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2807 illustrations evoking love
Henry Drummond called 1 Corinthians 13 "the greatest thing in the world." Everything else fails: prophecy ceases, tongues stop, knowledge passes away. Only love remains. Billy Graham preached on this
"Perfect love is not instant but grown—through sanctification, fear is progressively expelled. We cooperate with grace as love deepens. The more we love God and neighbor, the less we fear. Perfect lov
"Jesus says 'I am the WAY'—not 'I am the correct doctrine.' The way is walked, not merely affirmed. To claim Christ as the way is to follow His path of enemy love, nonviolence, and community. The way
"While we were SINNERS—ungodly, hostile, helpless. God's love is not a response to our lovability but an expression of His nature. Grace is given to the undeserving; that's what makes it grace. Christ
"Christ died for sinners—for YOU. While YOU were a sinner, Christ died for YOU. This is personal: not just humanity in general but YOU specifically. God demonstrated HIS love toward YOU. Will YOU rece
"Abundant life is not individual flourishing but communal existence—shared meals, mutual aid, common life. The thief is individualism that isolates; Jesus creates community that gives life. The church
"Paul stretches language to express the inexpressible: nothing in height or depth, present or future, life or death. Why? Because God's love is infinite—and the infinite cannot be limited or separated
"What does God require of YOU? Justice—be fair in all your dealings. Mercy—be kind to those in need. Humble walk—stay close to God. This is personal obedience, lived out in YOUR relationships, YOUR de
"Perfect love enables nonviolent witness—we fear no enemy because we love even enemies. Fear drives to violence; love drives to reconciliation. The early Anabaptists faced martyrdom without fear becau
"God chose YOU. YOU are a priest before Him—no human mediator needed. YOU belong to Him personally. This is YOUR identity: chosen, royal, holy, possessed by God. Live up to who YOU are; YOUR calling i
"Perfect love CASTS OUT fear—not gently removes but forcefully expels! Fear involves torment; love brings peace. As we grow in understanding God's love for us, fear diminishes. We love because He firs
"Love and fear cannot coexist—one DOMINATES! When God's love invades, fear has to FLEE! This isn't gentle; it's WARFARE! Love is aggressive against everything that threatens God's children! Command fe
"Nothing in the Christian system is of greater consequence than the doctrine of the Atonement. God so loved the world—the whole world, every soul He has made—that He gave His only Son to the end that
"Grace is entirely God's gift—the Council of Trent affirmed this clearly. Yet grace invites our cooperation; it transforms us from within, enabling the good works that flow from salvation. We are save
"Micah 6:8 is sanctification summarized: works of mercy (justice and kindness) flowing from works of piety (walking humbly with God). Personal holiness produces social holiness. These cannot be separa
"Consider how great a gift it is that He gave—His only-begotten Son. Not a servant, not an angel, not an archangel, but His own Son. And for whom? For ungrateful enemies. This is the wonder of God's l
"The religion of Jesus makes the love of God the ultimate ground of trust and security. God so loved the world—including those whom the world despises—that He gave His Son for ALL. There is no one out
"The disinherited are told to fear—fear the master, fear the system, fear speaking out. But perfect love casts out this fear. Love of God empowers courage; love of neighbor empowers solidarity; love o
"God cares for YOU—personally, individually, specifically. Your cares are not too small for the Almighty. Cast them: the financial worry, the family conflict, the health concern, the uncertain future.
"Fear has to GO when love shows up! Perfect love DRIVES OUT fear! The devil uses fear to paralyze, but God's love BREAKS those chains! Receive His love—really RECEIVE it—and watch fear lose its grip!
"The church IS the community that does justice, loves mercy, walks humbly—together. This is not individual ethic but communal identity. The church embodies Micah 6:8 as alternative community. We pract
"The love from which nothing separates is 'the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.' Not abstract divine love but love incarnate, crucified, risen. Christ IS this love; union with Him IS security. In
"The vine imagery is communal—branches connected to vine and to each other. Justice work apart from the Source withers; activism disconnected from Christ burns out. But communities rooted in Christ be
"The courage God calls for is not military might but the strength to love enemies, to suffer rather than inflict suffering. Joshua's context was war; Christ's context transforms it. 'Be strong'—strong