“The Love of God” 4-Week Sermon Series

Week 1: God’s Love Saves Us From Ourselves

Introduction:

There are many different kinds of love in our world, each one with its own definition. There’s the
love we have for our friends, and the love we have for our spouse. The love we feel towards the
familiar, and the love we feel toward people worthy of love. There’s even the love of oneself.

But the love of God, or agape love, is different than all other kinds of love. It is endless and
unconditional. Where other types of love give up, God’s love persists. When all other loves are
selfish and small, God’s love is selfless and expansive. It seeks the best in us and for us, even
when we don’t deserve it.

And what did God do with this holy, selfless love? He revealed it to us through the life, death,
and resurrection of Jesus. This sacrifice, borne of love, made it possible for us to be saved from
ourselves.

Let’s hear more about how that happened:

Point 1: God makes the first move.

Verse: Romans 5:8 NIV

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ
died for us.”

The very first thing we need to know about God’s love is that He meets us right where we are.
Whatever we’ve done, however far we’ve wandered, God comes to us. He offers His love
before we deserve it--He makes the first move.

So when we need saving from ourselves, as we all do sometimes, we can trust that God will
always be there to help us out.

Point 2: God brings life into our death.

Verse: Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with
Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.”

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While this can be applied literally, there are also many “dead” areas of our life where God can
bring new life. Is your joy missing? Has your hope grown cold? Are you angry, scared, or
worried? Have you given up? In each of us, God wants to bring life into the places of death.

God saves us from the deaths, big and small, we each experience. His life brings salvation in
every area of our lives.

Point 3: God’s love gives us life.

Verse: 1 John 4:9-10

“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.”

A miraculous thing has occurred: when we accept the love of God, we live through Christ.
Though we are weak, we get to live through One who is strong. Though we are tired, we rest in
the One who never tires. We live life more fully and deeply than we ever knew was possible!

We’re saved from the limitations of our life and our love when we choose to live in unity with
Christ.

Conclusion:

Before we can ever hope to extend this kind of love to others, we need to first receive it
ourselves. You may have doubts--that this kind of love doesn’t exist, or that you don’t deserve it.

We know it exists because it’s demonstrated in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. That
kind of selfless love can only be found in God.

And the truth is, we don’t deserve it. That’s what makes it so incredible. A holy God would reach
down out of Heaven to save us, undeserving as we are. He looks at us and finds us loveable,
even when we don’t feel it’s possible.

Accept the love of God. Let God save you from yourself.

Discussion Questions:

● Do you feel like you’ve experienced an agape kind of love in your life?
● What are some examples of how God can save us from ourselves?
● What’s one barrier that keeps people from accepting the love of God?
● What’s one way you can share the love of God with someone else today?

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Week 2: God’s Love Helps Us Forgive

Introduction:

Last week, we talked about how God’s love saves us from our sin and death, and allows us to
live a fuller, more abundant life in Christ.

But a key part of this love is God’s forgiveness toward us. We’ve all done things at times that
weren’t loving. I know I can think of times I was selfish or petty. And in those moments, I needed
forgiveness.

And just as God forgives us, we need to forgive others. But the good news is that God’s love will
help us do just that. Here’s how:

Point 1: God’s love is bigger than the hurts.

Verse: 1 Peter 4:8 NIV

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

Proverbs 10:12 NIV

“Hatred stirs up conflict,
but love covers over all wrongs.”

Sometimes, the pain can feel too big, the cuts too deep. But no wound is too big for the
forgiveness of God. If you feel overwhelmed by the sheer size of your pain, let God’s expansive
love fold over you and the hurt. Let the love of God be a cover that brings fresh healing.

Point 2: We forgive because we’ve been forgiven.

Verse: Ephesians 4:32 NIV

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God
forgave you.”

I don’t know about you, but I can forget just how much God has forgiven in me. In those
moments, it can be easy for us to slip into self-righteousness. Instead, let’s remember to take a
step back, pause in reflection, and consider how much God has forgiven us. This enables us to
stay humble enough to forgive others.

Point 3: When we forgive in love, we build unity.

Verse: Colossians 3:12-14

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and
forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord
forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in
perfect unity.”

We are one people--“God’s chosen people.” We are loved by God and forgiven by God, and we
bring that love and forgiveness with us wherever we go. As God’s love transforms us into
people of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, it also transforms us into

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people who forgive. And in our reflection of God’s love and forgiveness, we build our foundation
of love.

Conclusion:

No sermon series about God’s love would be complete without talking about forgiveness. It is a
critical function of His love. Without forgiveness, there would be no relationship--we would still
be a million miles away from God.

But He forgives us, allowing us to repair our broken relationships. If we are people of God’s
love, then we should do the same.

Discussion Questions:

● What’s one fear people have about forgiveness?

● Do you think there’s a limit to how much God forgives?
● How could you encourage someone who feels they don’t deserve forgiveness?
● Is there a hurt in your own life that needs forgiveness? A relationship that needs to be
repaired?

Week 3: God’s Love Gives Us Hope

Introduction:

There are people here who are in the middle of tough life experiences. Things aren’t going the
way you thought they would go. There’s disappointment, fear, and anxiety. You’re in need of a
little hope.

