Pray for abounding love

Topics: Agape, Christian love

I. Abounding love that is discerning

* Pray for Agape love that is perceptive!

1. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment (Philippians 1:9).
2. Epaphras also informed us of your love in the Spirit. For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding (Colossians 1:8, 9).
3. But solid food is for the mature, who, because of practice, have their senses trained to discern good and evil (Hebrews 5:14).

II. Abounding love that is heartfelt

* Pray for Agape love that is pure!

1. So that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ (Philippians 1:10).
2. And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints (1 Thessalonians 3:12, 13).

III. Abounding love that is focused

* Pray for Agape love that is purposeful!

1. Having been filled with the fruit of righteousness, which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God (Philippians 1:11).
2. "I will say to the north, 'Give them up!" And to the south, "Do not hold them back." Bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth, everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made? (Isaiah 43:6, 7).

Sermon by Pastor Rod Akins, July 19th, 2026.

Life Group Flow and Discussion Questions

Pray for Abounding Love

An important Guideline of Life Groups: Praying for one another is vital to healthy spiritual maturity! Will you make a commitment to pray for your Life Group's love to abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment?

Getting Started:

1. We all recognize that Jaron Lowenstein's song, "Pray for You," is not the way to pray. But what are some ways that Christians have gotten " sloppy with Agape"?
2. Do your prayers engage your whole being: body, soul, mind, and heart? How can we grow in our intimacy with God and devotion to praying in the Spirit?

Discussing Truths:

1. Do you agree with the saying: "A superficial love for God is a sure sign of a superficial knowledge of God"?
2. Praying for Agape love that is perceptive involves both knowledge and discernment."Do you pray with knowledge that asks, "What is right?"And with discernment that asks, "What is best"?
3. What did the writer of Hebrews rebuke his readers about in Hebrews 5:11-14? How does God's Word of righteousness produce spiritual maturity?
4. Warren Wiersbe suggests two tests for us to be sincere and blameless (1:10): Will what I'm doing cause others to stumble? Would I be ashamed if Jesus returns while I'm doing this?? Pastor Dane adds, "Does what I'm doing bring glory to God?"
5. Paul modeled passionate prayer for his disciples. How faithful are you in your prayers for others?
6. How do you balance your feelings of love with your volitional choice to love?

Now What? Application:

1. Your challenge is to faithfully commit to be praying Philippians 1:9-11 for our COTW family every day.
2. Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit of righteousness so you will bear fruit to the glory and praise of God (John 15:5, 7, 8; Philippians 1:11).