Lent IV (B) 10th March, 2024
This week, a change in the presentation of the format. The long summary remains (as prepared by Church.Tech AI) but the questions are now on the actual text of the sermon, available below as a pdf.
In the enlightening sermon “The Extravagant Love of God,” Dennis weaves a robust discourse about God’s far-reaching, unconditional love. Commemorated on Mothering Sunday, which succeeds International Women’s Day, the speech accentuates our interconnectedness as humans and the values we bestow on one another, ultimately emphasising our universal birthright.
Reinforcing this message, the sermon also explores a story from the Books of Moses, reminding the congregation of the need for faith and belief. The sermon’s central theme delves into the depthless love of God and His divine desire for our salvation. Illustrating this point, he refers to biblical passages Ephesians 2:1-10 and John 3:14-21 which depict humanity’s condition before experiencing God’s grace, a state marred by spiritual death and disobedience.
Despite this, the sermon underscores that God’s immense love and mercy make us alive with Christ, a gift that is freely given and cannot be earned. Progressing into the theme of divine love, the sermon notes Jesus’ explanations to Nicodemus in the Bible regarding the concept of being ‘born again.’ It highlights the quintessence of God’s love in verse 16, which states whoever trusts in Jesus will have eternal life.
Dennis emphasises this as an illustration of God’s extreme sacrifice, offering up His Son to pay for our sins. The sermon culminates with a powerful observation – that the Creator of all willingly sacrificed His life for our sake. This extraordinary love supersedes the concepts of space and time and is accessible to all who accept it.
Dennis implores us to show gratitude and obedience as beneficiaries of this generous love. This love is not just a promise of the afterlife but a catalyst for a transformative experience that empowers us to live lives of service and righteousness, reflecting God’s love.
Dennis articulates that we should continue marvelling at God’s love displayed through Jesus Christ and that everyone should lead lives enriched by this divine love. In conclusion, the highlight of this sermon is the magnitude of God’s unwarranted love, the potential for transformation through salvation, and the responsibility to demonstrate this love in daily life. It emphasises the depth of God’s love, urging the faithful to embrace it and respond with reciprocated love and obedience.
Breaking Open 