Luke 5:1-26

The fundamentals of life all go better if you can learn them from somebody who already knows how. Nowhere in life is this more important than learning how to really love people. This morning, I want to show you a better way of loving.

THREE TYPES OF LOVE:

In the New Testament, there are three words for love.

Eros = "What Can I Get out of This?"

Phileos = "What Can We Get out of This?"

Agape = "What Can You Get out of This?"

Four Principles of A Better Way of Loving:

First, Better Love Thinks about Others More than Self

Second, Better Love Makes the First Move - Luke 5:12-16.

Third, Better Love Takes Risks - Luke 5:17-26.

Fourth, Better love goes the last 10%.

A better way to love is to love people all the way to the end. Just like Jesus loved us all the way to the Cross, if we’re going to love, we can’t quit part way, we’ve got to go all the way.

Our world needs a better way of loving. Who do you need to love this way today? How will you love them this way? None of us are going to become better at loving by accident. It’s very unlikely that any of us will drift into becoming more loving people.

COUPLES: This week your Challenge is to love your mate in a way that is not self-seeking. Put your spouse first. Each time you make a decision that affects your mate, set aside your needs and make the choice that is best for your him or her.

SINGLES: Pick one or two people who are close to you and with whom you interact on a regular basis. Then, for this week, make every decision in a way that sets aside your needs and puts the other person’s needs first.