The Reason for the Season

Call to worship

Luke 4:8 NKJV

8 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

offering

1 Chronicles 29:9 NKJV

9 Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the Lord; and King David also rejoiced greatly.

Today's text:

1 John 4:9–11 NKJV

9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

God sent Jesus that we might live.

1 John 4:9 NKJV

9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

God loved us First.

1 John 4:10 NKJV

10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Propitiation

pro•pi•ti•a•to•ry \prō-ˈpi-sh(ē-)ə-ˌtȯr-ē\ adjective

1551

1: intended to propitiate: EXPIATORY

2: of or relating to propitiation

we should love one another.

1 John 4:11 NKJV

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.