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Love: The More Excellent Way
Ever since the first human pair craned their necks skyward to bask in a silvery full moon, men and women have rhapsodized about love. We say (and sing!) that love makes the world go 'round, that love is the answer, that all you need is love.You might even say we glory in the power of love. But what is love, really? And if it's so popular, then why does it seem so hard to find?
256 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2008
132 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 30, 2016
This book comes from Chuck asking God to gift him with the gifts of the Spirit such as healing, but instead God told Chuck He would show him a more excellent way.
This way is love.
This book looks at God's love for us, and so is wholly encouraging. Then it takes that Gospel indicative and fleshes out a moral imperative, that we should love one another and that is how we show we love God to one another and the watching world, and how we know we love God ourselves.
Chuck goes through the fruit of the Spirit and 1 Corinthians 13 to show how the Christian life is all about love, and why "the greatest of these is love."
He makes a fascinatingly true comment about how we can know we are Christians, which speaks a loud biblical message in the unbiblical sea of charismatic Christians saying that speaking in tongues is how we know we are saved. To quote:
“I have heard people say, “Hey, I know that I have the Spirit of God, because I speak in tongues!” You don’t know any such thing. Speaking in tongues is no proof that the Spirit of God abides in you. Satan can counterfeit tongues. The only real proof that the Spirit of God abides in you is love.” (229)
This book is encouraging, explanatory, and practical. Well worth the read.
This way is love.
This book looks at God's love for us, and so is wholly encouraging. Then it takes that Gospel indicative and fleshes out a moral imperative, that we should love one another and that is how we show we love God to one another and the watching world, and how we know we love God ourselves.
Chuck goes through the fruit of the Spirit and 1 Corinthians 13 to show how the Christian life is all about love, and why "the greatest of these is love."
He makes a fascinatingly true comment about how we can know we are Christians, which speaks a loud biblical message in the unbiblical sea of charismatic Christians saying that speaking in tongues is how we know we are saved. To quote:
“I have heard people say, “Hey, I know that I have the Spirit of God, because I speak in tongues!” You don’t know any such thing. Speaking in tongues is no proof that the Spirit of God abides in you. Satan can counterfeit tongues. The only real proof that the Spirit of God abides in you is love.” (229)
This book is encouraging, explanatory, and practical. Well worth the read.
February 11, 2019
Knowing God's love enables us to share that kind of love with others. Being filled with His Spirit enables God's love to flow through us.
.
.
December 5, 2023
Love God, love others
God loves you and me. We are called to love God and to love others. This book is a great, practical look at God's attribute of love, His love for us, and how we practically reciprocate His love. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book.
Some quotes from Pastor Chuck...
"His love for you does not depend upon what you are, but upon Who He is."
"God loves you so much that it's going to take all of eternity for you to discover the depth of His love. His mercy is so great toward you, it will take an infinity of time to discover the depth of His mercy. Oh, the depth and the height of the riches of God's love for you and me in Christ Jesus."
"The Bible describes love as a mutual exchange of giving and receiving—and we embrace this mutual exchange when we love God and love one another."
"All true love depends on God as its Author and Conduit. Otherwise, true love will never flow. Genuine love begins with God and His unchanging character. God is love. In fact, He loved us long before we loved anything. The very act of our loving begins with God—in both receiving His love and returning that love. Only then can we fully love others. This means that if you truly want to love a person, you must first understand God's love. Once you begin to grasp His love, you can begin to enthusiastically reflect it back to Him. And out of that delightful overflow, you can genuinely love others. True love relies—at every point—upon God. Only then can love have its greatest effect in your life and in mine."
"But many of us do not love as Jesus calls us to love—unconditionally, with grace, and influenced by the truth of God's Word."
"He reminds us that love for God and love for people go hand-in-hand. You don't answer the question, "Do I really love people?" by asking yourself how you feel about them. You answer the question by asking how eagerly and thoroughly you've been obeying God's commandments—especially ones like, 'Love your enemies; bless those who curse you; do good to those who hate you; and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.'c
"None of us can love with God's agape love unless His Spirit dwells within our hearts. We just don't have it within ourselves. agape has to come to us from outside ourselves, from the eternal fountain of God's own overflowing love."
"The only real proof that the Spirit of God abides in you is love."
God loves you and me. We are called to love God and to love others. This book is a great, practical look at God's attribute of love, His love for us, and how we practically reciprocate His love. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book.
Some quotes from Pastor Chuck...
"His love for you does not depend upon what you are, but upon Who He is."
"God loves you so much that it's going to take all of eternity for you to discover the depth of His love. His mercy is so great toward you, it will take an infinity of time to discover the depth of His mercy. Oh, the depth and the height of the riches of God's love for you and me in Christ Jesus."
