I. 1. “God is Love” - What Kind of Love? ❤️ When Scripture says “God is love” (1 John 4:8), the word used is agapē (ἀγάπη). This is not: * eros (desire-based love), * philia (mutual affection), …but agapē—a self-giving, other-oriented, costly love. It has a few defining characteristics: * It initiates
I. 🌿 Bitter Herbs at Passover: Remembering Affliction In Exodus 12:8, Israel is commanded to eat the Passover lamb with bitter herbs (Hebrew: maror). These herbs are not culinary decoration—they are intentional memory devices. * They embody suffering (slavery in Egypt) * They train perception (remember where you came from) * They
I. 🍷 1. A Table in the Presence of Enemies Psalm 23:5 - “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…” This is not just comfort imagery—it is royal covenant language. * A table in the Ancient Near East signals: * Acceptance * Protection * Relational belonging (covenant loyalty)
I. 1. “Taste and See” - The Invitation to Experience Psalm 34:8 - “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good…” This is not abstract theology—it’s experiential knowing. * “Taste” (Hebrew: ta‘am) implies discernment through experience, not mere sampling. * “See” (ra’ah) is perception—recognizing what