Video Transition Illustration: Loved! - showing us how to “Love Well in 2022”
The CHC challenge for 2022 – Are you willing to commit to “Love Well” this new year? To not just love but love well – to not just do the minimum but go the extra mile and love like God does – Like Jesus!
Sermon Series: “Love Well” (The beginning and summary of the series)
Thesis to series: To be able to “Love Well” means I embrace the 4 letter word, “LOVE.” But I must embrace the original definition and application given to the word “Love” by God and as God. The sad reality is the word, “Love” has been twisted, made to be filled with lust and loveless ways today. The distortion of “Love” by our secular culture is a direct slap in the face to God! But God is reclaiming its original definition and actions. This broken world needs to experience God’s love.
Series Scripture Texts: The Apostle John wrote the most about Love in the New Testament!
John 13:34-35: Jesus said, “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.”
1 John 4:7-10: 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 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. 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.
Introduction to series:
The books by the author John in the New Testament focus in on the subject of love – God’s love!
LOVE’s original definition is spelled out in Scripture – it is not complicated - “God is love” says 1 John 4:8 or to reverse this thought and make a point “Love is God!” God created and defined what Love is and what it should look like, and act like in this fallen world. John 1:1 tells us Jesus and God are one which also implies that Jesus is God’s love manifested in the flesh – in other words, Jesus is a recognizable expression of love in the flesh that all can see and model.
We also looked at the Love Chapter in 1 Corinthians 13 too – written to a church which needed to mature, understand true love and grow up in love.
We came to a conclusion about Love – Love is the greatest – It is greater than faith and hope - “Love is greater” – Yes, it’s greater than faith and hope because love creates faith and hope! Did you catch that truth – Love is Greater than these other two powerhouses of life Faith and Hope!
We also highlighted the story from Focus on the family called “A Man Called Norman” by Mike Atkins.
The challenge and point of action: Since we are now into a new year, I think it is time to break out of the old ways – or our loveless ways – and embrace the New Year with the theme of “Loving Well.” I pray you are challenged to break out of self-centered ways, lust filled ways and embrace the idea of loving others well this year – the world needs God’s love. His unconditional love!
Sermon 2: Loving Well pt. 2
We started with a powerful video of what it means to love someone unconditionally like God does. It was created and adapted from the story of Hosea found in the Old Testament!
Scripture: Hosea 3:1 “1The LORD said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.”
Introduction:
Hosea is considered a minor prophet’s book, but He has a major problem his unfaithful wife! The Old Testament book is a parallel to the writings of John because of his emphasis on God’s unconditional divine love. Both authors in their Bible books focus on the subject of love and God’s amazing love.
T.S. - Let’s explore the message of Hosea and God’s unconditional love!
Hosea’s Hebrew name means, “God is help” or “Help, God!”
Gomer (Hosea’s wife) name in our story means, “Daughter of fruitcakes.” I will explain the significance of this name in a moment.
The story of Gomer and Hosea has been debated by Bible scholars for 1,000 of years – some say it’s a parable others say no it is literally Hosea’s true life story.
I lean to it being Hosea’s real life story, of him being married to a loveless women and the parallel of his life and her unfaithfulness to their marriage and to God’s story of being cheated on and betrayed by the nation of Israel His bride!
The two themes of Hosea are as follows and run parallel in the prophetic book of Hosea:
1. The first theme we see arise out of this book is Hosea’s love for Gomer and her indifference to His love and her unfaithfulness to their covenant contract with Him and God.
2. The second theme we see arise out of the prophetic book is God’s love for Israel and her indifference to His love and her unfaithfulness to their covenant contract with God and Israel (The Northern Kingdom of Israel).
a. The love of Yahweh for Israel is highlighted in this prophetic book noting why this nation will be destroyed, it’s because of their unfaithfulness to God and the lustful worship of other gods – this worship of other gods had to do with offering fruitcakes to these idols as sacrifices and they also had the practice of doing sexual immoral acts as the ways to worship these idols and seek their blessing.
The theme of love in this story is defined as God’s divine love the Hebrew word is “Hashaq” – in the New Testament – John used the Greek word “Agape” love to point to God’s unconditional love also expressed in the love spoken of in this prophetic book of the OT. God is relentless in His love for Israel – in spite of their sins and unfaithfulness – He is still forgiving in spite of their loveless and lust-filled ways. They have betrayed God and their will be repercussion for this betrayal – the destruction of the country by an outside power will happen because they rejected God’s love and truth. But he will eventually restore them. This promise is found in the last chapter of the book. Yes, God promises to forgive them and bring them back to Him after they repent of their sins and come to their sense and God will buy them back out of their slavery to sin.