"The Bible describes love as a mutual exchange of giving and receiving—and we embrace this mutual exchange when we love God and love one another."
"All true love depends on God as its Author and Conduit. Otherwise, true love will never flow. Genuine love begins with God and His unchanging character. God is love. In fact, He loved us long before we loved anything. The very act of our loving begins with God—in both receiving His love and returning that love. Only then can we fully love others. This means that if you truly want to love a person, you must first understand God's love. Once you begin to grasp His love, you can begin to enthusiastically reflect it back to Him. And out of that delightful overflow, you can genuinely love others. True love relies—at every point—upon God. Only then can love have its greatest effect in your life and in mine."
"But many of us do not love as Jesus calls us to love—unconditionally, with grace, and influenced by the truth of God's Word."
"He reminds us that love for God and love for people go hand-in-hand. You don't answer the question, "Do I really love people?" by asking yourself how you feel about them. You answer the question by asking how eagerly and thoroughly you've been obeying God's commandments—especially ones like, 'Love your enemies; bless those who curse you; do good to those who hate you; and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.'c
"None of us can love with God's agape love unless His Spirit dwells within our hearts. We just don't have it within ourselves. agape has to come to us from outside ourselves, from the eternal fountain of God's own overflowing love."
"The only real proof that the Spirit of God abides in you is love."
April 23, 2019
GOD's LOVE IS SURE
Pastor Chuck finished his testimony a few years ago. He is now in heaven with our Lord, spending time with the apostle Paul and others whom he has mentioned over the years. In this book he shares with the reader's how He once prayed and asked the Lord for a healing ministry. While he was observing the activity of God's people before him. The Lord answered him by telling him that his ministry was blessed with the more excellent way - the way of love. If there was one thing (though I have learned many things) in Chuck's ministry, it is definitely the Excellency of God's love for His people. This is an excellent read and if there is doubt in your mind about God's love for you; there will be none after reading this book.
Pastor Chuck finished his testimony a few years ago. He is now in heaven with our Lord, spending time with the apostle Paul and others whom he has mentioned over the years. In this book he shares with the reader's how He once prayed and asked the Lord for a healing ministry. While he was observing the activity of God's people before him. The Lord answered him by telling him that his ministry was blessed with the more excellent way - the way of love. If there was one thing (though I have learned many things) in Chuck's ministry, it is definitely the Excellency of God's love for His people. This is an excellent read and if there is doubt in your mind about God's love for you; there will be none after reading this book.
August 15, 2022
" Love:The more excellent way" reviewed
I loved reading this book because the writer tells us why Love is the more excellent way. We see many examples of people who aren't in a loving frame of mind doing things that leave no question in the viewers minds that this person is not a loving person. Chuck Smith lets us know that God is a God of love, who loved us enough to send us His Son to show us the way to live a selfless life and die for a crime He never committed to show us how a person can life and fulfill God's law of love.
I loved reading this book because the writer tells us why Love is the more excellent way. We see many examples of people who aren't in a loving frame of mind doing things that leave no question in the viewers minds that this person is not a loving person. Chuck Smith lets us know that God is a God of love, who loved us enough to send us His Son to show us the way to live a selfless life and die for a crime He never committed to show us how a person can life and fulfill God's law of love.
August 19, 2019
A Simple Straightforward & Edifying read.
Well written, accessible and biblical. I highly recommend. This book affirms and builds on the unsearchable riches of God's love with a layman's touch.
Well written, accessible and biblical. I highly recommend. This book affirms and builds on the unsearchable riches of God's love with a layman's touch.
October 2, 2020
As I've said, I was never a big Chuck Smith fan, but not because of his theology but rather his style. A personal thing on my part, but I always admired what he accomplished at Calvary Chapel. But I'm enjoying his books after I stumbled on them at Amazon. This one is no exception
May 9, 2025
MOST EXCELLENT BOOK ON AGAPE
Highly recommend this book, very easy read with so much information on God’s love! Love one another as Jesus loves us,
Highly recommend this book, very easy read with so much information on God’s love! Love one another as Jesus loves us,
December 12, 2008
Love truly is the more excellent way. If we take the time to read and live the Bible in regards to Love God's way, they will know we are Christians...by our love.
March 26, 2011
Gods love is needed to fully live a life...
March 28, 2012
I felt like I had my best friend with me when I read this book the first 2 times. I have it on my nightstand in case I need it at any time. Awesome book!
June 17, 2016
Simple, direct and true. God's love for us, our love for God and God's love through us to others.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews