Jesus Loves You - Easter Sunrise Service 2015 MESSAGE: SCRIPTURE: John 3:16

Transcription

1 SERIES: MESSAGE: SPEAKER: Topical Jesus Loves You - Easter Sunrise Service 2015 Skip Heitzig SCRIPTURE: John 3:16 MESSAGE SUMMARY The world often wonders why believers celebrate Easter and why it's so significant. To the believer, it's obvious: Jesus Christ is alive! And because He is alive, we have a living hope in Him and we can live eternally with Him. In this Easter message, we take a look at the popular verse John 3:16, and we learn just how boundless and unconditional God's love is for the world. STUDY GUIDE Every Resurrection Sunday, we celebrate the fact that Jesus loves us. Because Jesus got up and left the tomb, we do not have a dead religion, but a living hope. He is alive to offer everyone His love. If you were to use a punctuation mark to describe Easter, which mark would you use? Would you use a comma, in that Easter makes you pause, think, and listen? Maybe you would use a big, bold period: Easter is a downer, an empty ritual that gives you no hope. Perhaps it would be a question mark: the day leaves you unsure and frustrated--others seem so sure of its meaning. But for those who know and embrace God's love for them, it can only be an exclamation point! The empty tomb is accentuated by the declaration of John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Easter means that God's love is available to every single person on the planet, whether brown, black, or white--everyone! Easter celebrates God's plan to rescue the world and give all who believe new life. Could your walk with God be described as an exclamation point? If not, which punctuation mark would describe it? What about God's great love could make it an exclamation point? Let's take a closer look at John 3:16, the most famous verse in the Bible. First, we see an origin: "for God." It doesn't say, "For man was looking for a way to improve himself and made up a religion." God did not leave it up to us to discover Him on our own, but took the initiative to reveal Himself. Do we believe God did and does it all? Why does it matter that He took the initiative? Who can you encourage with this truth? Next, we see the motivation: God "so loved." Thankfully, it does not read "For God was so angry at the world that He sent His Son to yell at it." Love is the essence of God's nature. This profound truth is simple to say but difficult to grasp, because human love is object-oriented--based on how much someone or something appeals to us. God's love, on the other hand, is subject-oriented--god Himself is love. And His love doesn't discriminate. It is not based on us as lovable objects--which often we are not. It is based on His character as the lover of our souls. Describe His activity in your life. Think of how He brought you to Himself. What does this tell you about His character and His love? Page 1

2 Now consider the destination of His love: "the world." This is love in its widest embrace; you are part of the world. God does not love just one group but the entire population of the planet. Just as the treatment for diabetes or heart disease is universal, so is His remedy for sin. God's love is not capricious, fickle, moody, or selective. His love is steady, consistent, and all-inclusive. Think of someone you know who is hard to love. Pray for a chance to let God love them through you. Furthermore, we see the demonstration of God's love in that "He gave His only begotten Son." Real love can never be silent or passive. By its very nature, it is active; it's not something you can hide. People who love each other give gifts as tokens of their affection, as affirmation that they still matter to each other. Often marriages deteriorate when the gifts of time and reminders of love are no longer exchanged. However, God didn't just give something--he gave Someone: Jesus, who was and is God's very best! Why do you think marriage is a metaphor for Jesus (the Bridegroom) and the church (His bride)? How can you show love to the people in your life? Next, we see the invitation: "that whoever" believes can experience God's love. As Revelation 22 tells us, salvation is offered to those who thirst, to "whoever desires...[to] take the water of life freely" (v. 17). Ironically, it is harder to get into some country clubs than it is to get into heaven. The biggest surprise in heaven will be who is there, since it is open to all who believe. We all are "whoevers." What makes us forget that God's love is offered to all? This brings us to the single qualification of God's love: whoever "believes in Him" will receive eternal life. We do not have to clean up our life first--we couldn't if we tried. To believe means to place your entire life--both in this world and the next--on Jesus alone. Read and discuss Matthew 6:33. What's your priority? What will God take care of? Lastly, we see the ramification, the consequence--that we "should not perish but have everlasting life." The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the ultimate game changer. Unbelief will destroy the best of us, but believing will save the worst of us. We no longer need to fear death, because Jesus Christ went beyond the wall of death and came back! Jesus perished so you don't have to; He died that you might have life. A man once said that he wasn't sure if he could pay the price to be a Christian. His friend wisely asked him if he had ever considered what it costs not to become one. What has been the cost of being a Christian for you? How has God's love redeemed that cost for you? Adapted from Pastor Skip s teaching The BIG Idea Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. DETAILED NOTES I. Introduction A. What seems obvious to some people is oblivious to other people B. If Jesus Christ really rose from that tomb, it means we don't have a dead religion; we have a living hope C. Jesus loves you 1. To some people, that's obvious 2. To others, we need to thaw out this truth Page 2

