Values and Character

  

A Focus on Love


 

Here we focus on the general concept of love for God and neighbor. The application or expression of this love is the focus of two other sections of this website: "Love for God" and "Love for Neighbor." Various character qualities are also found on a different page.

What is "love"? The world tends to distort it, pervert it, or sometimes leave it undefined or open for each person to "decide for himself." God, however, not only defines it, but shows us how to have it, toward whom we should have it, when, why, etc. Scripture not only defines it by giving us facts and commands, but it illustrates it by examples. And when we think we have finally understood the concept, Scripture expands it even further and applies it to every aspect of life - even to those people we would rather keep it away from.


Expressing Love for Neighbors

A short overview of what it means to love one's neighbor.

A Translation of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

My own translation.

"LOVE IS..." - A Look at Character Qualities Listed in 1 Corinthians 13

This page has links to several of the character qualities listed in 1 Corinthians 13. SORRY, BUT ARTICLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR ONLY A FEW OF THE QUALITIES MENTIONED IN THESE VERSES. (Maybe someday in the future...)

"LOVE" - What is it?

This worksheet focuses on the general concept of love (as defined by the Bible). "Teacher's notes" are included in a separate file.

A Focus on "Love for Neighbor" (Matthew 22:39 and 1 Corinthians 13)

Though the phrase "love for neighbor" is based on a passage in Matthew, the main focus of this worksheet is on the application of this command to one's life, as shown in 1 Corinthians 13. "Teacher's notes" are included in a separate file.

A piece of my mind?

Sometimes, when people express rage or anger to someone who they believe has done something wrong, they claim they are giving him "a piece of their mind." As followers of Jesus, we must respond differently.


A specific focus on love for enemies.

Love for Enemies - Matthew 5:43-48

This is an overview of what "love for enemies" is all about.

Matthew 5:43-48 & Luke 14:26 - Love and Hate

This is part of a study on values and priorities. The section about Matthew 5:43-48 is mainly a list of questions for personal reflection, based on these verses. The section about "hate" looks at a verse that describes "hate" as necessary - and shows that there is no contradiction between the two passages. [Note: One section of the study uses the "Value Chart" (a link is included for that page), but you can skip it, if that is not the purpose of your study.]


The Bible says...

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:10)

This is love for God: to obey his commands. (1 John 5:3a)

Jesus says...

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34)

But I tell you: Love your enemies ... that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:44-45)


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