We conclude our series on the family. Over the last few weeks we have been looking at the family and ways to encourage the love and support that the Bible would have each and every family doing. The final sermon in this series is taken from the Five Love languages by Gary Chapman. I encourage everyone to pick a copy of his book and read it today. I today want to give an example of each language and encourage you to put them into practice in your family, workplace and life in general. I truly believe these love languages can help change the life of those around. So let’s look at them and the scripture that I believe reinforces each language.
- Words of Affirmation
- Mark Twain once said “I can live for two months on a good compliment.”
- Proverbs 18:21 Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.
- Proverbs 15: 1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
- Examples
- You smell good
- Great Dinner
- Way to go champ
- Encouraging
- Quality Time
- Time is a measurable period in which something takes place.
- Ephesians 5:15-17 15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
- Ecclesiastes 3
- Examples
- It’s about focusing all your energy on your mate.
- Inner feeling
- Golf
- Scrapbooking
- Couch time with no remote
- Receiving Gifts
- Some mates respond well to visual symbols of love.
- This love language is one of the easiest to learn.
- The gift of self is an important symbol of love.
- Esther 2:17-18 And the king loved Esther more than any of the other young women. He was so delighted with her that he set the royal crown on her head and declared her queen instead of Vashti. 18 To celebrate the occasion, he gave a great banquet in Esther’s honor for all his nobles and officials, declaring a public holiday for the provinces and giving generous gifts
- Acts of Service
- Just as Jesus demonstrated when he washed the feet of his disciples, doing humble chores can be a very powerful expression of love and devotion to your mate.
- Jacob and Rachel
- Sometimes simple chores around the house can be an undeniable expression of love.
- Laundry and taking out the trash require some form of planning, time, effort, and energy.
- It is important to do these acts of service out of love and not obligation.
- Demonstrating the acts of service can mean stepping out of the stereotypes.
- Physical Touch
- Many mates feel the most loved when they receive physical contact from their partner.
- Ruth 4:13-17 So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife. When he slept with her, the LORD enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son. 14 Then the women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the LORD, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. 15 May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!” 16 Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own. 17 The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!” And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.
- Big acts, such as back massages or lovemaking, or little acts such as touches on the cheek or a hand on the shoulder
- Physical touch can make or break the relationship.
- Hug can communicate an immense amount of love for that person
The PowerPoint Presentation: Love-Languages