See Hosea 14:1-9(NIV)
1Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall! 2Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips. 3Assyria cannot save us; we will not mount war-horses. We will never again say ‘Our gods’ to what our own hands have made, for in you the fatherless find compassion.” 4“I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them. 5I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots; 6his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon. 7Men will dwell again in his shade. He will flourish like the grain. He will blossom like a vine, and his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon. 8O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? I will answer him and care for him. I am like a green pine tree; your fruitfulness comes from me.” 9Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.”
As I read the book of Hosea, I am convinced we need to “Love Well” like God loves and even Hosea loved Gomer! It’s that unconditional love – that perfect love which impacts others in a divine way. It’s what amazes me about God – the most – How He can love the sinners like you and me and be willing to forgive us of our sins.
There is a question that often enters my mind from time to time. It’s the question of what is the greatest thing God has ever done? Have you ever wondered about that question? Have you thought about the possible answers to this question? What was His best miracle? His greatest invention? His greatest achievement? His greatest personal milestone? His greatest day? His greatest year? His greatest act?
I sat and pondered this over the last week and asked - when was God at His best? NO, really what is God’s most impressive act as God. Think about it?
I want to propose this question to you today to ponder: “’When was God at His best?’ or maybe I can word it this way, ‘What was God’s best day?’”
(Sermon idea is from E.V. Hill’s message called “God at His Best” spoken at the Evangelism Summit at Willow Creek Community Church in Oct. of 1998).
T.S.- Lets explore a few pinnacle moments in history and from the Bible and see if we can discover when God was at His best.
I. I wonder if God was at His best the day when He created the Heavens and the Earth and the things on the earth?
a. This was definitely a breakthrough week for God. He made his greatest creations, his glorious inventions of various plants, he set weather in motion and even started the cycles of nature and seasons. The best day has to be found in these 7 days of Creation – it has to be here somewhere – right? Don’t you think this is the best place to start to answer this question about: When was God at His Best?
i. He made the world as we know it in one week! Wow! Yes, in the beginning of our world history God was there creating it all. There are not many scientists or individuals who can boast about creating the solar system and earth in a week.
1. There is not a soul alive or dead that could say, “I created the earth and everything in it!”
a. Only God has this claim!
2. I don’t ever recall anyone staking the claim to creating a universe and a planet in a week’s time. Have you?
b. Let’s look briefly at the Bible and discover how God did it back in Genesis 1:1-25.
i. The Holy Bible, New International Version: 1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. 6And God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water.” 7So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. 8God called the expanse “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day. 9And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. 10God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. 11Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. 12The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day. 14And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, 15and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, 18to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.20And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.” 21So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” 23And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day. 24And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
c. At first thought you have to say this has to be God’s best week! I agree but what about His best day? His best moment of love and greatness?
i. We just read about this inventive, creative week in the life and times of God. Look at the chart on the days of Creation – see power-point .
1. Day 1: God started with nothingness and then decided first he needed light to help him see what He was creating. It’s always so hard to see what you are doing in the dark. But that’s right God is light and he puts off His own light-but he decided since no one else could do the eternal glow like He could - He needed to create something that would project light into a hole of darkness. This is the day God turned the lights on in our universe and earth!
a. We have day - We have night-amazing. I’m sure the angels where on the sideline cheering. Saying, “Way to Go God! Your awesome. Go God! Go God!” So, in verse 2-5 He said, ‘Let there be light and it was so!’
i. This has to be one of God’s best days! He created light! He made a day! You think this has to be God at His best because this is the day – that God literally created days! The first day has to be God’s best achievement.
ii. But I don’t think so – personally – I disagree!
2. Day 2: Let’s look at another day in the life and times of God verses 6-8 the second day of creation.
a. On the second day He created the expanse – He created the sky to divide the water. Water was what made up the area He was working in, so He decided there needed to be a certain area of water and another area called sky. Much different in content and mass. So, we have water and sky.
b. Some who like to fly planes or boat, or fish would say this is God at His best.
c. But I once again would have to say no - I disagree with you.
3. Day 3: Let’s look at the third day of Creation in verses 9-13. God on this special day decided to create some dry land and he added the wonder cover of vegetation.
a. Now Biologists and ecologists would say this was God at his best. We have dry ground- we did not need flippers and gills to live here just breath.
i. This was the day God made the gorgeous flowers like roses, lilacs, lilies, tulips and the like.
ii. The tree huggers would say this is God at his best because I can hug pine trees, and cedar trees, and huge white pines. I can climb the oak trees.
iii. This was definitely another impressive day in God’s life and times!
iv. But once again I don’t think this is God at His best!
