TLG Session Outline

God Loves You

Basil Marotta Jericho Ministries 719-510-3777

Session Outline: We have been talking about having a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus. It is important for us to realize and grasp how much God loves us if we are to establish a vibrant, intimate, personal relationship with Him.
1: God loves us unconditionally.(definition…not limited by conditions; absolute…an unconditional promise..syn. comp;ete,unqualified,categorical.
Psalm 32:10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in Him.
John 15:9-10 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
(Psa 147:11) the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
1 John 3:1a How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are….
(1 John 4:15-19 NIV) If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. {16} And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. {17} In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. {18} There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. {19} We love because he first loved us.
2: God demonstrates his love.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Luke !5: 11-32 (the prodigal or lost son parable).
3: God wants to be our friend.
John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead I have called you friends for everything I have learned from my Father, I have made known to you.
4: God has a plan for our lives.
(Jer 29:11-13) For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. {12} Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. {13} You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Life Implication:The whole of the Bible is God’s message of his love for us. All the stories, warnings, commands are given us because he loves us…and doesn’t want us to grieve or suffer.
Jesus said, “The thief comes to steal and destroy, but I have come that you have life and have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
Gal. 4:6-7 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “ Abba, Father”. So you are no longer a slave but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
Ephesians3:17-19 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
For Discussion: Is there anything that is hindering you from experiencing and knowing in the depth of your being how much God loves you? What can you do to break down the barrier to knowing how much God loves you?

Parable of the prodigal son…

(Luke 15:11-32 NIV) Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. {12} The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. {13} "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. {14} After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. {15} So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. {16} He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. {17} "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! {18} I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. {19} I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' {20} So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. {21} "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' {22} "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. {23} Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. {24} For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. {25} "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. {26} So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. {27} 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' {28} "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. {29} But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. {30} But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' {31} "'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. {32} But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"