Transformative Power of Love in Times of Change

 

Summary

Change is inevitable, and today presents a unique opportunity for transformation. The essence of this transformation is rooted in love, a concept that transcends all other virtues. Love, as defined by Aquinas, is the will to do good for others and the desire to be close to them. This self-giving love is the core of our existence and the foundation of our character. The story of Greg and Lauren Manning exemplifies this love. Despite the horrific circumstances following the 9/11 attacks, Greg's unwavering devotion and love for Lauren played a crucial role in her survival and recovery. This narrative illustrates that love, combined with grit, can overcome even the most daunting challenges.

In the Christian tradition, love is central. The Greek word "agape" describes God's kind of love, a love that is selfless and sacrificial. This love is the greatest commandment, as Jesus taught, and it binds all virtues together in perfect unity. While other virtues can be misused, love cannot. It is the ultimate expression of our character and the gift we offer to God and those around us.

Today's call to action is to give. Giving is an expression of love, whether it's through encouragement, time, or a simple gesture of kindness. Recognize that life itself is a gift from God, and in gratitude, extend that gift to others. The story of Achilles reminds us that vulnerability can be a superpower. Jesus, in his vulnerability, demonstrated the ultimate act of love by giving himself for us. This love is at the heart of everything, sustaining the universe and our very existence.

Remember, you are loved. The universe is held together by God's love, and we are called to reflect that love in our lives. Embrace this love, let it transform you, and share it with others. Change starts today.

Key Takeaways:

1. Love is the foundation of all virtues and the essence of our character. It is the will to do good for others and the desire to be close to them. Unlike other virtues, love cannot be misused, making it the greatest of all. [07:38]

2. The story of Greg and Lauren Manning illustrates the power of love and grit in overcoming adversity. Greg's unwavering devotion to Lauren during her recovery from the 9/11 attacks exemplifies how love can sustain and heal even in the darkest times. [04:44]

3. In the Christian tradition, "agape" love is central. It is a selfless, sacrificial love that binds all virtues together. Jesus taught that love is the greatest commandment, and it is through love that we fulfill our purpose and reflect God's character. [06:24]

4. Giving is an expression of love. Whether through encouragement, time, or simple acts of kindness, giving reflects the self-giving love of God. Recognize life as a gift and extend that gift to others in gratitude. [08:23]

5. Vulnerability can be a superpower, as demonstrated by Jesus' incarnation. His willingness to be vulnerable and give himself for us is the ultimate act of love. Embrace vulnerability as a strength and let it guide you in loving others. [11:02]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - The Power of Love
- [00:37] - Embracing Change
- [01:04] - Story of Greg and Lauren Manning
- [02:14] - Love and Grit
- [03:31] - The Healing Power of Love
- [04:44] - Love as the Greatest Virtue
- [05:26] - Agape: God's Kind of Love
- [06:12] - The Greatest Commandment
- [07:19] - Love Binds All Virtues
- [08:11] - The Call to Give
- [09:02] - The Gift of Books
- [10:03] - The Story of Achilles
- [11:02] - Vulnerability as a Superpower
- [11:33] - Embrace and Share Love

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 - "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."
2. Colossians 3:12-14 - "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
3. John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

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Observation Questions:

1. According to the sermon, what is the core of love as defined by Aquinas? How does this definition relate to the story of Greg and Lauren Manning? [07:38]

2. What role does "agape" love play in the Christian tradition, and how is it described in the sermon? [05:26]

3. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of vulnerability as a superpower, particularly in the context of Jesus' life? [11:02]

4. What specific actions are suggested in the sermon as expressions of love and giving? [08:23]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the command to love God with all your heart, soul, and strength in Deuteronomy 6:4-5 relate to the idea of love being the foundation of all virtues? [06:12]

2. In Colossians 3:12-14, love is described as binding all virtues together in perfect unity. How does this passage enhance our understanding of love's role in character development? [07:19]

3. The sermon mentions that vulnerability can be a superpower, as demonstrated by Jesus. How does this perspective challenge or affirm your understanding of strength and weakness? [11:02]

4. Reflecting on John 3:16, how does the act of giving relate to the concept of self-giving love discussed in the sermon? [08:23]

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Application Questions:

1. Think of a time when you had to choose between love and another virtue. How did you decide which to prioritize, and what was the outcome? [07:38]

2. The story of Greg and Lauren Manning highlights love and grit in overcoming adversity. Can you identify a situation in your life where love helped you or someone else overcome a significant challenge? [04:44]

3. How can you incorporate the concept of "agape" love into your daily interactions with others, especially those who are difficult to love? [06:24]

4. The sermon encourages giving as an expression of love. What is one specific way you can give to someone in your community this week, whether through time, encouragement, or a simple act of kindness? [08:23]

5. Reflect on a moment when you felt vulnerable. How can embracing vulnerability as a strength help you in your relationships and spiritual journey? [11:02]

6. The sermon emphasizes that change starts today. What is one area of your life where you feel called to change, and how can love be the driving force behind that transformation? [00:37]

7. How can you remind yourself daily that you are loved by God, and how might this awareness impact your interactions with others? [11:33]

Devotional

Day 1: Love as the Foundation of Virtues
Love is the essence of our character and the foundation of all virtues. It is the will to do good for others and the desire to be close to them. Unlike other virtues, love cannot be misused, making it the greatest of all. Love is the ultimate expression of our character and the gift we offer to God and those around us. It is through love that we fulfill our purpose and reflect God's character. [07:38]

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience your love today, and how can you intentionally express it to them in a way that reflects God's love?


