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Sermon Notes 09-25-11 am
1 John 4:16-21
Intro: I listened as a retired teacher told the story of a little boy, who
Daily, eagerly checked the progress of his bean plant…
- Classroom had planted bean in soil in Dixie cup and set in sun. Each day they checked, discussed…his never sprouted.
- Teacher replaced it one afternoon with an “extra.”
- Boy next day, “It’s a miracle!” Bring your to front of class. “It is a kind of miracle when a seed grows…”
- No. This is really a miracle because I ate my bean and it still grew!
t/s – In SS, we plant beans in Dixie cups because that is an important
metaphor in NT… Seed planted, roots, growth, fruit…
Last week, 1 John 4:12 –
If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is
Perfected in us.
“Perfected” = complete, having reached its desired End
(Apple Tree)
Love Perfected
n Finished, Complete, Done…. Desired End
n Like the physical growth of a child… Mature!
ILL – Ray’s children marked on my office
Why not mine?
They are done!
t/s – look for John’s return to the word, “perfect”
1 JOHN 4: 16-21
John’s tapestry can be difficult to unravel….
Seed, Root, Fruit, Flower… Love Tree
ILL – “Appricot trees”
The Seed We Experience God’s Love in Jesus (19)
Exp – “First” = God took the Initiative to Love us….Atoning Sacrifice
That love is planted like a good seed in our Lives.
The Root We Abide in His Love (16)
Exp – Know, Believe, Abide…
Take up permanent residence in a life of Love. (Peterson)
The Fruit We Display His Love (20-21)
Exp – Love flows from the Subject, not the Object
- Why does God love me? (God’s Heart)
- Why do I love Others? (My Heart)
The Flower Love, fully grown, Gives Us Confidence (17-18)
Exp – “Confidence” = Boldness, free speech, a sense of belonging.
This is the confidence of a child in her father’s presence.
This confidence grows from Love, His for us, ours for Him, and ours for others!
Confidence, not Arrogance (Cross)
Seed, Root, Fruit….Flower!
Conclusion/Invitation – Notice the Assumption made by old John…
People live with Fear of the Day of Judgment. (Punishment)
ILL – George Bernard Shaw on radio program
Only two words in English with “sh” sound, but no “Sh”
Lady wrote him to say there is only one, “Sugar”
“Ma’am, Are you sure?”
Are you Sure? (Fear, Faith, Folly)
Not: Since God Loves us, we need not fear Judgment.
But: God’s great love has provided Redemption in Jesus (Cross)
