1 John 4:7–12 NLT: 7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

You can find hundreds of verses in the New Testament about love because it is THE QUINTESSENTIAL MESSAGE OF CHRISTIANITY. You cannot separate Christianity from the message of love.

There are four Greek words for love, but only one defines what we’re talking about.

• Eros — sensual love; focused only on self
• Stergo — family love
• Phileo — mutual love; dependent upon reciprocity
• Agape — finds extreme value in something; its value becomes the source of love; it needs no reciprocity; willing to self-sacrifice to protect it

Four Principles of Love and the Kingdom

1. Love is the chief CULTURE of the kingdom.

1. Love is what is normal; anything else is abnormal.
2. When we aren’t operating in love, we aren’t in kingdom culture. We must confront ourselves when we step out of kingdom culture.
3. God started this culture.
   1. It is His nature.
   2. It is who He’s always been, starting with Christ.
   3. He demonstrated His agape love toward us.
   4. Romans 5:7–8 NLT: 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
4. Three directions in which this love works
   1. We receive His love — His love for you is not based upon your performance, but upon your value. You are made in His image and have extreme value. Nothing can separate you from His love.
   2. We give Him love — It’s the greatest commandment. You must see great value in Him and have a sacrificial love toward Him.
   3. We give others this same love — It’s not based on their words or deeds, but on their value. If God loves them, so do we!

2. Love is the CONNECTION of the kingdom.

1. It’s like a road system.
2. When roads are destroyed, connection is destroyed.
3. The kingdom ceases to advance when we step out of love. 
4. Unforgiveness is the chief destroyer of love.
   1. When we refuse to forgive, we tear up the road coming to us and through us.
   2. God’s love can’t even get to us when we won’t forgive.
5. Faith can only work through love.

3. Love is the CLIMATE of the kingdom.

1. Climate is what it feels like.
2. The atmosphere of the kingdom is love.
   1. When someone walks into your church and senses the love of God, it means the kingdom is there.
   2. You can’t pray for God’s kingdom to come, and not walk in love. It will not happen.
3. Climate needs to be right in order for growth to happen.
   1. Disciples can’t be saved and raised up unless there is love.

4. Love is the CROWN of the kingdom.

1. It is the highest pursuit of the kingdom of God.
   1. More than gifts of the Spirit
   2. More than miracles or prophecy
   3. 1 Corinthians 13:13–14:1 NLT: Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. Let love be your highest goal!     
2. You will know your true spiritual maturity by your LOVE.
   1. When people know all kinds of information but don’t love, they show they are immature.
   2. When people are fascinated with every spiritual thing but don’t love, they again show they are immature.
   3. When people are filled with gossip, slander, and strife, they show their immaturity.
3. Love is the black belt of Christianity. It shows you walk with God.

Reflect on these things:

1. Is there anyone for whom you have destroyed the road of love because of unforgiveness on your part?
2. Have you been engaging with God in love?
3. Have you been engaging with your Christian brothers and sisters in love?
4. Have you been engaging with the world in love?