Experienced God's Love? (Luke 15:1-7)
Gary McManus, 05/29/2022Part of the God's Love; Beyond Belief series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
May 29, 2022 Luke 15:1-7
Today’s sermon message was prepared BEFORE
Pastor read the news last Tuesday. Give thanks.
What Pastor read in the news:
Warsaw, Indiana Pastor confessed to a nine year
sexual exploitation of a young girl beginning when
the victim was 16.
The Southern Baptist Convention plans to release some 700 names of Pastors accused of sexual abuse with women, young women and boys. The accusations reach to the highest offices of the SBC.
Uvalde, Texas: young students and teachers mass murdered.
Pastor remembers that Elijah was discouraged (1 Kings 19 ) . . . Jonah was discouraged (Jonah 4) and Job was miserable. . .
Their stories are still in the Bible to encourage us. Also see Psalm 73. Know that the successes of the Gospel in this country are because of the Gospel and Jesus, NOT the messengers of the Gospel.
It is in this knowledge and in this truth that Pastor bring another message on God’s love for YOU.
Another message on God’s love? Yes:
Ephesians 3:17-19 and Colossians 1:10
[or 2 Peter 1:8, 2 Peter 3:18 or Romans 12:10
(New International Version)
Be devoted to one another in love. [Honor one another above yourselves.]
Other Pastors have struggled to teach this topic of love, just as Pastor Gary has.
Pastor Chip Ingram, God As He Longs for You to See Him, p. 177.
Knowledge. . .”head knowledge” AND
spiritual knowledge: Matthew 16:15-17.
Head knowledge = Jesus of Nazareth
Spiritual knowledge = Jesus Christ
Saul of Tarsus had dhead knowledge of Jesus.
Then (Acts 9), Paul knew Jesus Messiah (the Christ).
(on the road to Damascus)
People often come to Jesus as Lord and Savior
in one of five ways:
--Jesus as teacher
--Jesus as shepherd
--Jesus as healer
--Jesus as giver of life, new life
--Jesus as (our) ransom, the redeemer, Savior, rescuer All of these are expressions of God’s love,
in and through Jesus.
Most have EXPERIENCED Jesus in one of these ways.
One Pastor emphasizes that it IS important to experience God’s love in one way or another.
See Pastor Tim Keller “The Prodigal God”, p. 120.
Salvation is also an experience. The Bible uses sensory language: “taste and see” that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8)
Pastor Keller quotes Jonathan Edwards this way (sort of) Claiming that God loves you is different from feeling loved by God.
Isn’t communion (the Lord’s Table) a love feast?
(Jude 1:27) And what does Jesus say in his story?
Luke 15:32 But we had to celebrate and be glad,
See Acts 2:46.
Can you be glad that God loves you THIS MUCH?
Amen.
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