Sermon Tone Analysis

1 John: Love

July 28, 2013

Introduction

This morning, we are continuing our series on the book of 1 John.

Over the summer months, we are working our way verse by verse through the book of 1 John.

We started this sermon back in May, and we are going to wrap up this series in the next couple of weeks.

Here is the plan for August on Sunday mornings.

The first two Sundays in August, we will finish up 1 John.

Then, the third Sunday in August which is the 18th, we will have Right Direction back in concert.

But we have to finish first John first.

Today, we are back in chapter 4. Let me recap the previous two sermons from 1 John.

Two Sundays ago, we looked at chapter 3 and the word we used to describe chapter three is confusing.

Last Sunday, we looked at the first six verses of chapter 4, and the word we used to describe those verses was mysterious, very strange sermon last week as we studies about the spirit world.

Today, we are looking at pretty much the rest of chapter 4, and the word to describe the sermon this morning is practical.

Today's teaching is one of the most practical and important in all the Bible.

Read

Illustration: Passing on the Shrimp Basket

That's what John is doing here with this teaching on Love Each Other.

He heard this teaching from Jesus.

The teaching is so important, so vital in the life of a believer that John is now trying to pass it on to the church.

If you are keeping track, this is the third time time that John tells with this teaching in 1 John with this being the most detailed look at the teaching.

In this section of the 1 John, John explains why and how we are to love each other.

1. Love starts with God.

End of v. 8, v. 16

The scripture does not read.

Love is God.

The Bible says, "God is love."

Love starts with God.

That statement is culture shock.

We have evolved into a culture that doesn't need God.

It's sad to say but the mindset of our culture is that we don't need God.

We don’t need God tell us what to do and not to do.

We don't need God tell us how to live our lives.

We don't need God to save us from sin.

We don't need God.

But here is reality.

We need God.

We need God to save us from our sins.

We need God to help us understand and show us what love really is.

Instead of God influencing our idea of love, our idea of love has been influenced by the world.

In many ways, our idea of love is apart from God and his love.

We love selfishly.

What can I get out of love?

How does love benefit me?

We love conditionally.

I will love you as long as you love me.

I will love you as long as you don't hurt me.

I will love you as long as things are good and smooth.

I will love you as long as you you meet certain requirements.

We love conditionally.

We love discriminately.

We tend to love people who are in our social class.

We tend to love people who are look us.

Those that are not in our social class or those that don't look like, we are quick to discard them.

Our idea of love has been influenced by the world.

Here is what John is saying is this passage.

We need to throw our idea of love out the window.

Love starts with God.

Illustration: Something not working -- start from scratch.

Destination 2000

Our idea of love doesn't work.

We have to start over with love.

Love starts with God.

God's character and nature shows us what love is all about.

2. God showed us what love is.

v. 10

God doesn't just claim that he loves us.

God showed His love for us.

Illustration: Claiming to do something, then proving it (Ethan and the Monster Burger)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

How did God show his love for u?

He sent His son to die for us.

In v. 10, do you see the word "propitiation"?

Big Bible word -- it means that Jesus died in our place.

We are sinful.

We deserve death.

We deserve condemnation.

But God loves us.

He sent His son to die for us.

Love in our culture is selfish; God's love is selfless.

Love in our culture is conditional; God's love is unconditional.

Love in our culture discriminate; God's love is universal.

Love in our culture is self promoting; God's love is sacrificial.

Selfless

Unconditional

Universal

Sacrificial

Chris Tomlin

Amazing Love

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken,

I’m accepted, You were condemned.

I am alive and well, Your spirit is within me,

Because You died and rose again.

(Chorus)

Amazing love,

How can it be

That You, my King, should die for me?

Amazing love,

I know it’s true.

that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.