1. The English term "love" is used to describe many types of relationships. It can describe an interest, affection, or intense feeling. What do you use the word "love" to describe?

2. The New Testament, originally written in Greek, uses the noun agapaō and the verb agapē for the love from God. This concept of love is not found in any other writings of the time. What do you observe about this type of love?

Beloved, let us love (agapaō) one another, for love (agapē) is from God, and whoever loves (agapaō) has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love (agapaō) does not know God, because God is love (agapē). (1 John 4:7-8, ESV)

3. God's love is a deep and challenging subject to understand. What do you observe about love in these passages?

For God so loved (agapaō) the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17, ESV)

And Jesus, looking at him, loved (agapaō) him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Mark 10:21-22, ESV)

"'And you shall love (agapaō) the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love (agapaō) your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31, ESV)