Essential Family: Unconditional Love

Love is not an emotion that flows. Love is a commitment that grows.

Definitions

• Agape Love – unconditional, unselfish, giving (meeting needs), forgiving, sacrificial
• Modern definition – “It’s all about me.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

• Verse 4 – longsuffering, patient, kind, not envious, not based on pride
• Verse 5 – humble, generous, unselfish, slow to anger, pure
• Verse 6 – truthful, honest
• Verse 7 – bears, believes, hopes, endures
• Verse 8 – it never fails!

Unconditional Love is a Command

• John 13:34

Love is a Commitment

• Ruth 1:16-17

Difficulties

• Poor self-image
• Hurt, rejection
• Success
• Competitors
• Baggage

Supernatural Help

• 1 John 4:8
• Ephesians 3:17
• Romans 5:5

Characteristics of Unconditional Love

• Acceptance
  • Unconditional love unifies
• Approval
  • Unconditional love doesn’t manipulate or bargain
• Attention
  • Unconditional love expresses itself
• Absurdity
  • Unconditional love is sacrificial
  • Ephesians 5:25-30; Titus 2:4
• Accounting
  • Unconditional love forgives
  • Ephesians 4:12; Colossians 3:13
  • Matthew 18:23-25
• 1 John 4:7