3:16 - Love is the Theme

I believe that our congregation exists to lead generations of Christians to love God, one another, and the world in the Spirit of Jesus. Love is the reason for our being and the theme of our faith. I want us to explore this grand theme again during three services in February. I am challenging us to memorize and meditate on three climatic verses of scripture that celebrate God the church and the world. Here they are:
We love God because he loves us.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (KJV)

We love one another because he loves us.

We know love by this,that he laid down his life for us – and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 1 John 3:16 (NRSV)

We love to world because he loves the world and us. This is the mystery of our religion.

Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great: He was revealed in the flesh, vindicated in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory. 1 Timothy 3:16 (NRSV)

Enjoy these verses and let them wash your brain. Spring is coming on. Let’s wake up to love.