Ephesians 6 18 24 Whats Love Got to

Ephesians 6: 18 -24 What's Love Got to Do with it?

Love verses in Ephesians 2: 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 2: 5 …made us alive together with Christ 3: 19 know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge 5: 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 5: 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you. . . 5: 25 love your wives. . . 4: 2 … showing tolerance for one another in love.

Passage: Ephesians 6: 18 -24 2 Pictures of Biblical Love Outline: 1. Praying for one another (vv 18 -20) 2. Caring for one another (vv 21 -24)

Ephesians 6: 18 -24 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in {proclaiming} it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. 21 But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts. 23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.

John 13: 34 -35 34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. ”

Picture #1: Praying for one Another Ephesians 6: 18 -20 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it, I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Ephesians 6: 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Picture #1: Praying for one Another Ephesians 6: 18 -20 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it, I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Picture #2: Caring about for one Another Ephesians 6: 21 -24 21 But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts. 23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.

Acts 20: 37 -38 37 And they began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him, 38 grieving especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. . .

David Powlison quote “In God's view there is never an inconsequential word that anybody ever says. Every word counts. . . Jesus says you will be judged for every careless word you utter (Matthew 12: 36). That means that when you climb into anything a person ever says you find profound things revealed about what they are about: what they are after, what their intentions are, what their worldview is. . .

David Powlison quote cont’d “Small talk: it is either a way for me to say, “I don't want to know you and I don't want you to know you and so I am going to keep it light and make it as quick as possible and see you later. ” Or [it] is a way to say, “I care about you. I would like to get to know you. ” We can talk about a football team or the weather and it is actually an expression of two human beings making that connection, but it is because we love each other or want to know each other. ”

Picture #2: Caring about for one Another Ephesians 6: 21 -24 21 But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts. 23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.

Discussion Questions 1. Why do you think prayer is sometimes a greater indicator of our spiritual life/love than more visible, outward, even “sacrificial” acts of love? 2. What do you think is behind our lack of persistence in prayer? 3. How can talking about you be “all about me”? How can talking about me be “all about you”? What do you think the purpose(s) of small groups and discussion times is/are? 4. 1 Corinthians 13: 13 reads “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. ” How so?