Today’s Lesson: “A Contagious Message” John 15:13

“A Contagious Message” John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Previous Lessons 1 Developing A Contagious Faith 2 Developing A Contagious Heart 3 Developing Contagious Relationships 4 Contagious Stories

Today’s Lesson: “A Contagious Message” John 15:13

“A Contagious Message” Everyone Love to hear stories with genuine heroes: Someone that goes out of their way to help someone in need. Genuine heroes without a thought of their own life they were moved with compassion to help someone.

“A Contagious Message” “God’s Redemptive Plan” Jesus said in John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” “God’s Redemptive Plan”

The Five-Second Gospel God loves us, We BLEW it, Christ paid for it, You must RECEIVE HIM.

Four Key Characters In God’s Plan of Redemption Us Christ You.

Four Key Characters In God’s Plan of Redemption 1. God loves us God is loving 1 John 4:16b God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. God is holy Isaiah 6:3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” . God is just Psalm 9:16a The Lord has made Himself known; He has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

Four Key Characters In God’s Plan of Redemption 2. Us “We blew it.” Humans became sinful Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We deserve death (Romans 6:23a For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. We are spiritually helpless Isaiah 64:6a We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

“Four Key Characters In God’s Plan of Redemption” 3. Christ. “Christ paid for it.” Christ is God, who also became man Philippians 2:5b–7b 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

“Christ paid for it.” Before we go on to the final of our four characters, let’s look at a question people sometimes raise about the role Jesus played in gaining our salvation. And, again, it’s very important that you listen closely and follow my thoughts here; it will help you really grasp the meaning of the gospel message. The question some people wonder about is why did any price have to be paid at all? “Why couldn’t God just forgive and forget—like we can?” some will ask.

But suppose you have a brand new custom built home and your neighbor that you can not get along with came and told you that he accidentally drove his car through your wall into your living room. When your neighbor seeks you out and apologizes for what happened, you can just forgive him and release him from any responsibility, right?

“Christ paid for it.” If you choose to forgive him after all you have insurance that will cover the repairs, minus the deductible ($2,500).

“Christ paid for it.” It’s summed up well in the words of a praise song:  He paid a debt he did not owe I owed a debt I could not pay I needed someone to wash my sins away And now I sing a brand new song Amazing Grace, all day long Christ Jesus paid the debt That I could never pay —Author Unknown

“Four Key Characters In God’s Plan of Redemption” 3. “Christ offers His forgiveness as a gift .” (Ephesians 2:8–9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

“Christ paid for it.” Philippians 2:6–8 6 who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Matthew 20:28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

4. You. “We must receive him.” Four Key Characters In God’s Plan of Redemption 4. You. “We must receive him.” We must respond (John 1:12). We receive him by asking Christ to be our forgiver and leader (1 John 1:9, 1 Peter 3:15a). The result is our spiritual transformation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

“What Is God Saying To You Today?” Are you a that fully understood God’s Contagious Message? God loves you so much he paid for your sin! Do you wish you knew God for yourself? God wants to forgive you, and lead you! Today is a great day to act on what you have heard! God wants to give you a free gift! He has already paid for the gift, will you accept your gift today?

Benediction Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, may He cloth you with His anointing, may His face shine upon you, and equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in you that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.