Agape Love: The Heart of Kingdom Living
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound concept of love as the core of what it means to be a kingdom person. In a world often driven by power and honor, we are reminded that love, specifically agape love, is the most important value. Agape love is selfless, self-giving, and sacrificial, as demonstrated by God's love for us through Jesus Christ. This love is not just a feeling or sentiment but a transformative force that can change lives and societies.
We delved into the idea that the kingdom of God is not merely a future promise but a present reality where God's will and ways bring about shalom—peace, fruitfulness, and flourishing. As kingdom people, we are called to embody faith, hope, love, wisdom, and courage, engaging with the world around us in a way that reflects God's love. This love is not about sentimentality or selfishness but about a commitment to others, even when it requires sacrifice.
The passage from 1 John 4 emphasizes that God is love, and this love is shown through the sending of His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. This act of love reconciles us to God and invites us to be agents of reconciliation in a broken world. We are encouraged to reflect on our own lives, recognizing the brokenness within and around us, and to allow God's atoning work to transform us and flow through us to others.
As we navigate the complexities of life, especially in the aftermath of contentious events like elections, we are reminded that our primary identity is as beloved children of God. This identity shapes how we engage with the world, calling us to love others as God has loved us. We are invited to practice this love in tangible ways, becoming instruments of God's atonement and reconciliation in our families, workplaces, and communities.
Key Takeaways:
- Agape Love as the Core of the Kingdom: Agape love, characterized by selflessness and sacrifice, is the foundation of the kingdom of God. It transcends cultural values of power and honor, offering a transformative way of living that reflects God's love for us. This love is not just a feeling but a commitment to others, even when it requires sacrifice. [30:22]
- God's Love in Action: God's love is demonstrated through the sending of His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. This act of love reconciles us to God and invites us to be agents of reconciliation in a broken world. We are called to reflect on our own lives, recognizing the brokenness within and around us, and to allow God's atoning work to transform us and flow through us to others. [42:55]
- Identity as Beloved: Our primary identity is as beloved children of God. This identity shapes how we engage with the world, calling us to love others as God has loved us. We are invited to practice this love in tangible ways, becoming instruments of God's atonement and reconciliation in our families, workplaces, and communities. [52:11]
- The Challenge of Love in a Broken World: In a world often driven by power and honor, we are reminded that love, specifically agape love, is the most important value. This love is not about sentimentality or selfishness but about a commitment to others, even when it requires sacrifice. We are called to embody faith, hope, love, wisdom, and courage, engaging with the world around us in a way that reflects God's love. [39:55]
- Living as Kingdom People: As kingdom people, we are called to embody faith, hope, love, wisdom, and courage, engaging with the world around us in a way that reflects God's love. This love is not about sentimentality or selfishness but about a commitment to others, even when it requires sacrifice. We are invited to practice this love in tangible ways, becoming instruments of God's atonement and reconciliation in our families, workplaces, and communities. [55:51]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[27:46] - The Kingdom of God
[30:22] - Understanding Agape Love
[31:11] - Misconceptions of Love
[32:48] - The Jesus Revolution
[33:22] - Defining True Love
[35:50] - Who is God?
[36:58] - God is Love
[37:51] - Love vs. God
[39:55] - The Problem with Love as God
[40:56] - The Power of God's Love
[41:25] - Idolatry and Love
[42:55] - Atonement and Reconciliation
[44:51] - The Brokenness of the World
[48:20] - Embracing Christ's Atonement
[50:03] - Prayer for Atonement
[52:11] - Our Identity as Beloved
[54:12] - Living Out Love
[55:51] - The Way of Love
[57:41] - Invitation to Atonement Prayer
[59:39] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- 1 John 4:7-10
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#### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 John 4, how is God's love demonstrated to us? What specific action did God take to show His love? [36:58]
2. In the sermon, what cultural values did the early Christians challenge by emphasizing agape love? How did this contrast with the values of the Roman world? [31:11]
3. How does the sermon describe the difference between God's love and the way love is often portrayed in popular culture? [32:48]
4. What does the sermon suggest is the primary identity of believers, and how does this identity influence their actions? [52:11]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean for God to be love, as described in 1 John 4? How does this understanding of God's nature affect the way believers are called to live? [36:58]
2. The sermon mentions that love is not just a feeling but a commitment that may require sacrifice. How does this understanding of love challenge common perceptions of love in society? [39:55]
3. How does the concept of atonement, as discussed in the sermon, relate to the idea of reconciliation in a broken world? What role do believers play in this process? [42:55]
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of living as kingdom people. What characteristics define kingdom people, and how do these characteristics manifest in daily life? [55:51]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you struggled to show agape love. What steps can you take to demonstrate selfless and sacrificial love in similar situations in the future? [39:55]
2. The sermon highlights the importance of recognizing our identity as beloved children of God. How can you remind yourself of this identity daily, especially when facing challenges or criticism? [52:11]
3. Consider a relationship or situation in your life that is broken or strained. How can you be an agent of reconciliation and atonement in that context? What practical actions can you take this week? [48:20]
4. The sermon discusses the temptation to replace "God is love" with "love is God." How can you ensure that your understanding and practice of love remain rooted in God's character and teachings? [41:25]
5. In what ways can you embody the characteristics of faith, hope, love, wisdom, and courage in your community? Identify one specific action you can take this week to reflect these values. [55:51]
6. The sermon encourages believers to practice love in tangible ways. What is one specific way you can show love to someone in your family, workplace, or community this week? [54:12]
7. How can you cultivate a deeper understanding of God's love through prayer, study, or community involvement? What resources or practices can support you in this journey? [57:41]
Devotional
Day 1: Agape Love as the Foundation of the Kingdom
Agape love is the cornerstone of the kingdom of God, characterized by selflessness and sacrifice. This love transcends cultural values of power and honor, offering a transformative way of living that reflects God's love for humanity. It is not merely a feeling but a profound commitment to others, even when it requires personal sacrifice. In a world often driven by self-interest, agape love calls individuals to a higher standard of living, one that mirrors the self-giving nature of Christ. This love is a powerful force that can change lives and societies, inviting people to live in a way that aligns with God's will and ways. [30:22]
1 John 4:7-8 (ESV): "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."
Reflection: Think of a situation where you can show selfless love to someone this week. What specific action can you take to demonstrate agape love in that situation?
