THE LOVE OF GOD
SERMON STARTER
FATHER’S DAY RIDDLE:
In seven out of ten black families, and in five out of ten white families, they don't have this. What is it?
A FATHER IN THE HOUSE!
As a child and young person I had great difficulty comprehending the Love of God. I was told it was because it was my alcoholic father, but he was from a long line of religious and addictive ancestors. Experts explained to me later in life that we perceive God's love through the focus of our father's legacy. From my father I learned perfectionism and a strong work ethic. Unfortunately, I never measured up to his expectations of me. It sounds trite to say it, but he technically never understood me.
Dad never understood himself, either and his abuse of alcohol, plus the verbal and emotional abuse of his family kept him from the joy of self-discovery. In reality Dad was brilliant, creative, hard-working, generous and helpful to those who were down and out. His lack of self-understanding kept him from seeing me as I really was. I was a nerdy, emotional, sensitive, chunky kid that wanted to please him and loved him with all my heart.
As a result of this dynamic I never experienced the love of God until I was 31 years old. I thought God was like Dad and that I just didn't measure up. My mother, however, intuitively understood all of her oldest child's struggle to know God's love. Consistantly, throughout my lifetime, Mom demonstrated God's love.
SERMON STARTER, The Love of God, p.2
Mom taught my brother Don and I the song, "The Love of God." I played it on the trumpet and Don introduced the last verse that was said to be penciled on the wall of a senile man in a mental hospital. He declaimed the profound words to a piano accompaniment.
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
Here's to Dads and Moms, especially those who have demonstrated God's love and led us to Him.
Agape,
Pastor Phil <><<
Father's Day - June 17, 2012
Sheepfold Ministries - Pastor Phil Roland
THE LOVE OF GOD
Romans 5:1-5
"Fathers and Mothers play an important role in pointing us to God's Love. Dad's are especially important because we cry in fervent prayer, "Heavenly Father. . ." Pastor Phil
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
I. GOD'S LOVE HAS DEEMED US JUSTIFIED BY FAITH - v.1a
"Therefore, having been justified by faith. . ."
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." Romans 1:16-17
A. Justified - We are made righteous because of Christ
1. "Just-As-If-I'd-Never-Sinned"
2. God looks at us and sees His Son
B. Abraham Believed God and was Justified by Faith - Genesis 15:6
"And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness."
1. God gives Abraham the Great Promise in Genesis 15
2. Abraham believes God and starts his Journey - Joshua 1:3
"Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given
you, as I said to Moses."
II. GOD'S LOVE HAS GRANTED US PEACE WITH GOD - v. 1b
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,"
A. Our Sin no longer Condemns us - Romans 8:1
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,
who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."
1. Before Christ our own Sin weighed heavily on us
2. We had no Defense against our Accusers
a. World condemns us
b. Flesh condemns us - Our own angry heart
c. Satan condemns us - His Namesake is the "Accuser"
3. These angry voices are Silenced
B. Jesus' Death on the Cross put an end to Condemnation - Col. 2:14
"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was
contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;"
1. Romans nailed charges against prisoners to cell doors
2. When their sentence was done, jailers gave them the paper
3. Rome had no more record of any wrong doing
4. There would be no more condemnation
THE LOVE OF GOD, cont., p.2
C. We can now have Peace with God - Phil. 4:7
"and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
1. We can have God's Peace for heaven is silent
2. We can have God's Peace: our enemies cannot hurt us
3. We can have God's Inner Peace in our hearts
4. Not just absence of War, but real, lasting Peace
III. GOD'S LOVE HAS GIVEN US A STANDING IN HIS GRACE
"through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:2a
A. God's Love enables us to Stand before Him
1. You fall before Monarchs, Bend the knee, Bow the head
2. You stand before God as favored Sons and Daughters
3. You have found His Favor through Jesus
B. Jesus has Bought Grace / Unearned Favor for us
1. GREEK: "Charis" - God's favor
2. God's Righteousness At Christ's Expense
3. We didn't earn it and didn't deserve it
C. We are seen as God's favored Sons and Daughters - 1 John 3:2
"Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed
what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like
Him, for we shall see Him as He is."
1. Note: The text doesn't say, "We will be children of God. . ."
2. Jesus has given us access to God as favored children, NOW
IV. GOD'S LOVE MAKES US REJOICE IN THE HOPE OF GLORY
"through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:2b
A. The Hope of Glory? - Col. 1:27 NIV
"To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
1. How can Christ be in us?
2. By Invitation: Rev. 3:20
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice
and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he
with Me."
a. Open your Heart to God
b. Open your place of deep reflection to Him
B. Pain drives us from the Love of the World to Longing for Him
1. The older we become the stronger the Longing
2. Infirmity sets in and we Rest in Hope
IV. GOD'S LOVE MAKES US REJOICE IN OUR SUFFERINGS
"And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation
produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in
our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
THE LOVE OF GOD, cont., p.3
A. Suffering Produces Perseverance
1. Perseverance Produces Character
2. Character Produces Hope
B. Hope leads us to the Love of God - v. 5
"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured
out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
1. Have you found the Way of Hope that leads to God's Love?
2. There's a Father waiting to show you the Way
THE LOVE OF GOD
Romans 5:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
THE LOVE OF GOD
LYRICS
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star ,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.
- Refrain:
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
-
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
THE LOVE OF GOD
GOOD GRAPHICS - Contemporary ending
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjj2kZ1qoqw
WORDS AND SOME GRAPHICS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fla6EO07I3E
WORDS AND SOME GRAPHICS / GOOD WORDS
Mennonite Men's chorus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeBSv4dQ6BU
