Easter “Rolling Stones”

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S.O.A.P. – “Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer”

Who in your life has shown you true and unconditional love?

Scripture:

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.

This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us.

Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect.

So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.

We love each other because he loved us first. If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers. 1 John 4:7-21 NLT

Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” Jeremiah 31:3 NLT

Sermon Insights:

God is love and God loves us: passionately, personally, intimately and eternally.

God’s love is expressed in sending Jesus as a sacrifice to “take away our sins.” Think about this…what has God freed you from?

“Such love has no fear” – are you drawing close to God and experiencing freedom from fear?

How can you more fully experience God’s “perfect love”?

Lord, in spite of the fact that I have not earned your affection or deserved your kindness, THANK YOU for loving me with a perfect love that saves me from the power and pain of sin. Fill me with confidence in your presence!