For God So Loved

For God So Loved

John 3:16

Ice Breaker

Good morning church! I want to thank you for allowing me to be with you over the next couple of weeks. I look forward to what God is going to do with each of us in our times together.
Today I come to you feeling a little like the boy that brought his sack lunch (2 fish & 5 biscuits) to Jesus to feed 5,000 people. I don’t have a lot to offer but I want to offer all I have to God and ask Him to multiple it and to feed us this morning.
Let’s open with a word of prayer.

Introduction

Do you remember in elementary school when you found that special someone in your class that you thought was cute and you wanted to make them your boyfriend/girlfriend? We had a special system, a way to let that other person know that we cared. It was a letter that said “I LOVE You – Do you Love Me”. Then there were those two magical check boxes that said “yes” or “no”.
I don’t know if this ever happened to you but I would find that pretty little girl that was cute in her pigtails and send this note to them. Several times the girls would just string me along and check both boxes and then draw a line down and write the word maybe – that was just terrible.
This morning I want us to open up God’s love letter to us (we call it the Bible) and look at a passage that shows just how much God loves us. After we look at this passage God wants a response from you and honestly anything other than a definite “yes” is already a “no”.
Let’s read John 3:16

Point 1 “For God”

In this scripture you can’t even get by the first two words without stopping. The phrase “For God” really causes us to stop and say who is God? Scripture tells us that God {Greek = Theos}is the:

Who is God to you? How you define Him will make all the difference in the rest of this verse. Make sure you have not misjudge who God really is.

Point 2 “So Loved the world”

The reason we look at this phrase by itself is because “love” is an action word and it requires an object of its affection. We tend to think of love as an emotion a funny feeling we get way down in our body – love makes us tingle all over.
Well this word in the Greek is {agapao – form of agape). It is God’s kind of unconditional love. The greatest kind of love.
The gospel of John uses this form of love 17 times: (few examples)

God loves the world like He loves Jesus. Let’s make that more personal “God loves you like He loves Jesus”.

Point 3 “That He Gave”

As I stated, love is an action word. God so loved the world that He gave us something very special. He gave His son to us. So that you and I could have the opportunity to have a restored relationship with God.
The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
At this Christmas time we remember the words of Gabriel to Mary, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord will give Him the throne of His father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end. (Luke 1:31-33)

Jesus was the gift that God gave to us because of His great love for us.
Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua which means “Yahweh delivered / God saves”
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus – there’s just something about that name! Master, Savior, Jesus, Like the fragrance after the rain; Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Let all heaven and earth proclaim: Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but there’s something about that name! (Hymn 102)

Conclusion

Looking through all of time and looking through all of humanity, God has taken this moment to pick you out and to tell you just how much He loves you.
God has sent you a letter this morning that simple reads “I Love You – Do you love Me? Yes or No. He is waiting for your answer. Be careful here don’t be in a rush to answer or don’t be in a rush to just get finished with this worship service so you can leave to go home. Ponder this in your mind for a while; ask yourself have I ever really told God I love Him?
There is no maybe or I will think about it. We simply can only mark “Yes” or “No” – anything less than saying “Yes” is already a “No”.
The way we can tell God we love Him is by accepting His gift of Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6)
As we are lead in our invitation this morning let me challenge you to step out, make for sure that you have accepted the Gift of Jesus. I will be here along with Mike Corbin - you come and talk with either of us. The alter is open for anyone that just needs to spend some time with God.