--PRE-SERVICE PRAYER--

Focus: Walk with God

Foundation Scripture: John 15:1-8 (NLT)

Prayer Points:
1.Remain/Continue to live in the Presence of God
2. Continue to Walk with God
3. Yield our lives totally to God
4. Impactful Sunday Service

So, what does God have to say to the believer about relating to others?

Defining “healthy love”


Healthy – a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of dis-ease or infirmity (weakness).


Love – a willingness to prioritize another’s well-being or happiness over your own regardless of their response.

State of relationships today:

2021 Statistics: 35.1% of women & 39.9% men suffered some form of domestic abuse in 2021 from an intimate partner.
2021 almost 80% of criminals in prison is because of family/domestic abuse.

Georgia Bureau of Justice

1 in 7 children have suffered childhood abuse in USA.
38% of marriages among regular church attenders end in divorce.
Pew Research Study - 2022

2 out of 3 adults have had adverse childhood experiences (ACE). Most of which are neglect & cruelty, however, includes sexual abuse/molestation, physical abuse, verbal abuse, abandonment, addiction in the home, incarceration, and separation/divorce.
Psychology Today Article: Learning to Love and Be Loved 2019

These experiences may impact how we come to feel about closeness, intimacy, vulnerability, and dependability on others… Our internal world becomes populated by our experiences of others, as we internalize aspects of our early relationships with meaningful people, especially our parents and caretakers.


Fermata Psychotherapy 2022 Article: How Childhood Experiences Impact Love Styles

Our pattern of relating to others is set in motion long before each of us meets our spouse. Our childhood experiences and the way our parents related to us have imprinted certain thought patterns and behaviors on us… [we] call these imprints “love styles.”

For a few of us, our early love lessons were ideal, and our love style is healthy and positive. Most of us, though, had some hurtful experiences resulting in a harmful imprint and impaired love style, and that can handicap our marriage relationship.

Naturally, all of us want to feel we are doing our best as spouses. To do our best, we have to take an honest look at what hinders us. Keep in mind that the goal isn’t to find fault with our parents. The goal is to acknowledge the truth of our childhood, so we have a road map for growth and change.


Focus on the Family: How Childhood Experiences Impact Love Styles 2016

So, when we consider the condition of so many today, there has been a perpetual cycle of denigrating love. The concept of healthy love is blurred by people’s own definition of love which oftentimes starts in LUST.

People are so unpredictable and don’t always respond well to the best of our intentions. So here are some practical Biblical insights on developing and identify healthy love.

How does God define love?

1. Vs. 18 – a “demonstration [of] through our loving deeds.

This is the foundational love that we’re to have towards all, especially fellow Christians. If we can’t demonstrate this with others (friends, associates, neighbors, blood related family members) then we really are not ready for marriage.

How do we achieve healthy love?

2. Vs. 19 – “… the truth lives within us…” HAVE GOD’S WORD IN YOU.

Proverbs 4:20-21 Voice


My son, pay attention to all the words I am telling you. Lean in closer so you may hear all I say. [21] Keep them before you; meditate on them; set them safely in your heart.

3. Vs. 21 – “My delightfully loved friends…” Knowing and living in the love of God.