Loving Well: Even If You Haven't Been (Smith)

Distance. Resentment. Avoidance. You want to love your family, neighbors, and coworkers. But all too often something goes wrong, and you find yourself tearing down the relationships you wanted to build. Are you doomed to keep repeating the same relationship mistakes? William P. Smith explains that destructive relationship patterns no longer need to control you. Experiencing God's love will change you, so you can trade your bad relationship habits for real love. 

Table of Contents: 

Part 1: Love That Responds to a Broken World 

1. Comforting Love: Running to Those Who Are Suffering

2. Sympathetic Love: Taking on Each Other’s Sorrows

3. Struggling Love: Confessing Our Temptations to Each Other 

4. Forgiving Love: Covering a Multitude of Sins 

5. Longsuffering Love: Patiently Bearing with Each Other

Part 2: Love That Reaches Out to Build Others Up

6. Partnering Love: Working Together to Care for Each Other

7. Pursuing Love: Shepherding Each Other 

8. Communicating Love: Talking with Each Other

9. Serving Love: Helping Each Other 

10. Providing Love: Meeting Physical Needs 

 Part 3: Love That Enjoys Heaven on Earth 

11. Welcoming Love: Greeting Each Other

12. Humble Love: Submitting to Each Other

13. Celebrating Love: Rejoicing with Each Other

14. Peaceful Love: Living Harmoniously with Each Other

15. Hospitable Love: Showing Kindness without Grumbling  

Author

William P. Smith, M.Div., Ph.D., is a pastor and director of the community counseling center at Chelten Baptist Church, Dresher, PA. He has authored the book Caught Off Guard: Encounters with the Unexpected God and numerous minibooks including How Do I Stop Losing It with My Children? and How to Love Difficult People. Bill is regularly invited to speak at other churches and lead weekend retreats. He and his wife Sally are the parents of three very active children.

Endorsements

"In a world that is losing its bearings, Bill Smith gives us clear and warm direction centered on the person of Jesus. In this richly nuanced book, Bill uses wisdom from the Word and his experiences as a counselor and father to offer us a template for love in a broken world."  - Paul E. Miller, Director of SeeJesus; author of A Praying Lifeand Love Walked Among Us

"Bill Smith wants us to know that we can love because we have been and are being loved; no, not by our friends and family, but by our ever-present and ever-loving Redeemer. God's love has the power to transform each of us into people who love joyfully, humbly, faithfully and well. Now, in a world where hearts and relationships are broken daily, that really is good news!" - Paul David Tripp, DMin, President of Paul Tripp Ministries, author and international conference speaker

"I have read dozens of books about love, so I wasn't expecting anything new. But I don't remember too many books that I wanted to read to my wife, inspired me, led me in confession, left me with enthusiasm to try some bolder forms of love, and will leave me poor because I want to get copies for so many friends." - Edward T. Welch, PhD, CCEF faculty member; author ofWhen People Are Big and God Is Small, Running Scared, andDepression.