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Into the middle of each of our storms, God wants to offer His love--a lifeline of hope. We are not
alone in our life crises; we are surrounded by the presence of God, who infuses each situation
with these promises:

Point 1: Nothing can separate us from God’s love.

Verse: Romans 8:37-39 NIV

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 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.”

Whatever we’re going through, we know that God’s love will never be separated from us. No life
circumstance can decrease His love in any way.

Are you feeling grief? Are you experiencing doubt? Are you wrapped up in worry? None of these
realities can separate you from God’s love. When we feel overcome by life’s circumstances, we
can find hope in the center of God’s unchanging, unmovable love for us.

Point 2: God’s love is reliable.

Verse:1 John 4:16 NIV

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love
lives in God, and God in them.”

If there’s one thing we know about other people, it’s this: sometimes, they will let us down. They
are human, after all. And no matter how hard we try to do right by others, we are also unreliable
at times.

But not so with God. God’s love for us is reliable. We can accept it without fear or hesitation
because it will never let us down. We can place all our hopes and dreams, worries and fears
right in the center of God’s love, knowing He’ll never abandon us.

When no one else is reliable, God is always reliable.

Point 3: God’s love endures forever.

Verse: Psalm 136:26 NIV

“Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.”

The passage of the Bible this verse is drawn from tells the story of God’s provision and
protection. God remembers us, He saves us, He frees us, He provides for us--all out of His
neverending love.

It’s hard to contemplate the enormity of “forever;” it’s without beginning or end. But that is the
nature of God’s love. It’s bigger than time itself. What greater hope can we have than that?

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Conclusion:

If you showed up here today because you need hope, I have good news for you. God’s love
provides us hope, light and life. There is no situation so big that it can take us from the love of
God. We can rely on God’s love, even when the love of all others fails us. And God’s love is
forever, without end.

And if you know of someone who needs a little hope, extend the love of God to them. Bring
hope with you into your relationships, into your home, into your workplace. I think everyone
could use a little more hope, and we know the source of all hope: God’s love.

Discussion Questions:
● Where could you use a little hope?
● What makes it hard to hope?
● Do you believe fully that God is reliable?
● How does a person with hope show up in the world?

Week 4: God’s Love Heals Our Communities

Introduction:

When we look around our world, we see the pain in our communities. Injustice and deep pain
torment our neighbors and coworkers, the people across the street and the people around the
world. Every person in our community needs the healing presence of God’s love.

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But the good news is that when we show up, we bring God’s love with us. The love we
experience--that saves and offers forgiveness and hope--has the miraculous power to heal
entire communities.

And God wants to include us in this work. It begins with us demonstrating the love of God in our
everyday lives.

Point 1: God’s love will identify us.

Verse: John 13:34-35

“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.”

We can become ambassadors of God, bringing a message of hope and healing. When we act in
God’s love, loving each other fully, then the world will understand who God is through us. The
people in your life will see that you are a person of healing love, a safe and trusted friend.

We must be known for our love if we ever hope to spread God’s message of love.

Point 2: God’s love ends conflict.

Verse: Luke 6:27-28

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

In our world, it seems there’s conflict everywhere you look. From wars to political strife, from
family dysfunction to workplace aggression, conflict abounds. But when we love, we can bring
an end to the conflict.

How do we do this? We offer an alternative. Instead of continuing the cycles of conflict, we love
our enemies. We do good to everyone, praying for them. God molds our hearts to be like His,
and that loving posture has a ripple effect in our world.

Point 3: God’s love changes our relationships.

Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does
not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of
wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects,
always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

God’s love is the opposite of the selfish and self-serving behavior we encounter in ourselves
and others.

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When we are impatient, God’s love instructs us to be patient. When we have an unkind impulse,
God’s love keeps it in check. When we envy, boast, or feel puffed up with pride, God’s love
humbles us and brings us contentment. God’s love keeps our focus on Him, our tempers in
check, and our forgiveness readily available.

In other words, God’s love changes the very DNA of our relationships. Instead of a human
approach to relationships, we now have a God approach. God’s love heals and builds
relationships, freeing our communities from the pain of unhealthy relationships.

Conclusion:

If you want to an agent of healing in your community, there’s really only one solution: the love of
God. It is the only force powerful enough to overcome all the pain and selfish damage we cause
one another. It’s big enough to cover the wounds, to comfort the hurting, and to promote
reconciliation.

As we wrap up this sermon series on the love of God, let’s review what we’ve learned.

First, we know that God’s love saves us. He meets us right where we are, making the first
move. He saves us from all death and gives us life.

God’s love makes it possible to forgive even the biggest hurts. We forgive others because God,
in His infinite love, forgave us.

God brings hope into each and every dark situation in our life. His love will never leave us nor
forsake us. And there is nothing that can separate us from God’s love.

Finally, when we let the love of God transform us, altering our relational DNA, others will
encounter the love of God through us. And the ripples will spread throughout our communities
and into the world.

Discussion Questions:

● What areas in your community need healing?

● How are you uniquely placed to bring love into that area?
● Do you feel your community recognizes the love of God through local Christians?
● Is there a conflict in your life that needs God’s love?

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