Day 2: God's Love in Action
God's love is vividly demonstrated through the sending of His Son as an atoning sacrifice for humanity's sins. This act of love reconciles people to God and invites them to be agents of reconciliation in a broken world. Recognizing the brokenness within and around us, individuals are called to allow God's atoning work to transform them and flow through them to others. This transformative love is not about sentimentality or selfishness but about a commitment to others, even when it requires sacrifice. By embracing this love, people can become instruments of God's atonement and reconciliation in their families, workplaces, and communities. [42:55]
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (ESV): "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."
Reflection: Identify a relationship in your life that needs reconciliation. How can you take a step towards healing and restoration in that relationship today?
Day 3: Identity as Beloved
Our primary identity is as beloved children of God, which shapes how we engage with the world. This identity calls individuals to love others as God has loved them, practicing this love in tangible ways. By embracing their identity as beloved, people are invited to become instruments of God's atonement and reconciliation in their families, workplaces, and communities. This identity is not about sentimentality or selfishness but about a commitment to others, even when it requires sacrifice. As beloved children of God, individuals are called to embody faith, hope, love, wisdom, and courage, engaging with the world in a way that reflects God's love. [52:11]
Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
Reflection: Reflect on how your identity as a beloved child of God influences your interactions with others. What is one way you can intentionally show love to someone in your community this week?
Day 4: The Challenge of Love in a Broken World
In a world often driven by power and honor, agape love stands as the most important value. This love is not about sentimentality or selfishness but about a commitment to others, even when it requires sacrifice. Individuals are called to embody faith, hope, love, wisdom, and courage, engaging with the world around them in a way that reflects God's love. By living out this love, people can become agents of change, bringing about shalom—peace, fruitfulness, and flourishing—in their communities. This love challenges individuals to rise above cultural norms and live in a way that aligns with God's kingdom values. [39:55]
Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
Reflection: Consider a recent situation where you were tempted to respond with power or honor. How can you choose to respond with agape love instead?
Day 5: Living as Kingdom People
As kingdom people, individuals are called to embody faith, hope, love, wisdom, and courage, engaging with the world around them in a way that reflects God's love. This love is not about sentimentality or selfishness but about a commitment to others, even when it requires sacrifice. By practicing this love in tangible ways, people can become instruments of God's atonement and reconciliation in their families, workplaces, and communities. Living as kingdom people means embracing a lifestyle that aligns with God's will and ways, bringing about shalom—peace, fruitfulness, and flourishing—in the world. [55:51]
1 Peter 2:9-10 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."
Reflection: Reflect on your role as a kingdom person in your community. What is one specific way you can embody God's love and bring about positive change in your surroundings this week?
Quotes
"That Jesus offers us an off-ramp out of the crazy, the chaos, all the anger, all the anxiety, or just... Just sort of plugging our ears and hoping it goes away. He offers us the kingdom of God. And the kingdom of God, and when that's our primary home, when that's our primary orientation, there's something larger than our nation. It helps us to love our nation better because it makes us people of faith, hope, love, wisdom, courage." [00:28:17] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Now, the problem with talking about love is we all think we know what love is, don't we? We all think we're experts about love. We all think we kind of know what kind of love looks like and what it does. But you don't have to look very far to realize we don't have a clue about love." [00:30:25] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"And it couldn't be just any love. The Greeks had multiple words for love, and none of them quite fit. There's brotherly love and family love and romantic love. They're like, no, no, no, no. So they found this word that almost nobody used, agape. It's used hardly ever outside the Bible. And they said, well, no one knows what this word means, so we're going to tell you what it means." [00:31:54] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"One day, God will redeem everything and make everything new because God is love. Who is God at the center of his being? Even in his judgments, even when he says no to certain things, every single thing God has ever done or will ever do is driven and rooted in a character that has nothing but perfect love from beginning to end." [00:37:24] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"None of this kind of love is going to save the world. None of it is strong enough to save the world. Sloppy sentimentality can't save the world. Selfish love can't save the world. Enabling love that just says, sure, you do you, whatever you want to do, cannot and will not save the world." [00:40:51] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Step into the God who is love. Love was his invention. He created it. It's all his. It's all love. It's through him, for him, in him. He is love. So if you love love, you are going to love God the Father, who in his great love does amazing things to show us what love actually looks like." [00:42:21] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"This is the beauty of the incarnation. It's the beauty of what God has done in Jesus. We're going to celebrate Christmas here in just a handful of weeks, this beautiful thing that God has done to put on flesh, to atone for any mistake. To atone for any mistake, any brokenness." [00:48:55] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Here's what beloved kingdom people do who know this enormous love of God. This is what we do. Well, the core of kingdom people is, well, we just love because God first loved us. I mean, what else would we do? My friends? Well, so we do. If this is your primary reality, if you know that your whole eternity hangs on the good news that God loved you this much, that's your whole eternity." [00:54:12] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Because the power of God's love is a thing that has changed the world, changed eternities, and one day will make all things new. And so we do not abandon the centrality of love because that is what God has done in Jesus to change the world and change more lives than any other human being in history." [00:55:51] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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