By David Smitherman

Benchley, November 4, 2009

• John 13:34-35; 15:12,17
• I John 3:23?- Love is commanded by God.
• I John 4:8,11?- Love is the essence of God.
• Love defined:? understanding what “love” is not:
  • Romantic love
  • Natural, easy, not taught
• Love defined:? understanding what “love” is:
  • John 3:16; Ephesians 5:2; I John 3:16; 4:9
  • For God so loved?| Love is:
    • The world?| For those who don’t love us.
    • that He gave | Sacrificing
    • His only begotten Son | That which has value
    • That whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. | So that they might be made better
  • Not natural, not easy, taught.
• Love demonstrated
  • I John 3:18; I Peter 1:22; James 2:14-26
  • Marriage – Ephesians 5:25,28,33
  • Children – Matthew 10:37
  • Brethren – I John 2:10; 3:10-11; 4:20
    • Care – I Corinthians 12:25
    • Seek good – I Thessalonians 5:15
    • Bear burdens – Galatians 6:2
    • Accept – Romans 15:7
    • Confess to – James 5:16
    • Forgive – Ephesians 4:32

By Ron Treat

Benchley, July 22, 2009

• God expects obedience from us.
• God expects love.? Matthew 22:37-40
• Matthew 25:31-46; James 2:15-16?- We show love for God by showing love for each other.
• God expects us to show compassions for each other, both physically and spiritually.
• Romans 12:1-3?- We are to present ourselves as living sacrifices.
• Colossians 3:1-15?- Instructions for avoiding sin.

By John Evans

Benchley, June 12, 2009

• I Corinthians 13:4-7
• Matthew 22:37?- A home must start with love for God.
• Ephesians 5:25?- Husbands must love their wives.
• You must have patience to have the kind of love God requires.
  • I Corinthians 13:4-7?- “Love does all the good that it can for as long as it can.”? –Robert Turner
  • Colossians 3:12-14?- Bear with one another.
• You must control your tongue.
  • James 3:1-6?- Controlling our tongue is one of the most difficult things we can do.
  • James 1:19-20?- Be swift to hear and slow to speak.
  • Proverbs 25:11?- The value of good speech.
• We must be willing to forgive each other.
  • Matthew 6:12-13
  • Psalms 119:51

By Phillip North

Benchley, May 17, 2009

By Jesse Jenkins

By David Watson

Benchley, October 5, 2008

• Qualities to look for in a date or spouse:
  • Choose wisely!
    • Your spouse is with you everyday for the rest of your life.? I Kings 11:4; 12:25
    • Go in the direction of God when choosing a mate.? Proverbe 4:25-27
  • Someone who loves God with all their heart, soul, and mind.? Matthew 22:37; Proverbs 16:8; Luke 12:16
    • They will be spiritually minded.? Psalms 1:1-3; Romans 8:5-8
    • They will live the life.? I Peter 3:3-4
    • They are always trying to grow.? Psalms 92:12-15; Ephesians 4:15; Hebrews 5:12; II Peter 3:18
  • Someone who loves their neighbor as themselves.? Matthew 22:39
    • They are unselfish.? Luke 10:30-37
    • They will admit their own mistakes.? Luke 19:8-10; I John 1:8
    • They are forgiving.? Luke 11:4; Ephesians 4:31-32
  • Someone who truly loves you.
    • Not infatuation.? Romans 13:13-14; Matthew 5:28
    • Not puppy love.

By David Watson

Benchley, September 28, 2008

• Genesis 29:16-35?- Jacob’s love for Rachel and lack of love for Leah
• True love:? I Corinthians 13
  • agape – “love for the sake of its object”
  • Love for God and neighbor.? Matthew 22:37-39
  • God’s love for us.? Romans 5:8
• Infatuation
  • The difference between true love and infatuation Amnon had for Tamar.? II Samuel 13:1-15
• Paul’s recommendations for marriage.? I Corinthians 7:7-9
• Warnings about purity.? I Corinthians 5:15; I Timothy 5:2
• Love’s double-cross
  • Initially attractive traits become an annoyance.
  • Look to the future!? Proverbs 4:25-27
• Selfishness
  • True love is not about what you can get out of it.
  • Paul’s selflessness.? II Corinthians 12:15
• Love:? I Corinthians 13
  • Positive
    • Patient
    • Kind
    • Rejoices with the truth
    • Bears/endures all things
    • Believes/hopes all things
    • Never fails
  • Negative
    • Is not jealous
    • Does not brag/not arrogant (Proverbs 28:30-31)
    • Does not act unsbecomingly
    • Does not seek its own
    • Is not provoked
    • Does not take into account a wrong suffered.
    • Does not rejoice in unrighteousness