You Are Loved

Sermon Notes

God's love is often an idea we know but a truth we don't experience. In this powerful talk, we explore key biblical passages from 1 John 4 and Jude and unveil the impact of embracing God's love in our lives. Learn how to shift your perspective from a negative self-view to the truth that God cherishes you. We can truly remain in His love through fearless living, freedom to love others, and faithfulness to God's commands. Dive deep into this life-changing revelation and let it shape your journey today!

Recognize God's Love

• Genuine love is God's sacrificial pursuit of our ultimate good, demonstrated by sending His Son to bear our sins and exemplified through various actions.

• Love is inherent to God's nature, driving Him to protect and care for His children regardless of their wrongdoings.

• God's love appears in favorable and challenging times, convicting hidden sins, and offering new life through trust in Him. This love liberates, humbles, and strengthens us, as noted by Tim Keller.

Receive God's Love

• Marriage is characterized as a covenant relationship between one man and one woman, distinct from conditional contracts. A covenant is lifelong and unconditional, while contracts are based on trade and may be terminated.

• The modern concept of marriage for love is relatively recent, with historical data showing that marrying for love is a recent trend. This shift from practical considerations to romantic love has influenced the perception of marriage.

• Jesus emphasized the significance of marriage as a divinely bonded union, referencing Genesis 2. He highlighted the inseparable nature of the marital bond, asserting that what God joins together, no one should separate.

Remain in God's Love

• Faith goes beyond knowing and involves experiencing God's love deeply, combining understanding ("know") and soul-level connection ("believe").

• True belief in God's love results in fearlessness, liberating us from anxiety, a selfless ability to love others, and a faithful commitment to God's commands motivated by love.

• Three Evidences of Belief:

  • Fearlessness: Trust in God eliminates fear, fostering confidence.

  • Liberating Love: Embracing God's love empowers selfless love towards others.

  • Faithfulness: Experiencing God's love leads to loving obedience, driven by love, not works.

Discussion Questions

1. Reflecting on the exercise mentioned, what words came to your mind when considering your self-view? Were they positive or negative, and what do you think these words reveal about your perspective on God and yourself?

2. Derek mentions that many people hold an unbiblical view of God, perceiving Him as distant and critical. Have you ever felt this way about God? How might these perceptions impact your relationship with Him?

3. The passage emphasizes God's sacrificial pursuit of our greatest good as the essence of love. How does this definition of love differ from popular cultural notions? What implications does it have for how we should love others?

4. Derek highlights fearlessness, freedom to love, and faithfulness as indicators of truly experiencing God's love. Can you relate to any of these markers in your life? How do they align with your daily thoughts and actions?

5. The concept of remaining in God's love involves inward growth, upward alignment through prayer, and forward-looking hope in Christ's return. How can you practically engage in each of these aspects to deepen your connection to God's love in your daily life?