Day 2: Love and Grit in Overcoming Adversity
The story of Greg and Lauren Manning illustrates the power of love and grit in overcoming adversity. Greg's unwavering devotion to Lauren during her recovery from the 9/11 attacks exemplifies how love can sustain and heal even in the darkest times. This narrative shows that love, combined with determination, can overcome even the most daunting challenges. [04:44]

"Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you apply love and perseverance to navigate through it?


Day 3: Agape: God's Kind of Love
In the Christian tradition, "agape" love is central. It is a selfless, sacrificial love that binds all virtues together. Jesus taught that love is the greatest commandment, and it is through love that we fulfill our purpose and reflect God's character. This love is the greatest commandment, as Jesus taught, and it binds all virtues together in perfect unity. [06:24]

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God." (1 John 4:7, ESV)

Reflection: How can you practice agape love in your daily interactions, especially with those who are difficult to love?


Day 4: Giving as an Expression of Love
Giving is an expression of love. Whether through encouragement, time, or simple acts of kindness, giving reflects the self-giving love of God. Recognize life as a gift and extend that gift to others in gratitude. The act of giving is a tangible way to demonstrate love and gratitude for the life God has given us. [08:23]

"In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (Acts 20:35, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one person you can bless with a gift of your time, encouragement, or resources today. How will you make this act of giving meaningful?


Day 5: Vulnerability as a Superpower
Vulnerability can be a superpower, as demonstrated by Jesus' incarnation. His willingness to be vulnerable and give himself for us is the ultimate act of love. Embrace vulnerability as a strength and let it guide you in loving others. This love is at the heart of everything, sustaining the universe and our very existence. [11:02]

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to embrace vulnerability, and how can this openness lead to deeper relationships and a stronger faith?

Quotes

Greg Manning could see From the Terrace of his apartment that the jet had struck near the offices of Canter Fitzgerald, where his wife worked as the senior vice president partner. For the next half hour he paced frantically, stopping only to pound the wall and cry out her name. He was certain that his vibrant and beautiful Lauren was dead but he was wrong. [00:01:19]

That morning she had lingered saying goodbye to the 10 month old son Tyler and as a result arrived at the World Trade Center a few minutes later than usual. She had just entered the lobby of tower one when a fireball descending through An Elevator Shaft propelled her back onto the street totally engulfed in flames. [00:01:48]

A bond salesman who witnessed this raced over put out the fire that was consuming her remained at her side until an ambulance arrived. At the hospital her face swollen beyond recognition, she told Greg the pain was so excruciating she had been praying to die, but then out of love for him and Tyler made the decision to fight for her life. [00:02:10]

During his Hospital shifts Greg ignored Lauren's unconscious state, reading poetry to her and playing her favorite music, all the while reassuring her that she was loved that he would take care of her that everything would be okay. During his home shifts he took Tyler to birthday parties and play dates, read and sang to him and documented his development on videotape for Lauren's future viewing. [00:02:53]

Remarkably he also found time every day to send email updates on her condition to friends and family. Saving Lauren meant replacing more than 80 percent of her skin, often multiple times. Some of the graphs use synthetic or donor skin and from the outset were considered temporary, whereas others that were hoped to be permanent simply did not take. [00:03:23]

Although Greg would SOB in the arms of friends he never wavered in his Devotion to Lauren or his confidence that she would pull through. Exactly three months after admission to the hospital Lauren saw her new scarred face for the first time. The predictable shock and sadness were tempered by the fact that her husband had prepared her through repeated reminders. [00:03:55]

We are learning together about character, that's what matters most for you and for me it's what we will take into all eternity it is out of our character out of the moral fiber of our beings that we give whatever gift of life that we will give to the God who created us and to the people and of the world around us. [00:04:55]

In the Christian understanding, they're not all 24 equal in the Christian understanding there is one at the very center at the very heart you may know the Greek word that's most often used in the New Testament for love for God's Kind of Love is the word agape and that was where there was actually around in the ancient world but not used very much at all. [00:05:26]

When Paul was writing to the church at Corinth all of a sudden in the 13th chapter there comes out of him an expression of the beauty and wonder and goodness of love that is so powerful and profound it is sometimes thought perhaps to have been written ahead of time as a kind of a poem. [00:06:29]

All the character strengths or gifts all of them are good all of them God wants to grow but the one that binds them all together in perfect Unity because I could use curiosity in bad ways I could even use patience in bad ways I could use courage in bad ways but not love but not love the the core of Love Aquinas said is to will the good for the other. [00:07:18]

The word for today is give and this is part of the teaching of Jesus and of that early church that made them look for a word that they could invest with a new level of meaning that at the heart of all reality is self-giving love this self-giving self-sacrificing love of God so the word for today is give the intervention for today to grow this quality is give God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son. [00:08:01]

When Jesus came it was God In the Flesh God who was vulnerable, his vulnerability was his Achilles heel, his Incarnation was his his Achilles heel but maybe that was his superpower that he was vulnerable that he would give himself to you and me there's never been a story like him that tells us the love is at the heart of everything. [00:10:43]

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Transcript
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