3 II. III. IV. D. John 3:16 1. Most famous verse in the Bible 2. Translated more than any other verse 3. The Bible in a nutshell E. If you were to describe Easter with a punctuation mark, which one would you choose? 1. Comma: you think about it and move on 2. Period: no hope; an empty ritual 3. Question mark: you're not so sure about it 4. Exclamation point F. God's plan to rescue you and to give you hope and life Origin: "For God" A. Not "For man was looking for a way to improve himself, so he came up with religion" B. We didn't discover God 1. God revealed Himself to people 2. 1 John 4:19 C. It was always His plan to come and rescue you 1. Genesis 3: Malcolm Muggeridge: the Holy Spirit is the "Hound of Heaven" D. "I'm searching for God" 1. God isn't lost; you are 2. Isaiah 53:6 3. Ephesians 2: Dead people can't help themselves Motivation: "For God so loved" A. The essence of the nature of God 1. 1 John 4:8, God is also just B. It's easy to say but difficult to believe C. John wrote this verse; 1 John 3:1 D. God's love and our love are on two different levels 1. Human love is object-oriented: based on the worth of the object 2. God's love is subject-oriented a. Based on God Himself b. It is His nature E. Almost every time the love of God is mentioned in the New Testament, it is in reference to the cross of Jesus Christ F. The love of God was fully demonstrated when Jesus died on the cross G. Romans 5:8 Destination: "For God so loved the world" A. Love at its widest embrace B. You're part of the world C. Jesus was having a conversation with Nicodemus, who believed God loved good Jewish people D. Easter will always be a comma, period, or question mark to you unless you see that it includes you E. Mark 16:15 F. The treatment for a disease works universally; so does God's cure for man's sin Page 3

4 G. What if the Bible said God loved only good people? 1. We would never have any security that God loves us 2. What if God's love was like ours? 3. God's love is never moody; it's always consistent, never selective, and it always includes everyone H. Though you can't change that God loves you, you can change your experience of that 1. You can't stop the sun from shining, but you can stop the sun from shining on you 2. You can get under the umbrella of sin, doubt, selfishness V. Demonstration: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son" A. Real love can never be passive; it always has to be active B. Healthy married couples keep giving to each other C. God gave Someone 1. God gave the very best 2. When God wanted to fix the world, He didn't go to the lowest bidder; He paid the highest price D. Only begotten Son 1. His one and only Son 2. His most unique Son 3. One who has no equal 4. Jesus Christ was the only unique Son of God in that He was God in human flesh 5. When God the Father gave Jesus Christ, He gave Himself VI. Invitation: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him" A. Salvation is offered to whoever 1. God isn't picky 2. John 4:14 3. Revelation 22:17 B. It's easier to get into heaven than country clubs and Christian universities VII. Qualification: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him" A. You need to believe in Jesus Christ B. God never says, "If you want to come to Me, you must first clean up your life" 1. You couldn't if you tried 2. That's why it's called the gospel: it's good news C. James 2:19 D. To believe is to rely on Him, to trust completely in Him, to put all of your weight on Him VIII. Ramification: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" A. The resurrection gives us hope that we can live forever 1. If the guy who said, "I am the resurrection and the life" dies, so what? 2. But if that guy dies and comes back to life, that's a game changer B. You do not have to fear death 1. Jesus went through that wall and came back alive, promising us everlasting life 2. Jesus died so we wouldn't have to die C. If believing keeps you from perishing, then not believing means that you will perish Page 4

5 D. Unbelief will destroy the best of us; believing will save the worst of us E. All of us can know the same hope of the risen Savior Figures referenced: Malcolm Muggeridge Cross references:genesis 3:8-9; Isaiah 53:6; Mark 16:15; John 3:16; 4:14; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:1-5; James 2:19; 1 John 3:1; 4:8, 16, 19; Revelation 22:17 Topic: The Resurrection of Jesus Keywords: love, the resurrection, Easter, the cross, sin, Son of God, only begotten Son, the gospel, everlasting life, death, belief, salvation Page 5