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4 Types of Love
Target Group: High School Students
Passages: 1 Corinthians 7:8-9
Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I
do. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry
than to burn with passion. NIV
Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. NIV
Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your
God is giving you. NIV
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in
him shall not perish but have eternal life. NIV
John 14:21
Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who
loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
Exegetical Idea: There are four different types of meanings of love through God,
parents, friendship, and husband and wife. NIV
Pedagogical Idea: Love is the desire for another to be all that they can be. And that love
can be expressed through four different types of love.
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Lesson AIM:

Cognitive: Students will understand the 4 different types of love and how
they are expressed.

Affective: Students will show their understanding of the 4 types of love by
living out the love of friendship and parent to child love. They will show
their understanding of husband and wife love by knowing scripture that
references this type of love. Students will also understand God’s love for
us and indicate achievement of this by such things as knowing scripture
that references God’s love for us and by reflecting Gods love through
their own lives.
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Preparation:
Queue up the videos:
“The End of The Notebook” on YouTube
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=iaD5iwUHSqM
“Frodo and Sam – A journey of Friendship”
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=pncNbpezso0&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DpncN
bpezso0
“The Story of a Fathers Love”
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?feature=related&v=aPCK4THZtng
“The Passion of the Christ – Crucifixion and Resurrection”
http://m.youtube.com/index?&desktop_uri=%2F#/watch?v=9-z9k_qUHOc

Explain that there are 4 different types of love:
-
Eros – Love between a man and a woman
-
Phileos – Brotherly love – Friendships
-
Storge – Parent to child/child to parent
-
Agape – God’s love for us
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Eros:
Hook:

Explain that you are now going to show a clip from The Notebook that illustrates
an example of Eros, which is a physical and sensual love between a husband
and wife.

Play the video “The End of The Notebook” from Youtube.

After the video, ask the students what kind of characteristic of Eros they noticed.

Transition: Explain that the Greek term Eros does not appear in the Bible, but
that this type of love is portrayed in the Old Testament. But it also says that this
type of love is forbidden outside of marriage.
Book: 1 Corinthians 7:8-9

Explain that this type of love is portrayed all over the book Song of Solomon, but
Paul addresses this type of love in 1 Corinthians warning us about this physical
and sensual form of love.

Have a student read 1 Corinthians 7:8-9

Inform them that because we are human it is in our nature to have the desire for
this type of love in which Paul informs us that it is wise for people to marry to
fulfill their godly desire for this type of love hence making it the type of love that
should only be between a husband and wife.
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Phileos:
Hook:

Explain to the students that the second type of love is Phileos which is brotherly
love; the love shared in a friendship.

Tell the students that you are going to play a music video of song that talks about
friendship and uses clips from Lord of the Rings showing Sam and Frodo’s
friendship.

Play the video “Frodo and Sam – A journey of Friendship” from Youtube.

After the video ask the students what they picked up from the lyrics of the song
on what a real friendship is and does.

Transition: Christians are continually exhorted to love their fellow Christian and
neighbors. This type of love is found multiple times in the New Testament and
one specific place in Romans.
Book: Romans 10:12

Explain to the student that this type of love is the love that most Christians
practice towards each other and how Paul tells us one way to act out this type of
love.

Ask a student to read Romans 10:12

Here in Romans we see one example of Paul talking friendship and how we need
to “Love one another with brotherly affection.” Explain to the students that we are
supposed to be there for our friends and honor them as we would want to be
honored by them as well.
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Storge:
Hook:

Explain to the student that the third type of love is Storge, which is the love
between a parent to child and child to parent; family love.

Tell the student that you are going to share a very touching video of a father
showing his love to his son.

Play the video “The Story of a Fathers Love” from Youtube.

After the video ask the students to give examples of how they share their love
with their parents and how their parents show love to them.

Transition: Tell the students that even though the Greek term Storge is not
specifically found in scripture there are plenty of examples of this type of love
throughout the Bible.
Book: Exodus 20:12

Tell the students that as you said before, this Greek term Storge does not appear
in the Bible. However, many examples of this type of love are found throughout
scripture such as the love Noah shows his wife, sons and daughters by
protecting them and the love that Jacob has for his sons along with many more
examples.

Ask a student to read Exodus 20:12

Explain that this is one of the Ten Commandments of God commanding us to act
out this love buy honoring their fathers and mothers.
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Agape:
Hook:

Explain to the students that the fourth but most important type of love is Agape,
which is God’s love for us. It is selfless, sacrificial unconditional love.

Explain to the students that you are going to show a video clip of The Passion of
the Christ and that it shows a lot of blood so if they do not want to watch, they do
not have to.

Play “The Passion of the Christ – Crucifixion and Resurrection” from Youtube.
Stop it at the 3:00 mark.

Transition: Explain to the students that Jesus dying on the cross is one of the
many ways that God shows his love for us.
Book: John 3:16 and John 14:21

Ask a student to read John 3:16

Explain to the students that from the movie clip and here in this passage you see
the kind of love that God has for us. He sent his only son to die one of the worst
deaths just for us. That is a lot of love right there. More love than any one of us
could ever give.

Explain to the students that we are to also love the lord.

Ask a student to read John 14:21

If we love the Lord and obey Him, he too will love us and show himself to us.
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Look:

Have the group split up into small groups and have them give life examples of
Phileos, Storge and Agape and how that love has affected their lives. Also have
the students come up with other scripture passages that talk about Eros and the
love that a husband and wife should share.
Took:

The truth is: Real love is as real love does.

God continually tells us throughout scripture that we are to love one another and
treat them how we would like to be treated (Phileos). He tells us that we are to
honor and love our father and mother (Storge). He also tells us of the physical
and sensual love (Eros) that is only to be shared in the bonds of marriage. And
most importantly God tells us about His love for us more than anything (Agape).
Love is the reason and or driving force in all relationships.