graces given in the gospel (1 Cor. 13:13)(Col. 3:14) • not reserved, to be shown to all (Mt. 5:43-45) • best seen in God (Rom. 5:8)(1 Jn. 3:16; 4:8) • Christ-like love cannot be realized without the foundation of the previous graces

  4. The Role of Love • binds the faithful together and to God • foundation of fellowship (Eph. 4:1-3, 15-16) • when personalities clash (Rom. 14:14-15) • when sin has been committed (James 5:19-20) (2 Thess. 3:14-15), forgiveness (2 Cor. 2:6-11) • demonstrates the love of God to the lost • mercy to the needy (James 2:1-13) • preaching the gospel to all (Mt. 9:36-38)

  5. Growing in Love • reflect on love shown us by God • (1 Jn. 3:16)(Lk. 7:41-43)(2 Cor. 5:14-15) • make a choice to act towards our fellow man consistent with love(1 Cor. 13:4-8) • pray for growth, even of love(Phil. 1:9) • reject selfishness (Mk. 12:30-31)(Phil. 2:1-4)

  6. Conclusion • of all these Christian qualities, love is the most obvious, but also the most difficult • it is the exercising of virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, and brotherly kindness, all for the purpose of God and others • yet, we will enjoy the fruit that is born through spiritual growth and faithfulness • keep growing into Christ! (2 Pet. 3:17-18)

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