The blessing of giving
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Pastor Tom Doherty delivers a powerful, emotionally charged message on the transformative power of agape love—the selfless, sacrificial love that defines God’s nature and should anchor every human relationship. Drawing from Scripture, personal grief, and family history, he dismantles the myth that love is merely a feeling, arguing instead that true love is a disciplined choice rooted in faith and obedience. He contrasts agape love with filio (brotherly), storge (family), and eros (romantic) love, warning that when any of these take precedence over God’s love, relationships unravel. The most striking revelation comes in his raw recollection of losing his young son in 1992, where he reveals that even in the deepest pain, his faith in God’s love sustained him—and that love, not emotion, is what keeps us connected to God and one another. This isn’t a theoretical sermon; it’s a lived testimony that love is not about how we feel, but what we do when we don’t feel like it.
Agape love is not a feeling—it’s a daily choice to love God and others sacrificially, regardless of circumstances.
When love is out of order—eros over agape, self over God—relationships break, marriages fail, and spiritual life withers.
Grief doesn’t erase love; it reveals its depth. Pastor Tom’s love for his deceased son remains a living testament to agape.
True love is demonstrated through action: showing up, giving, sharing the gospel, and being faithful even when emotions fade.
The phrase 'I’ll go to hell for you' is not romantic—it’s a red flag. Real love leads people to heaven, not shared damnation.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Call to Love After Hate
“God is love. What? God is love. We don't define love. God does.”
Agape Love: The Divine Foundation
He unpacks agape love as unconditional, sacrificial, and God-centered—exemplified by Christ’s death on the cross and His care for the repentant thief.
Filio Love: Brotherhood in Christ
Pastor Tom explains brotherly love as a commitment to care for one another, using marriage vows as a model of enduring love beyond feelings.
Storge Love: The Pain and Power of Family
“When we lost our little boy in 92, it was the world collapsed around us. It was unbelievable. It was so difficult because we loved him so much.”
Eros and the Order of Love
He warns against misusing romantic love outside of marriage and stresses that eros must be grounded in agape—love for God first.
“God is love. What? God is love. We don't define love. God does.”
“When we lost our little boy in 92, it was the world collapsed around us. It was unbelievable. It was so difficult because we loved him so much.”
“I don't want to go to hell. I don't want anybody going with me. I want you to go to heaven.”
Host
Pastor Tom Doherty
person
Jesus Christ
person
Doug
person
Dave
person
1 John 4:8
other
John 3.16
other
Cloverdale Church of God
organization
Vancouver, Washington
place
Romans 12:10
other
Proverbs
other
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