Love Came Down

Sermon Title: “Love Came Down”

Text: John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Opening Theme.

Christmas Joke.

A little boy has a list of things he really wants for Christmas. So he gets his pen and paper and writes, Dear santa, I have been a good boy all year. But then he starts thinking honestly and He’s like “I cant say that, he knows that is not true. So he says Ive been a good boy for the last six months. Immediately he’s reminded of all the trouble he got into this summer. Ok I have been a good boy the last 6 weeks. But then He remembers all the trouble he got into with his cousins at Thanksgiving.

Looking up from the paper he sees the family’s nativity on the mantle. He says, I have been talking to the wrong person! So he walks over picks up the Mother Mary figurine and begins to write,

Dear Jesus, If you ever want to see your mother again…

Need.

There is something familiar to this joke. It Hopefully not a ransom letter but, When we are alone, really hoping God would give us a gift we really want or need. The question arises within us, why should god give me this? Have I been good enough?

We usually justify our lives by comparing them to others.

Today, I am going to share with you 1 Bible verse and 2 stories that I hope will help you better understand the meaning of Advent and the Christmas Story.

Love Given. Gift Received.

Text: John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Introduction

Most people don’t reject Jesus because they hate God.

They reject Jesus because they think they’re doing just fine without Him.

Some are religious.

Some are moral.

Some are hardworking.

Some are broken but trying harder.

And quietly, underneath it all, is a dangerous hope:

 “Surely what I’m doing is enough.”

John 3:16 shatters that illusion.

This verse tells us two things we desperately need to understand today

We are more loved than we imagine

We are more lost than we admit

And the good news is this:

God didn’t wait for us to get better—He gave us what we could never earn.

Big Idea: Salvation is not achieved by human effort, but received as a divine gift of love.

Jesus speaks these words to Nicodemus—a Pharisee, teacher of Israel, moral, disciplined, respected.

Later in John’s Gospel, Jesus speaks very differently—but just as lovingly—to a Samaritan woman at a well—immoral, broken, ashamed, avoiding people.

Two people.

Two conversations.

Same Savior.

Same message.

Division I:

God’s Gift of Love Is For You.

God’s Love Is Not Earned — It Is Given

(John 3:16a)

“For God so loved the world…”

Explanation

Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night—careful, controlled, ready to present his credentials.

He assumes salvation is added to a good life.

Jesus tells him something shocking:

“You must be born again.”

Not improved.

Not polished.

Not promoted.

Reborn.

Nicodemus learns something every self-reliant heart must learn:

Your best works can never rescue your soul.

Now contrast Nicodemus with the woman at the well (John 4).

She had no résumé to offer—only regret.

She tried to talk theology.

She tried to change the subject.

She tried to manage her shame.

But when Jesus exposed her heart, she didn’t defend herself—she believed Him.

And Jesus didn’t say, “Go clean up first.”

He said, “I am the One you’re looking for.”

Nicodemus trusted his works and was confused.

The woman abandoned her works and was saved.

Why?

God’s love is not a reaction to our effort—it is the source of our redemption

“For God so loved the world…”

Not the deserving world.

Not the religious world.

Not the cleaned-up world.

The lost world.

The Greek Word used in the original manuscript Kosmos,

It means many things in that language.

Here it means, all the human inhabitants of this place.

The word is often used in conjunction with a blindness, a rejection of God, or to live in darkness.

John 1:8–13 HCSB

He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.

Illustration: “While You Were Sleeping”

Casting Crowns sings:

“While you were sleeping, while you were dreaming.

The world was turning; the King was born…”

That song is haunting because it’s true.

People missed Jesus not because He hid—but because they were asleep.

Asleep in religious work.

Asleep in their routines.

Asleep in self-reliance.

And the song reminds us:

We chase dreams of fortune and fame, but when the Son of Man returns, will He find us awake and watching—or asleep, lost in dreams that can never save us?

“America! Will you go down in history as a nation with no room for its King, while you were sleeping?

But here’s the beauty:

God is light.

And light doesn’t wait for the sleeper to wake—it shines.

Today, God’s love is shining into hearts saying:

Wake up. You are loved! You don’t have to earn this!

Application:

For God so Loved me. That he gave what he loved the most to us, so that I could know him (His hope, peace, joy and His love)

Division II:

God’s Gift of Love Is Eternal.

