The Love of God

John 3:16 (NIV)

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.

The Love of God

Fact 1: It's a universal need

The Love of God

Fact 1: It's a universal need

Fact 2: There is a universal solution

The Love of God

Fact 1: It's a universal need

Fact 2: There is a universal solution

Fact 3: There is a tragic disconnect

The Love of God

1. They don't know God loves them

The Love of God

1. They don't know God loves them

2. They know of God's love, but have not received it

The Love of God

1. They don't know God loves them

2. They know of God's love, but have not received it

3. They have received God's love, but don't know how to experience it in daily life

The Love of God

John 3:16 (NIV)

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.

The Love of God

Ephesians 3:17-19 ...And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 

The Love of God

19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

The Love of God

1. His thoughts, intentions, desires, and plans for you are always for your good and never for your harm

The Love of God

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

For I know the plans I have for you, ”declares the Lord,“ plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

The Love of God

2. He is kind, open, approachable, frank, and eager to be your friend

The Love of God

John 15:15 (NIV)I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

The Love of God

3. He emotionally identifies with your pain, joy, hopes, and dreams and has chosen to allow your happiness to affect His own

The Love of God

John 11:35 (NIV)

Jesus wept

The Love of God

4. He takes pleasure in you just for who you are totally apart from your performance and/or accomplishments.

The Love of God

Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

The Love of God

5. He is actively and creatively orchestrating people, circumstances, and events to express His affection and to provide for your highest good.

The Love of God

Romans 8:28 (NIV)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

The Love of God

How does God reveal His love to us?

The Love of God

First: Through creation

The Love of God

Genesis 1:26-27 (NIV)

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

The Love of God

27 So God created mankind in His own image,in the image of God he created them;male and female he created them.

The Love of God

Colossians 1:16 (NIV)16 For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him

The Love of God

Second: Through providence

The Love of God

Matthew 5:44-45 (NIV)

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

The Love of God

Third: Through incarnation

The Love of God

Luke 19:10 (NIV)

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

The Love of God

John 4:23 (NIV)

23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

The Love of God

Fourth: Through His discipline

The Love of God

Hebrews 12:6 (NIV)

because the Lord disciplines the one He loves,

and He chastens everyone He accepts as His son.”

The Love of God

Revelation 3:19 (NIV)

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

The Love of God

Proverbs 3:12 (NIV)

... the Lord disciplines those He loves,

as a father the son He delights in.

The Love of God

Fifth: Through His Holy Spirit

The Love of God

Romans 5:5 (NIV)

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

The Love of God

Sixth: Through His Son

The Love of God

Jesus’ life modeled God’s love

The Love of God

Jesus’ life modeled God’s love

Jesus’ teaching explained God’s love

The Love of God

Luke 15

The Lost Sheep

The Lost Coin

The Lost Son

The Love of God

Jesus’ life modeled God’s love

Jesus’ teaching explained God’s love

Jesus’ death demonstrated God’s love

The Love of God

1 John 3:16 (NIV)

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

The Love of God

Romans 5:8 Version (NIV)

8 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The Love of God

A

B

C

The Love of God

Admit

Believe

Confess

The Love of God

John 3:16 (NIV)

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.

The Love of God

John 1:12 (NIV)

12 Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—

The Love of God

A Command:John 13:34-35 (NIV)“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

The Love of God

A Calling

1 John 3:16-18 (NIV)

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 

The Love of God

17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

The Love of God

A PromiseLuke 6:38 (NIV)38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

The Love of God

Saturate your mind in the truth of God's love for you

Ask God to help you grasp His love for you

Refused to seek love in cheap substitutes