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The following blog is a summary of a message preached by Pastor Eddie Lawrence.

Watch the Sermon HERE!

What does it mean to build a house that love builds? This isn't about physical construction, but about creating homes, families, and communities founded on God's kind of love - agape love. This divine love transforms how we worship, witness, work, walk, wait, war, and ultimately win in life.

What Is Agape Love?

The Greek word "agape" appears throughout the New Testament and represents something far deeper than human affection or romantic feelings. According to Romans 5:8, "God demonstrates his own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." This sacrificial act defines agape love.

Agape love is sacrificial, covenantal, unconditional, and voluntary. It's a selfless, divine, and principled love that seeks the best for others, as demonstrated when God sent His Son. Unlike other forms of love - brotherly love (phileo), family love (storge), or romantic love (eros) - agape love flows from God's character and transforms how we relate to others.

How Does Love Behave?

First Corinthians 13:4-8 provides the blueprint for how agape love expresses itself through human beings:

"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."

This isn't just a beautiful passage for weddings - it's God's standard for how His love should flow through every believer's life. When we examine our hearts against this list, we quickly realize we need God's help to love this way.

Seven Windows Into the House That Love Builds

Love Worships

The greatest commandment calls us to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, body, soul and strength" (Mark 12:29). Love begins with worship - putting God first in everything. When Jesus went to the cross, He did so as an act of worship to the Father, fully surrendered in obedience.

Here's a transformative truth: you will love others more if you love God most. When the Holy Spirit sheds God's love abroad in your heart, your love for your spouse, children, and others is transformed because God's love manifests in ways that bless people.

Love Witnesses

Jesus gave us a new commandment: "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34-35). When we love with Christ's love, people around us will know we belong to Him. Our lives become witnesses for Christ when we love with His love.

As D.L. Moody said, "You can line up a hundred men, one of them will have read the Bible. The other 99 read Christians." You may be the only Bible someone really reads. Their encounter with Christ may come through the life you live.

Love Works

Paul describes "faith working through love" (Galatians 5:6). Love must be our motivation and the channel through which our faith expresses itself. Love doesn't just feel - it acts. It rolls up its sleeves and gets things done.

Every mother knows that love works. Love expresses itself through service, sacrifice, and action. When we operate through love, our efforts become productive and accomplish God's purposes.

Love Walks

Paul instructs us to "walk in love" (Ephesians 5:2). This means our daily lifestyle should distribute love everywhere we go. We practice kindness, refuse to provoke others, don't keep records of wrongs, and endure difficult situations with God's grace.

Walking in love means consistently demonstrating the characteristics of 1 Corinthians 13 in our everyday interactions and routines.

Love Waits

First Corinthians 13 tells us love is patient and endures all things. Rather than trying to manipulate circumstances, God's love completely trusts Him. Sometimes we find ourselves in the waiting room of life, wondering when God will act.

Love waits because it trusts that God is working all things together for good. Waiting is one of the hardest things required of us, but love chooses to trust God's timing and methods.

Love Wars

This might seem contradictory, but love engages in spiritual warfare. "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:4).

Love wars differently than the world. Instead of domination, intimidation, and manipulation, love operates through the fruit and gifts of the Spirit. Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8), choosing to intercede rather than accuse.

Love Wins

The most powerful truth: "Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8). While prophecies will cease and tongues will end, love continues forever. Love is one of the three abiding gifts - faith, hope, and love - that will go with us into eternity.

Even on the cross, Jesus demonstrated love's victory by praying, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." In His greatest moment of need, He thought of others instead of focusing on His own suffering.

Why Does Love Matter So Much?

Without love, even the most impressive spiritual activities become meaningless. You can speak in tongues, prophesy, understand mysteries, have mountain-moving faith, give everything to the poor, or even become a martyr - but without love, it profits you nothing.

God doesn't love people because they're lovable. God loves people because God is love. This love is given to us when we don't deserve it, and nothing can separate us from it.

How Can We Experience This Love?

Apart from the Holy Spirit's gifting, we're incapable of this kind of love. But with Him, all things are possible. When we come to know Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit sheds God's love abroad in our hearts, enabling us to love as God loves.

Sometimes love requires forgiveness - releasing those who have hurt us so God's love can flow freely. Love keeps no record of wrongs and chooses to cover offenses rather than create problems.

Life Application

This week, choose one characteristic from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 that challenges you most. Perhaps it's being patient, not keeping records of wrongs, or not being easily provoked. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you practice this aspect of love in your daily interactions.

Remember that building a house that love builds starts with loving God most, which enables you to love others more. Let your home become a place where worship, witness, work, walking in love, waiting on God, spiritual warfare, and love's victory are all evident.

Ask yourself these questions:

  • How can I better demonstrate God's love in my daily walk?
  • Is there someone I need to forgive so love can flow freely?
  • What would change in my relationships if I truly loved others with agape love?
  • How can my life become a better witness of Christ's love to those around me?

The house that love builds isn't just a beautiful concept - it's a practical way of living that transforms families, communities, and ultimately, the world around us.