4. Day 4: Maybe it’s the 4th day of Creation found in Genesis 1:14-19. This is the day God invented the Sun and the Moon. The day he set the four seasons into motion.
a. Astrologists would say this is God at his best. What a magnificent creation when God created the sun and the moon.
b. Those who like to gaze up at the stars would say that was when God was at his best. The astrologers would say this God’s best day!
c. If you’re an individual who likes to ski on snow or on water you would say this is God at His best. If you like the 4 seasons then you would say this is God at His best.
i. He did this so we would not be bored by the way with the weather. He wanted to teach us to pray!
d. Once again, I would have to disagree and say this is not God at His best!
5. Day 5: Well how about the 5th day of creation Genesis 1:20,21. This is the day that God made the birds and the fish.
a. All the fishermen are shouting this is God’s best day! The bass, the sword fish, the walleye, the perch, the muskie!
b. The bird watchers are saying who cares about the fish this is God at His best because He created the birds like robins, finches, parrots, eagles, hawks and such. And I love to watch them!
c. But No once again, I do not believe this is God at His best!
d. Let’s look briefly at the Bible again and discover and see what He created on the 6th day in Genesis 1: 26-31. The day God created the animals and mankind – is this when God was at His best?
i. 26Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” 29Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
ii. Day 6: We now proceed with the 6th day of creation and ask ourselves is this God at his best? Genesis 1:24-31
1. The day he created animals. For those who love their pets they would say this is God at His best.
a. The zoologists would say this is God at His best.
b. All the deer hunters would yell, “This was God at His best!” He made deer hunting available to us!
c. But he did more on this day other than just create animals He created man in His image.
i. Doctors would tell you this is God at His best because the human body is so ingenious the way it was made and what it is capable of doing. Not only the physical body but then put the mind in the equation and wow! Then add another ingredient man’s spirit. This is an amazing day in the life and times of God.
d. A lot of you are thinking this is GOD at His best!
2. But once again I’m sorry to disappoint you but I don’t believe this is God at His best.
e. Let’s look at Day 7: How about God’s Best Day was the 7th day the day he rested? Genesis 2:1-3:
i. 1Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested2 from all his work. 3And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
ii. As we proceed to the 7th day of Creation in Genesis 2:1-3!
1. Here we have God resting.
a. For those of you who treasure rest from a lot of hard work you might say this is God at His best – why He rested!
i. You know how great it is to sit down and rest after a hard working day? This is the best – right?
b. But I once again I have to disagree with you this is not God’s Best Day in my view!
T.S. – So you are sitting there thinking what could be God’s best day according to Pastor Mike? Maybe it’s the ministry time of Jesus and all the miracles He did?
II. I wonder if God’s best day is when God in the flesh launches out in His ministry to the world and the lost – when Jesus went around and did miracles and teachings revealing the love of God and truth.
a. This was more than one day this went on for three years by the way. It’s breathtaking to think of what He did and said.
i. Think of all the miracles Jesus performed?
ii. Think about all the miracles God has done. How long would that list be?
iii. Those who run from miracle crusade to miracle crusade would say that God is at His best when He does miracles.
b. Others would say God is at His Best when He speaks – especially through the Prophetic!
c. But once again, I would have to say no this is not God at His best in my view!
i. Sorry to disappoint you-please don’t through stones at me yet! Hang with me 😊
T.S.- Some of you are smirking – maybe even thinking – Pastor Mike has lost His mind - Or you may be thinking – I know God’s Best Day! You say it is the day Christ died on the cross! Yes, that were is where He is going with this thought. So, let’s explore and see if this is God’s Best Day.
III. I wonder if it’s the day Jesus died on the cross? This has to be God’s best day ever? Right?
a. John 19 tells us about this monumental day.
i. How He bore the sin of the world on His body so we could be set free.
b. Matthew 27 describes this day of horror for Jesus and a hope for you and me.
i. Describing the events around His death – darkness rolls in, there is an earthquake and the temple curtain is ripped in two.
c. All four Gospels talk about this amazing day – a day love gave up His life for me and my sins.
d. The New Testament proclaims this day over and over, there is a focus on this day and it speaks about this day.
e. It was and is on God’s top ten 10 best days. For me it’s the third greatest day for God that I know of and put in a chain of best days.
f. But regretfully I must inform you this is not God’s best day in my view.
i. Hold your boo’s and hisses for a moment – hang with me – no stones yet.
