Week 9: Love
and to brotherly kindness, love. (2 Peter 1:7).
Theme
The theme of this week’s challenge is LOVE
Origin of the Word
The term love comes from the Greek word agapē (pronunciation: ag-ah'-pay).
ἀγάπη
Definition:
affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love
love feasts
Scritch, scratch, scritch, scratch… Hmmm. I think I need a little more ink…dip!
There. That’s better. Now, how shall I continue?
Roses are red, violets are blue—no, no, no—that doesn’t work…hm…
Oh, hello again! Yes, you caught me. I am here at my writing desk…again. But, here…come closer. I have something I want to tell you.
They say that the pen is mightier than the sword, so instead of making a bold show with my trusty metal sword, I am going to attempt something with my inkwell and pen that pompous poetry peddlers have tried for years—I am going to write about love!
But alas, how could I ever compete with all the love ballads, poems, and novels written over many centuries about such a worthy theme? Well, in skill or wit, I cannot compete, but one thing I can do—I can write about God’s love.
This week’s word, love, is a big one (well, not big like spoudazō, epichorēgeō or hupomone, but it is big in its meaning!). The Greek word for love is one that might be familiar to you: agape (pronounced ag-ah'-pay). This is the kind of love of which fairytales are made. Agape love is true, selfless, and affectionate. It is a kind of love that always seeks the best for the other person. And, it’s a love that cannot be contained in just one word!
Take Paul, for example. In his letter to the Corinthians, he had to write a whole list to describe agape love! Let’s look at what he wrote, shall we? (Read the following verses as if it’s the very first time they were ever read.)
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
Woah, that’s a crazy kind of love! It almost seems impossible! Have you ever seen someone love like this? I have! Although we may tend to think of agape as being only in grand fairytales or romantic love songs, this kind of love is much grander than you could ever imagine. What does it look like?
Well, it looks like someone giving His life for me. It looks like someone inviting me, a stranger, into His home. It looks like someone with the power to rule the whole world becoming my friend and my servant. It looks like someone taking my dirty rags for clothes, and giving me His own white robe of righteousness. It looks like someone taking the punishment for my sin. It looks like God sending His son Jesus to live, die, and rise again for me—and for you!
Wow…see what I mean by a love that cannot be described by one word? The God of the universe loves me! He chose me! And He invites each of us to share in that love…what an amazing privilege.
So what do you do with that kind of love? Well, we give it away, of course! Does that surprise you? It shouldn’t. Keep reading to see what I mean…
What do you think would happen if you went out into the world, whether that is your house, your workplace, your church, or your school, and looked out for ways to love your neighbor (and that includes your siblings) like God loves you? What if you sacrificed your own plans to spend time with someone. What if you gave up the best seat? What if you chose to overlook the faults of that one “hard-to-get-along-with” person. What if you didn’t brag about your own accomplishments, but looked out for ways to lift others up? What if you decided to be the hero and looked for moments to help at just the right time?
What if you kept on adding to your faith all the things we talked about—virtue, knowledge, self-control, etc.—so that your love would never fail? What if you made a phone call to your grandparent to let them know how much you love them (and God loves them)? What if you took time to memorize that Bible verse? What if you asked someone how you could pray for them?
What if you [fill in the blank]?
The possibilities are endless, my friends! God knows your whole story from “once upon a time” to “ever after” and He loves you more than words could possibly express. Any time you are discouraged, remember that wondrous truth!
“We love because He first loved us” 1st John 4:19!
The question then is, who can we love in return?
Rainey Gleich
Weekly Bible Memory (You can use whatever version of the Bible you prefer): 25 points per passage - additional passages may be memorized for 25 points each (up to 3 verses constitutes a passage)
Ages 6-10
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love” (John 15:9).
Ages 10-13
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1-2).
Ages 14+
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
Weekly Bible Reading/Book: 5 points per chapter read - any chapter of the Bible may be read anytime during the challenge for 5 points each.
1 John
Reading List for Love: * 1 point per page read - any Lamplighter book/Lamplighter resource book/non-fiction [biography, spiritual growth, informational] may be ready anytime throughout the challenge 1 point per page.
Ages 6-11
Ages 9-14
Ages 12+
Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross
Treasure of the Secret Cove, The
*You may read any Lamplighter book at any time throughout the challenge. This list is only recommendations that go along with this week’s theme.
Creative Assignment: A Love Letter (25 points)
Using the word agape as your theme, choose a friend, distant family member, or someone you look up to, and write them a letter telling them about God has shown His agape love to you recently. Then, ask them how God has shown His love to them. Make sure to choose a Bible verse or passage to include in your letter that will encourage them and strengthen them in their faith!
*Submit your Creative Assignment (video or written) to Lamplighter HERE and award yourself 15 bonus points! Assignments need to be submitted by July 29th, 2024, in order to receive the bonus points.
Practical Assignment: Love Is…(50 points)
I Corinthians 13 gives us a list of what agape love is like and not like, and this is the model we should try to live out as Christians. Using the list below, choose three things that you struggle with and three things that you think you are good at when it comes to love. For the three things you struggle with, find one verse for each of those areas that will help you to grow. For the three things that you are good at, write a short paragraph about how God taught you those things. Don’t forget to pray every day that God will help you in those areas of struggle and that He will help you to “abound more and more” (Philippians 1:9) in your strong areas.
Love suffers long
Love is kind
Love does not envy
Love does not parade itself
Love is not puffed up
Love does not behave rudely
Love does not seek its own
Love is not provoked
Love thinks no evil
Love does not rejoice in iniquity (wrongdoing)
Love rejoices in the truth
Love bears all things
Love believes all things
Love hopes all things
Love endures all things
Additional Resources on Love: (Blog Posts; Podcasts) 5 points for each recommended blog read/podcast listened to.
Blog - Tony, My Teacher
Blog - Giant Killer Series—Giant Selfishness
Podcast - What You Value Determines Your Character Part 1 and Part 2
Don’t forget to tag us @lamplighterministries
to share with us how you and your family are completing the challenge!
