SCRIPTURE READING:
1 John 4:9-11 (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. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Matthew 1:18-23 (NIV)
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
John 1:14 (The Message)
The Word became flesh and blood,
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
true from start to finish.
Love Come Down
John 3:16
December 22, 2024
Pastor Mark Fuller
Gift-giving expresses our love
God’s gift is a gift of Love
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
How can you measure this gift of God’s Love?
• by what is given.
• by whom the gift is given to.
• by what it accomplishes.
What is given is Unfathomable
What is given is Unfathomable
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
1 John 4:9
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.
T*he recipient of the gift is Unworthy*
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son.”
A World Against God
John 1:10 – “though the world was made through him the world did not recognize him.”
John 3:19 – “light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”
John 7:7 – “what the world does is evil.”
John 14:27 – “my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.”
John 15:18 – “If the world hates you, keep in mind it hated me first.”
The recipient of the gift is Unworthy
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son.”
“God loves each one of us as if there was only one of us to love!”
Augustine of Hippo
The Effect of the Gift is Unending
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
1 John 4:10
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
The Good News of Christmas
• God has given an unfathomable gift.
• We are unworthy recipients.
• The effect of the gift is unending.
How do we get this gift?
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”