T.S. Some of you would disagree me and others would be thinking and even saying it has to be the day he rose from the grave. That is His best day ever!
IV. I wonder if it’s the day Jesus rose from the grave?
a. Matthew 28 blows the horn about it and it shakes the whole world and even Hell itself.
b. John rejoices in telling about it in chapter 20 and 21 – it was amazing – blowing people’s minds and hearts.
c. Easter celebrates this day every year – It’s a day of triumph!
d. It’s the day when we all shout “He’s Alive and I’m forgiven!”
e. I would have to acknowledge that I believe this also is one of God’s ten best days and for me it ranks number 2 on the chart of God’s ten best days.
f. Some may think okay he is pushing to Jesus Ascension into Heaven in Acts 1 then!
g. But for me it’s not God’s best day-the day God was at His best. Sorry – you can hiss at me now I don’t think it’s the Resurrection Day or Ascension Day 😊
T.S.- You sit there in bewilderment maybe even anger and think what could be God’s best day from Pastor Mike’s perspective? Are you ready to hear what I think God’s Best Day was ever?
V. I believe the day God was at His best was on November 7, 1979.
a. That was the day the Almighty God visited a sinner in a church in Mpls. Mn. and showed him how much he loved him and forgave him. It was the day I experienced His love and grace!
i. It’s was God’s best day for me, because it was the day that I experienced the Lord God personally and intimately.
ii. It was the day that I repented of my sins and asked for forgiveness and God’s loving grace washed through my body like nothing I had ever experienced before in my life.
iii. I felt the warm embrace of His love – In that moment I felt like I was loved and forgiven and given hope.
iv. I felt the warm touch of His mercy and grace.
v. I discovered that the God who created the universe cared about what happened to me – Michael McCartney – he knew my name – He knew my hurts and pains. He was willing to forgive my sins and rebirth me.
vi. I discovered that God was not some entity out there somewhere in the clouds but He was my Loving Father who sent His son to die for my sin.
vii. It was God at His best because he took time out of his busy schedule to touch a broken lonely young man’s life in Mpls. Mn. and set him on a path of peace and joy.
viii. I found my purpose for life – TO be a doer of His Word and serve Him for His great love for me!
ix. Friends that is (to me) when God was at His best in my view -The day he meets people like you and me personally and intimately and He saves our souls and make us whole.
1. E.V. Hill says, “God’s most wondrous act is the saving of souls.”
a. God’s always at His best when someone like us get saved!
2. Paul would agree this is God at His best. See Galatians 1:11-24
11I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.13For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15But when God, who set me apart from birth? and called me by his grace, was pleased 16to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. 18Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter? and stayed with him fifteen days. 19I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. 20I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24And they praised God because of me.
3. God is at His best when He touches a broken sin filled life with His love, mercy, grace and forgiveness!
Thesis of message: God was at His best in my view when he forgave a sinner on Nov. 7, 1979 at Outreach Church in Mpls. Mn.! To me that was the day God was at His best! The premise is God is at His best when He saves souls through the power of love! Like He did mine! It’s when He loves divinely and unconditionally! To me God is at His best the day He saved me! You may say “God was at His Best the Day He saved me!”
Conclusion:
We have explored the many wonderful and marvelous things God has done in this world. But the most amazing – The biggest and best day in the life of God is when He reaches down out of Heaven. When He stops His busy schedule and pours out His love and forgiveness on people like you and me. My friend God loves us- This is so awesome! He loves unconditionally!
If you have never experienced God’s Best, then let today be the day that you allow the Lord to touch your life supernaturally. It will change you and give you hope, peace and contentment in this life.
John 3:16 “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.”
What do we need to know?
Answer: We need to choose and be intentional about loving well and for us to love well means we need to connect with the Spirit of the Lord and disconnect from loveless ways and habits. We need to know the original definition of Love and reject the world’s definition of love.
Why do we need to know this?
Answer: We need to know that the Holy Spirit will help us love others well! He will enable us to love the loveless and present real love to those trapped in slavery to sin.
What do we need to do?
Answer: We need to Commit to “Loving well” so that others can have the experience of experiencing God’s Best Day ever in their lives. A day they will never forget!
Why do they need to do this?
Answer: If we want to have a meaningful year of “Loving Well” It will require us to get out of our ruts and onto a new path that leads to happiness and contentment and gratitude. Meaning in life comes from experiencing the true love of God/ It’s love that will set people free and change this world and we need to dispensers of it to a loveless world.
