Family ProjectsFamily Projects

Compose a definition of success for you Compose a definition of success for you and/or your family made up entirely of and/or your family made up entirely of Scripture. “Success for me/us is….”Scripture. “Success for me/us is….”

Compose a doctrinal statement of Compose a doctrinal statement of Scriptures that you and your family will not Scriptures that you and your family will not compromise.compromise.

Start memorizing a chapter of the Bible.Start memorizing a chapter of the Bible.

Think of ways to minister to other people.Think of ways to minister to other people.

Purpose to know and share the Gospel.Purpose to know and share the Gospel.

TEN WAYS TO RECOGNIZE TEN WAYS TO RECOGNIZE TRUE LOVETRUE LOVE

Dr.Jobe MartinDr.Jobe Martin

Biblical Discipleship MinistriesBiblical Discipleship Ministries

www.biblicaldiscipleship.orgwww.biblicaldiscipleship.org

Luke 2:52: “And Jesus kept increasing in Luke 2:52: “And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom, and stature, and in favor with God and wisdom, and stature, and in favor with God and

men.men.1) True love involves an enthusiastic 1) True love involves an enthusiastic response to the total self of the one who is response to the total self of the one who is loved.loved.You don’t “fall in love” you “wait for love.”You don’t “fall in love” you “wait for love.”You don’t fall in love with a body—you You don’t fall in love with a body—you learn to love a person (marry a body and it learn to love a person (marry a body and it will grow old and wrinkled---it is the will grow old and wrinkled---it is the character wrapped up in the body that is character wrapped up in the body that is important.)important.)

2) True love has a quality of self-2) True love has a quality of self-giving.giving.

Your strongest desire is to enrich the loved Your strongest desire is to enrich the loved one, not to exploit.one, not to exploit.If you enter marriage with your strongest If you enter marriage with your strongest desire to completely satisfy your mate and desire to completely satisfy your mate and vice-versa, and you are both sold out to vice-versa, and you are both sold out to satisfying the Lord Jesus, then you have satisfying the Lord Jesus, then you have the ingredients for a successful Christian the ingredients for a successful Christian marriage=total commitment to God and marriage=total commitment to God and each other.each other.

3) True Love always embraces real 3) True Love always embraces real responsibility to the one loved.responsibility to the one loved.

What qualities are you looking for in What qualities are you looking for in another person?another person?

What qualities do you most admire? How What qualities do you most admire? How many of these qualities are true of you?many of these qualities are true of you?

4) True love is marked by real joy in 4) True love is marked by real joy in the presence of the one loved.the presence of the one loved.

It does not irritate you when they It does not irritate you when they are around.are around.

There is true sorrow or loneliness There is true sorrow or loneliness when separated.when separated.

5) True love involves mutual 5) True love involves mutual enjoyment of each others companyenjoyment of each others company

The physical expression is not constantly The physical expression is not constantly necessary.necessary.

There should be more to share than just a There should be more to share than just a body.body.

If you would take all the physical If you would take all the physical expression out of your relationship, what expression out of your relationship, what would you have left?would you have left?

6) True love tends to be protective of the 6) True love tends to be protective of the one loved.one loved.

7) True love tends to build each other up.7) True love tends to build each other up.

8) True love has a feeling of 8) True love has a feeling of belongingness, you want to share all.belongingness, you want to share all.

9) True love generates feelings of 9) True love generates feelings of pleasure as well as reverence.pleasure as well as reverence.

10) True love always keeps growing and 10) True love always keeps growing and maturing.maturing.

I Corinthians 13I Corinthians 13

COMMITMENT TO COMMITMENT TO COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION

TWO KEYS:TWO KEYS:

1) The key to love opens the door to 1) The key to love opens the door to communication in an active sense. communication in an active sense. I I

Corinthians 13:4-7Corinthians 13:4-7

The key of blessing opens the door to The key of blessing opens the door to communication in a reactive sense. communication in a reactive sense.

I Peter 3:9I Peter 3:9

Explanation of Biblical LoveExplanation of Biblical Love

1) Love suffers long = the kind of love that 1) Love suffers long = the kind of love that waits and prays for the reformation of your waits and prays for the reformation of your mate rather than striking out in resentment mate rather than striking out in resentment at his or her conduct.at his or her conduct.2) Love is kind = it responds with a 2) Love is kind = it responds with a blessing when insulted and seizes on blessing when insulted and seizes on opportunities to demonstrate tenderness.opportunities to demonstrate tenderness.3) Love envies not = no competitive spirit 3) Love envies not = no competitive spirit between loved ones.between loved ones.

4) Love vaunts not itself = never brag about 4) Love vaunts not itself = never brag about your strength to magnify your mate’s your strength to magnify your mate’s

weaknesses.weaknesses.5) Love is not proud = no superspirituality.5) Love is not proud = no superspirituality.6) Love does not behave unseemly = love 6) Love does not behave unseemly = love has good manners.has good manners.7) Love is not selfish = it always seeks the 7) Love is not selfish = it always seeks the best interests of the other.best interests of the other.8) Love is not easily provoked = a 8) Love is not easily provoked = a weakness or offense in your loved one weakness or offense in your loved one should not cause you to be bitter or angry, should not cause you to be bitter or angry, if it does, you are not loving.if it does, you are not loving.

9) Love thinks no evil = cast all your mate’s 9) Love thinks no evil = cast all your mate’s offenses into the sea and put up a “no-fishing” offenses into the sea and put up a “no-fishing”

sign. Get rid of your mental filing system.sign. Get rid of your mental filing system.