Category Archives: Love First

How We Grow: Generosity and Goodness

Generosity is living with a large heart, about having a heart that’s open and responsive to others. In the words of the song we just sang, it’s about giving yourself away. Not just talking about your finances. That’s such a … Continue reading

Posted in Devotional, Discipleship, Faith, God, Jesus, Kingdom Values, Love First, Love God, Love Others, Missiology, Poverty, Scripture, Social Issues, Spiritual Disciplines | Leave a comment

The Five Love Languages: Learning to Love Like Jesus, Part 2

In my previous post, I introduced the five love languages popularized by Dr. Gary Chapman in his best-selling book. With this post, I want to take a look at the example of Jesus in the New Testament. In the Gospels, … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Church, Devotional, Faith, God, Gospel, Jesus, Kingdom Values, Love First, Love of Christ, Love Others, Scripture | 1 Comment

Do Good to Everyone

Posted in Blessings, Church, Faith, Family, Gospel, Kids, Kingdom Values, Love First, Ministry, Missiology, Scripture | Leave a comment

A New Day: New Jerusalem, Part 3

In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. And he who is left in Zion and remains in … Continue reading

Posted in Eschatology, Faith, Hope, Isaiah, Love First, Love Others, Repentance, Scripture, Theology | Leave a comment

Quick to Love

These words were written in 1868, but they are poignant for our time as well: Life is short. We do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel the way with us. So, be quick to … Continue reading

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Love Is Our Mission: When “Go” Means “Stay”

I recently began writing a series on the missional nature of the church entitled, “Love is Our Mission.” We noted that God has a mission, a mission that was accomplished through sending Jesus into the world (John 3:16). And we … Continue reading

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Love Is Our Mission: Pulpit and Paradigm

John Howard Yoder once wrote that the mission of God is to create a people who are both “pulpit and paradigm” of a new humanity. What does that mean? It means God’s mission is to create a people who both … Continue reading

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Love Is Our Mission: Textual Underpinnings

Some of the most familiar passages in our Bibles tell the story of our Missionary God. John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have … Continue reading

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Love First: Compelled

On October 25, 2013, British explorer Ben Saunders and his fellow adventurer Tarka L’Herpiniere set out to retrace one of the most ambitious and dangerous polar expeditions of all time. In 1912, British explorer Robert Falcon Scott attempted to journey … Continue reading

Posted in 2 Corinthians 5, Church, Devotional, Faith, Gospel, Love First, Love of Christ, Scripture | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fearless Love

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of … Continue reading

Posted in 1 John 4, Devotional, Discipleship, Faith, Gospel, Jesus, Kingdom Values, Love First, Love God, Love Others, Ministry, No Fear, Obedience, Scripture, Theology | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment