The Journey of Love: From Agape to Philia

What does love really look like—not in theory, but in lived experience?

For this gathering of Taproom Theology, we’re doing something intentionally different. Rather than a single speaker or teaching, individuals and couples have been invited to share their own stories; stories of romantic love, deep friendship, commitment, loss, singleness, and the relationships that have shaped who they are.

Love is often simplified or sentimentalized, yet most of us know it’s far more complex. As Taylor Swift puts it simply and honestly, “The best people in life are free.”

This evening invites us to explore how love grows across its many forms:

• Agape — self‑giving love that chooses presence over perfection
• Philia — the love of friendship, loyalty, and shared life
• And the evolving ways love shows up in partnerships, seasons of singleness, and chosen communities in the 21st century

Some stories will come marriages or committed relationships. Others from friendships and yet others from the courage to be single without being alone. As C.S. Lewis reminds us, “Friendship is born at the moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too?’”

This gathering is not about offering advice, fixing relationships, or presenting “ideal” stories. It’s about witnessing real love as it actually unfolds: flawed, faithful, hopeful, and human. Leo Buscaglia once wrote, “Love is life. And if you miss love, you miss life.”

Whether you come with a partner, a friend, or on your own, you belong here. Because love isn’t something we master, it’s something we practice, in relationship and in community.

Love is a journey. And tonight, we’ll travel it together.