God’s Gift Is Not Achieved — It Is Received

(John 3:16b)

“…that He gave His only begotten Son…”

Love always gives. God gave His Son.

God didn’t send advice.

God didn’t send a checklist.

God didn’t send another law.

God gave His Son.

Nicodemus struggled because gifts are humbling.

You can’t boast when you receive a gift.

You can only say, “Thank you.”

The woman at the well ran into town saying:

“Come see a man who told me everything I ever did!”

She didn’t say, “Come see what I’ve done.”

She said, “Come see who He is.”

That’s salvation.

“That whoever believes in Him…”

Not whoever behaves.

Not whoever improves.

Not whoever promises.

But, Whoever believes.

Belief is not just a mental agreement.

The Greek word Jesus used was meant to mean a give oneself up to something or someone. Meaning to place the weight of your eternity on Jesus Christ alone.

Like Jesus said to Nicodemus. If you want to have eternal life, you must let go of your life and start over in mine.

Application (2 minutes)

Some of you today are Nicodemus:

You have Church experience.

Your Moral efforts may be better than most.

But there is a quiet fear that it’s still not enough.

Some of you are the woman at the well:

Broken stories

Failed attempts

Ashamed but hopeful

And some of you are just tired of trying.

Hear me clearly:

Your works can’t save you—but Jesus already has.

Stop striving.

Stop bargaining.

Stop sleeping.

Awake. Look to the light.

Receive the gift.

Transition to Response [Piano Up]

Church, John 3:16 is not just a verse to admire—it’s an invitation to respond.

God has spoken.

The light has shined.

The question now is not what you know—but what you will do?

Invitation to Unbelievers

If you are here today and you do not know if you have eternal life—

not hope so, not think so—

but you’re realizing today: “I’ve been trusting myself…

 I’ve been sleeping…

  I need Jesus.”

I want you to know something:

You are not here by accident.

God loves you.

And He is calling you right now.

In just a moment, I’m going to ask you to pray with me a prayer of belief.

Not because praying a prayer saves you—but because believing in Jesus does.

This prayer is simply declaring:

“I’m awake. I’m ready. I want to receive God’s gift.”

If that’s you—were going to pray in just a moment

Invitation to the Self-Reliant Believer

Some of you are saved—but you’ve slipped back into self-reliance.

You love Jesus, but you’re exhausted.

Trying to prove.

Trying to earn.

Trying to be enough.

Today, God is calling you back to rest in His love, not your effort.

If you need to lay down self-reliance and return to simple trust,

this time is for you as well.

Call to Action

Let’s Stand together

If today is the day you want to:

Receive Jesus as Savior

Be sure of your salvation

Lay down self-reliance and return to grace

If you are ready to receive Christ,

I’m going to lead you in a prayer—but the prayer doesn’t save you.

Jesus saves you.

This prayer is simply your way of trusting Him.

“Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God.

I know I cannot save myself.

I turn from trusting my works and place my trust in You.

Forgive my sin.

I will walk in them no more

Give me eternal life.

I receive Your gift of love.

Thank You for saving me. Amen.”

Assurance & Celebration

If you prayed that prayer and meant it,

based on the Word of God—you are saved.

Not because you came today.

Not because you prayed perfectly.

But because God keeps His promises.

Church, let’s thank God for what He’s doing.

Transition to Candle Lighting & Closing Song

Church, whether today you have just received the light of Christ

or you have walked with Him for many years,

the truth remains the same:

God’s gift is for all the world.

Jesus did not come only for those who had it together,

and He did not come only for those who were broken.

He came for everyone.

Tonight, as we prepare to light these candles, we remember what Advent means.

Jesus came to bring

hope into darkness,

peace into chaos,

joy into sorrow,

and love into a broken world.

The light you hold in your hand is a symbol—but the light you carry in your life is real.

Jesus said,

“You are the light of the world.”

Not because we shine on our own,

but because His light now shines through us.

[Have those with Lighters come forward]

So as the candles are lit, let this be our prayer: That the light we have received

would be the light we reflect, so others who are still searching can find the Savior who has already come.

Transition into Closing Song

As we sing, let this song be both worship and witness—

a declaration that the Light has come and the darkness has not overcome it.