God with us brings love

I. Messiah of love has visited us

*Jesus has come to provide us with redemption and salvation!

  1. "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David His servant - as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old" (Luke 1:68-70).
  2. "Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us; to show mercy toward our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to Abraham our father" (Luke 1:71-73).
  3. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4, 5).

II. Message of love has mercy on us

* Jesus' gospel is a message of love and forgiveness for all mankind!

  1. "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways; to give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins" (Luke 1:76, 77).
  2. For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another . . . We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (1 John 3:11, 16).

III. Ministry of love has inspired us

* Jesus chose us to spread His gospel of love throughout the world!

  1. "To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days" (Luke 1:74, 75).
  2. "Because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:78, 79).
  3. For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15).

Sermon by Pastor Rod Akins, December 8th, 2024

Life group flow and discussion questions

"God with us brings love"

An important Guideline of Life Groups: Brainstorm on how your Life Group could model John 13:34, 35 in all our relationships. Let's practice what Peter reminds us about in 1 Peter 1:22; 4:8.

Getting Started:

  1. What do you think your first words would be after being mute (and probably deaf) for 9 months?
  2. Why do you think God waited so long (400 years) before He announced the prophetic fulfillment of His plan of redemption through the Messiah?

Discussing Truths:

  1. What stands out to you about Zacharias's prophecy about Jesus and his son John (Luke 1:67-79)?
  2. How does Gabriel's announcement fulfill Malachi 4:5, 6 prophecies in (Luke 1:17)?
  3. What was the method that John used to prepare the way for the Lord (Isaiah 40:4)?
  4. Jesus did not come to get us to "forget" our sins (as some counselors suggest); No, Jesus came to "forgive" us our sins by believing in Him as our Savior and Lord! Do you have "the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of your sins" (Luke 1:77)?
  5. What ministry has the love of God inspired in your life (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15)?
  6. Is your love of God the highest priority in your life? It is the quintessential question for everyone who wants to please God (Matthew 2236-40)!

Now What? Application:

  1. Memorize our purpose statement and seek to live it out daily through your OIKOS relationships: "Trusting God, we will love people, by modeling His love, ministering His love and multiplying His love in reproducing Christ-like disciples."
  2. Make this Advent season a time of fervent love for those you care about. Take special effort to identify needs and seek to minister to those needs (Titus 3:14).