Because of Jesus Messiah, God’s love is made clear and powerful in our lives. Our sense of belonging in God can shape our sense of personal identity. We are found in Christ and held in the love of God. When we know how deeply loved we are with God, it gives a foundation to our lives that shapes the way we live with others.
Key passages: Lamentations 3:22-24; John 3:16-17; Ephesians 3:14-19; 1 John 3:1-2
SERMON OUTLINE
“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)
The Nature of the Love of God
- Faithful and ever-new (Lamentations 3:22-23)
- Self-giving and saving (John 3:16-17; 1 John 3:1-2)
- Stronger and measureless (Psalm 103:11-13)
Jesus Christ as the Ultimate Revelation of God’s Love
- Sacrifice for healing and life (Isaiah 53:5-10)
- Self-giving love as atonement for sin (I John 4:9-11)
Stripping off Barriers to the Love of God
- Undone and remade by God (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- Stripping off the old and putting on the new (Ephesians 4:22-24)
Taking Root in the Measureless Love of God
- Diving into the measureless depths (Ephesians 3:14-19)
- Overflowing with the measureless love of God (1 John 4:7-12)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- When have you felt most loved in your life? On the flip side, when have you felt most unloved? In both circumstances, what happened?
- Continuing our current series at Eastbrook, “Who Am I?”, this week we look at how understanding and knowing the love of God impacts our identity. Before going through these questions, ask God to speak to you about your identity and His love through His word.
- It is one thing to know about the love of God informationally, but another thing to let that knowledge transform our lives. What has helped you to deeply know the love of God? How has knowing the love of God changed you?
- Read Ephesians 4:22-24. In what ways do you need to strip off the old identity to put on the new identity in Christ? How has the old hindered your experience of the love of God?
- Take some time, whether alone or in your small group, to slowly pray through Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21.
- What is one thing God is speaking to you through this study? If you are on your own, write it down and pray about it. If you are in a small group, take time to discuss this with one another before praying together.