Start with a single word that dares to redefine everything: love. Not the kind that fades when the fireworks end, but agape—the steady, others-first commitment that turns a vice-soaked city into a living testimony of grace. We walk through Corinth’s streets, hear Paul’s urgent appeal in 1 Corinthians 13, and ask what happens when a church chooses to practice love daily rather than chase spiritual hype or cultural applause.
We open the hood on four different “loves” and why only one can carry the weight of a life: storge as natural family affection, philia as friendship and affinity, eros as romantic desire, and agape as the self-giving decision to value another regardless of payback. You’ll hear why philia runs out when tastes shift, why eros withers in the face of bills and broken bones without covenant, and why storge collapses in a society bent inward. Then we put agape at the center—where God put it—showing how it anchors families, deepens friendships, dignifies romance, and rebuilds a community that used to be known for everything but holiness.
Along the way we face hard questions: Can grace be both forgiving and demanding? What does it mean to move from “such are some of you” to “such were some of you”? How do we hold the doors open to all while submitting our desires to Scripture? The path forward isn’t abstract: practice love every waking hour. Choose presence over performance, service over status, and covenant over convenience. If you’re ready to exchange the rush for the rooted, listen now, subscribe for the full True Love series, and share this episode with someone who needs a better word for love. And if this encouraged you, leave a review—tell us where you want to practice agape this week.
Stephen's latest book, The Disciples Prayer, is available now. https://www.wisdomonline.org/store/view/the-disciples-prayer-hardback
