The Message of Love [9781783595914]

Exposition of the biblical theme of love, from selected Old and New Testament texts, in five parts: Part 1: The love of God Abounding in love. Covenant love. Love of justice and mercy. Faithful restoring love. Part 2: The love of God revealed in Christ 'You are my Son, whom I love'. For God so loved the world. God demonstrates his love. Choosing love and overflowing grace. Part 3: Responding to the love of God The Shema: love the Lord your God. Love and worship. Rejoicing in the love of God. Grasping the wide, high, long and deep love of Christ. Part 4: Love in the life and teaching of Jesus Love me above all! Love your neighbour. Love your enemies. Love and forgiveness. A new commandment. Death, grief and love. Part 5:The church - a radical community of love Law, love and the Spirit. The essential and most excellent way. Do everything in love. A celebration of sexual love. Love of money. Love in mission. Love in ministry. Love for God's people. Practical love.

PREACH REVIEW:

This recent addition to The Bible Speaks Today ‘Bible Themes’ series takes on the dauntingly vast topic of love. In his introduction, Patrick Mitchel, Senior Lecturer in Theology at the Irish Bible Institute, Dublin, agrees with James K A Smith’s Augustinian take, that ‘human beings … are first and foremost lovers’, and that is why we are so fascinated by love. He goes on helpfully to outline how love is understood in 21st century culture and how this differs from a Christian understanding.

There then follow 17 chapters, each focusing on a particular Bible passage. Each chapter works as a stand-alone exposition, often ending with a section of application or concluding reflections that is especially useful for the preacher. The selected passages cover a broad spectrum, from the character of God (Exodus 34:6-7) and ‘God’s love revealed in the mission and death of Jesus Christ’ (four different passages in Part 2) to erotic love (Song of Songs 4 – 5), Christian marriage (Ephesians 5:21-33) and ‘love gone wrong: money’ (1 Timothy 6:2b-10). While most of the selected passages might seem familiar, Mitchel frequently provides a fresh angle or striking insight. In his concluding chapter he draws together the three biblical thematic strands of ‘God the lover’, ‘human love for God’ and ‘love in community’ and ends with a challenge and vision for the church: ‘It is not our job to imitate the world; it is our joy, rather, to imitate the triune God of love: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.’

This book will be a valuable resource, not just for preaching on the individual passages covered, but for building up a holistic biblical picture of love, which ‘defines the nature of God and gives shape to the entire biblical narrative’.

Preach magazine review by James Leach

Vicar of Whitchurch-on-Thames and Whitchurch Hill, South Oxfordshire.