HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE?

Sermon Notes, April 22, 2012

Gary Smith

Rev. Gary Smith, pastor of College Church of the Nazarene in Beaver Falls PA, was the guest speaker on Sunday.  His message was titled “How Deep Is Your Love,” and his text was John 21:15-17, where Jesus asks Peter “Do you love me?” after His resurrection.

Pastor Gary’s message started off with the congregation singing along to the Bee Gees tune “How Deep Is Your Love?” and a brief discussion of some of the lyrics.

There is only one word for love in English.  The same word is used for the love you have for pizza or a pot roast or your dog, as is used for the love you have for family and friends, or the love you have for God.  There are three levels of love in the New Testament Greek:

·         Eros—the lowest level of love; fondness; it’s earthy.  Love for golf, or pot roast, or a caveman kind of love.

·         Phileo—the middle level of love; brotherly love; it implies a relationship, something that can give back love.

·         Agape—the highest level of love; it’s reserved for God and our relationship with Him.

The first time Jesus asks Peter “Do you love me (agape)?” Jesus adds “more than these.” Peter and the disciples had gone fishing after Jesus’ crucifixion.  They’d fished all night and caught nothing.  Then Jesus came and told them to cast their nets on the other side, and they caught 153 fish.  Somebody counted them.  It was an indication that Jesus does things better than ever.

Peter’s answer was “You know I love you (phileo).”  He thought of Jesus like a brother.  There’s a discrepancy in what Jesus asks and what Peter responds with.  Jesus asks “Am I your Lord?” and Peter says “You’re my brother.” 

Sadly many professing Christians probably fall in the same category of love for Christ that Peter did: with a warm fuzzy love.  Warm fuzzies don’t cut it when times get tough.  Love must be deeper.  He must be Lord of our lives even when things are hard.

The third time Jesus asks “Do you love me?” He lowers his level of love, saying “Do you really think of me as your brother?”  Peter sees the fire of coals on which Jesus was cooking their breakfast, reminding him of the fire of coals where he was warming himself when he denied Jesus.  Peter sees how far short he is falling and he grieves.

How deep is your love?  Do you love Jesus like you love a pot roast?  Do you love Him like a brother?  Or is He Lord of your life, in all your actions, every day?