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Stones Hill Community Church
Life Verses & Catchphrases
Welcome to the Life Verse and Catchphrases Series! The Words We Carry. The Truth That Carries Us. A Life Verse Is... A truth from God’s Word that becomes a personal compass, a source of courage, a reminder of identity, or a declaration against the lies of the world. A life verse is a verse out of the Bible that especially resonates with you and that has inspired you in some meaningful way. It has become a kind of focus point for you, a life mantra, or a kind of statement or even a counter-culture protest of sorts to battle some erroneous worldview assumption. What verse do you keep coming back to—and why? How did you come to settle on this verse? How has God used this verse in your life?
Locations & Times
Ligonier, IN
151 W Stones Hill Rd, Ligonier, IN 46767, USA
Saturday 5:00 PM
John 3:16
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OPENING
Everybody wants to be loved, accepted, secure, significant, and fulfilled. But, we resist God's love and attempt to find life apart from Him. What if the life you've been looking for isn't something you need to find? What if it's Someone you need to receive, a gift you need to open?
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Several of you listed John 3:16 as your life verse. For many, it’s been your “life vest.” And the reason we love it is because we recognize the gospel is there in such short form (less than 30 words in most translations). One respondent said on their card: “If this isn’t understood and appreciated to your core, the rest of the Bible means little.” It is the essence of the gospel in just 26 words. It is the story of the Bible in just one verse – perhaps the greatest single verse of the entire Bible. Why? The extravagant love of God. God didn’t just love; He “so” loved the world… That makes this verse “The Greatest Love Story” full of superlatives.
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PROPOSITION
John 3:16 unwraps the Gospel gift in FOUR MOVEMENTS which reveal that the life you have been looking for is not something you need to find; it is Someone you need to receive—Jesus, God’s gracious gift of eternal life.
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OUTLINE
Movement 1: The Love God Has (3:16a) – the love behind the gift.
For God so loved the world
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Movement 2: The Son God Gave (3:16b)– the Son who is the gift.
that he gave his one and only Son,
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Movement 3: The Invitation God Extends (3:16c) – the invitation to receive the gift
that whoever believes in him
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Movement 4: The Promise God Makes (3:16d) – the life promised through the gift
shall not perish but have eternal life.
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CONCLUSION
So the question isn't, “Am I good enough for the gift?” You're not. Neither am I. The question isn't, “Have I done enough to deserve the gift?” You haven't. Neither have I. And if we tried to wrap up our goodness and hand it to God, the package would be suspiciously light. The question is simply: What will you do with the Gift? The religious man who thought he could earn his way to God discovered that he needed to receive what God was giving him. And that same Jesus is inviting you today. Maybe you've been searching. Maybe you've been trying to prove yourself. Maybe you've been carrying around guilt or shame. Maybe you've spent years trying to be good enough. Maybe you've been looking everywhere for the life that only Jesus can give. Receive the Gift today!