5 THINGS: Love of God - September 14, 2025
INTRODUCTION
Surgery of any kind makes you think about life in a different light.
I considered sending my son a text with my life insurance information, banking info, last wishes, etc.
Remember, I was only having a small umbilical hernia repaired; imagine if it had been a serious issue.
I preach a funeral message that echoes the thought of the Apostle Paul that of the 3 most importance characteristics of humans - faith, hope, and love, the greatest is love. I say in that message that we all want to know loving. We want that for ourselves, and we want that for our children and grandchildren.
Over the next 5 weeks, I will be sharing with you thoughts on these issues.
The love of God
Love according to the Word
Love in the Kingdom
Love and righteousness
Love yourself
John 3:16 NIV
“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.”
John 3:16 NIV
Let us pray.
1. GOD SO LOVES THE WORLD
A. God loves
John 3:16 NIV
“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.”
John 3:16 NIV
Some Things about God’s Love:
- Love is not just a virtue of God. It is God Himself.
- Love is not something God begins.
- God does not “extend His energy to maintain” love.
- The love of God is as eternal as the nature of God.
- The love of God is self existing.
Towns, Elmer: Theology for Today (Belmont CA: Wadsworth: 2002) 114.
B. Jesus came so we would know God’s love
John 17:26 NIV
“I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.””
John 17:26 NIV
C. Jesus died for sinners
Romans 5:8 NIV
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8 NIV
1 John 4:10 NIV
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
1 John 4:10 NIV
2. GOD CONTINUES TO LOVE THE WORLD
One day, C.H. Spurgeon was walking through the English countryside with a friend. As they strolled along, the evangelist noticed a barn with a weather vane on its roof. At the top of the vane were these words: GOD IS LOVE. Spurgeon remarked to his companion that he thought this was a rather inappropriate place for such a message. "Weather vanes are changeable," he said, "but God’s love is constant."
"I don’t agree with you about those words, Charles," replied his friend. "You misunderstood the meaning. That sign is indicating a truth: Regardless of which way the wind blows, God is love."
Bruce Howell, "The Essence!", 2/21/2009
A. God loves us as His children
1 John 3:1a NIV
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
1 John 3:1a NIV
B. God loves us in our imperfection
Psalm 136:23 NIV
“He remembered us in our low estate His love endures forever.”
Psalm 136:23 NIV
1 John 2:2 NIV
“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
1 John 2:2 NIV
C. God’s love has no end
For more than 40 years, each week a shy Welshman went to his neighbor’s door and slipped a love note underneath. Because of an argument years before, she refused to speak to the man. Finally, after writing 2184 love letters with no response of any kind, the 74-year-old man went to the door, knocked, and asked the 74-year-old woman to marry him. Much to his surprise, she said yes, and they tied the knot.
This is much the same way the love of God works. He persistently shows his love for us--even in the face of rejection. It changes our lives.
Perry Greene, Sermon Central, January 12, 2004.
Romans 8:38-39 NIV
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39 NIV
3. GOD WANTS YOU TO KNOW LOVE
A. Know love
1 John 4:9-10 NIV
“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
1 John 4:9-10 NIV
B. Share love
James Moore tells about a man named George. George was a peacemaker with a big heart and wonderful sense of humor. Everyone loved George at church, and he was respected at the hospital where he worked. The reason why so many people loved George was because he was always kind and respectful to everyone he met.
George’s children clearly remember the days George spent in the hospital before his death. The administrator of the hospital paid him a visit. They spoke as though they were old friends. A few minutes later one of the janitors came to visit George. They too had a nice visit.
When the janitor left, one of George’s children said to him, "Dad, did you realize that you treated the president of the hospital and the janitor just alike?" George smiled, chuckled and then said, "Let me ask you something: If the administrator left for two weeks and the janitor left for two weeks, which one do you think would be missed the most?"
Then George called his children around his bed. "Let me show you something I carry in my pocket all the time," he told them, "even when I mow the lawn." George pulled out a pocket-sized cross and a marble with the golden rule on it. George said, "On the cross are written these words, ‘God Loves You,’ and on the marble are these words, ‘Do unto Others as You Would Have Them Do unto You.’ The cross reminds me of how deeply God loves me. And the marble reminds me of how deeply God wants me to love others.”
James W. Moore, WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS . . ., (Nashville: Dimensions for Living, 1993), p. 78. Found in “Weird People Everywhere” by King Duncan - 1 Cor 12:1-11 – 2005.)
Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV
“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV
1 John 3:16 NIV
“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.”
1 John 3:16 NIV
1 John 4:11-12 NIV
“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”
1 John 4:11-12 NIV
We tried to visit the lepers at least once a month, when they gathered out on the grass, and we went over what they had learned and sought to make clear the way of salvation by the use of Gospel posters.
Sometimes we asked them questions, to see if they really understood what they were learning. I remember once asking the question, “Just how do you know that the Lord Jesus loves you?”
They answered, “Because of you.” This truly touched our hearts and we praised God for the privilege of being His instruments to carry the glad tidings to such as these poor lepers.
China’s Millions Mission, Bill Butsko, Sermon Central, September 9, 2007.
CONCLUSION
Do you ever wonder what God thinks about our world today? Do you ever wonder if God reconsiders His commitment to us. Listen to this.
Isaiah 54:9-10 NIV
““To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”
Isaiah 54:9-10 NIV
God loves the world. God continues to love us. God wants you to know love.
A water pipe was designed to carry water. I have learned that when you hook the pipe to the water, and turn on the water, the water flows through the pipe and out of the other end.
When you are connected to God’s love, it flows through you and out to others.
Stephen Smarowsky, Sermon Central, April 10, 2009.
INVITATION
It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word. You may want to follow Jesus. You may want to proclaim your faith. You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things). Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church. If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now. If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.
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