The Vision for Relationships is Love

Marriage Seminar KWCF – February 2025

We were created for relationships.

The focus of Jesus on relationships makes us realize how important they are.

Love is the lifeblood of relationships.

Love is the mark and power of our Christian witness.

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:35

Relationships are life-giving and life-transforming.

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Romans 12:4-5

What is Love?

Love is the essence of God’s character and the defining quality of his selfless, life-giving relationship with us.

Love is giving selflessly to the needs of others without the expectation of personal recognition or reward.

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1 John 3:16

Love is the basis of all relationships.

• God

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matt. 22:37-39

• Parents and Siblings

And he has given us this command: anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. 1 John 4:21 NIV

• Friends

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Prov. 17:17

• Marriage

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:24

• Strangers

You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 19:34 ESV

• Enemies

You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy!” 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you… Mt. 5:43-44

Your mind needs to be transformed, not just informed.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Rom. 12:2

Our focus switches from ourselves to others.

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Philippians 2:3

Overcome evil with good.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Rom. 12:21

Radical Application – Die to self, and live for others.

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. John 13:17

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23