Introduction: Who in life do you love most? Who loves you most, and how do you determine who loves you most? Psychology tells us that love is a basic necessity in everyone’s life. Love is more than emotional sentiment or physical attraction. The Apostle John teaches us that love is a selfless and sacrificial action. How do you love? Love Others Because God Loves You – 1 John 4:7-10 • God is the source of love. • Love is NOT God. Attributes of God are equal: • God is sovereign and also good. • God is love, but God is holy. • God knows all, but forgives all. Love is selfless and sacrificial. • Love is others consumed – focused on meeting needs rather than receiving service. • Love is sacrificial – it costs you something. How do you know that God loves you? • Jesus – God sent His one and only Son to you. • The Cross – God demonstrated His love for us through Jesus’ sacrificial death. Love Others Because God Lives in You – 1 John 4:11-21 • The Holy Spirit releases God’s love that is in you. Natural love says, I love people who love me. • Supernatural love says, The Holy Spirit gives me the ability to love my enemy. Love Non-Christians – 1 John:14-17 God tells you that you are loved by Him. Then He commands you to love others as He loved you. • When you know how loved you are, then you are able to love like Jesus. Love Other Christians – 1 John 4:18-21 The Holy Spirit opens the door for our response to God’s love and others. • God’s love flows to you and must flow from you. (Romans 8:16) Fear or Love • Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hatred, hatred leads to suffering and murder. • Love leads to compassion, compassion leads to empathy, empathy leads to generosity. God’s love was expressed, it broke our hearts of stone, and brought us to Him with repentant hearts. • God’s love makes broken people whole, angry people joyful, and lonely people reconciled. Weekly Questions: Who loves you most? Who do you love most? Who do you need to love like Jesus loves?

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