Advent - 2024 - Love #4

The Promised King  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  37:19
0 ratings
· 16 views

Wise Men Still Seek Him (Matthew 2:1-11)

Files
Notes
Transcript
Handout

"The Love of Christmas: God's Greatest Gift"

#LoveOfChristmas #John316 #GodsGift
INTRO
What do you want this Christmas?
What you need this Christmas!
Beatles - 1967 - “All You Need Is Love”
PRAYER
MESSAGE
Luke 1:26–38 ESV
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Luke 2:1–7 ESV
1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
John 3:16 ESV
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 13:34–35 ESV
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
1 Corinthians 13:4–8 ESV
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
Sermon Title: The Love of Christmas
Theme: Understanding the Depth of God’s Love through the Gift of Jesus

I. The Source of Love

God Is Source of Love
1 John 4:8 “8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
1 John 4:16 “16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”
You cannot experience real love until you know God
Quote: "God's love is the source of all human love, and it spreads like a fire." — C.S. Lewis
Aspects of Love that Echo God
Love of a Parent
Love of a Spouse
Love of a Pet
Love of an Object
God is not only Love
He is Holy
He is Just
God’s Love is Unconditional
Romans 3:10–12 “10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.””
Romans 5:8 “8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Ephesians 2:8–9 “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Quote: "God's love is unconditional. He loves not because of what we do, but because of who He is." — Charles Spurgeon
Illustration: A shepherd searching for one lost sheep, regardless of its condition.
God’s Love is Immutable
Jeremiah 31:3 “3 the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”
Psalm 100:5 “5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”
Psalm 136. = 26 Verses - “for His steadfast love endures forever”
Quote: "God's love never changes; it is constant and eternal." — A.W. Tozer
Illustration: The sun rising every morning without fail, symbolizing God's eternal love.
Application: Reflect on how God’s love initiates, sustains, and remains with us, prompting us to love others unconditionally.

II. The Gift of Love

Jesus is The Ultimate Gift
Isaiah 9:6 “6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Genesis 22:8 “8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.”
Quote: "Christ is the ultimate gift of love, the measure of which is immeasurable." — John Piper
Illustration: A priceless heirloom being passed down through generations, symbolizing Jesus as an invaluable gift.
The Gift of Love is Sacrificial
Ephesians 5:2 “2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
John 15:13 “13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
John 13:34 “34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
Quote: "Real love is a sacrificial love, a love that gives without expecting in return." — Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Illustration: A soldier sacrificing for their comrades, reflecting Christ’s sacrificial love… Parent for their child…
The Gift of Love is Transformative
2 Corinthians 5:17 “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
Philippians 1:6 “6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Quote: "The love of Christ transforms us, making us new creatures." — Billy Graham
Illustration: A caterpillar transforming into a butterfly, symbolizing the transformative power of Christ’s love.
Application: Embrace the transformative power of Christ's love and let it change how you live and love others.

III. The Invitation of Love

This is A Open Invitation
Matthew 11:28 “28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Quote: "God’s love invites everyone, with open arms, to come and find rest." — Max Lucado
Illustration: A home with a porch light on, welcoming anyone who seeks refuge.
This is A Call to Believe
Or Faith
Romans 10:9 “9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Quote: "Faith is the hand that reaches out to accept God's gift of love." — Martin Luther
Illustration: A lifeline thrown to a drowning person, illustrating the necessity of reaching out in faith.
This is A Promise of Eternal Life & Love
John 10:28 “28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
Quote: "Eternal life is the ultimate expression of God’s love, a life that never ends." — R.C. Sproul
Illustration: An unending road leading to a beautiful horizon, symbolizing eternal life.
Application: Accept God’s invitation to eternal life and share this invitation with others, living in the hope and assurance of His promise.
Conclusion: The love of Christmas, as manifested in John 3:16, calls us to recognize God’s initiative, embrace His ultimate gift, and respond to His gracious invitation. Let this love transform our hearts and actions throughout the year.
CLOSE
GROUP QUESTIONS
How does/should understanding God as the source of love change your perspective on love?
In what ways have you experienced God’s unconditional love in your life?
How does/could the immutability of God’s love provide comfort in times of change or uncertainty?
How does/should recognizing Jesus as the ultimate gift influence your celebration of Christmas?
What does the sacrificial nature of God’s gift teach us about the true meaning of love?
Can you share a personal story of how God’s love has transformed your life or the life of someone you know?
How do you interpret the idea of God’s love being an open invitation to all?
What does it mean to you to truly believe in the love that God offers through Jesus?
How does the promise of eternal life and love impact your daily life and decisions?
How does John 3:16 encapsulate the essence of God’s love and the message of Christmas?
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more
Earn an accredited degree from Redemption Seminary with Logos.