An Extravagant Response An Extravagant God An Extravagant Response Definition of Extravagance: Lavish, more than usual, bighearted, bountiful, generous, open-handed

An Extravagant Response An Extravagant God An Extravagant Response Our God is an Extravagant God Extravagant in Creation e.g. the Universe 46 billion lights years across! 92 billion years travelling at the speed of light to cross it! Hubble Cross – 25 million Light years away in the M52 Whirlpool Galaxy

An Extravagant Response An Extravagant God An Extravagant Response Our God is an Extravagant God Extravagant in Love & Mercy Psalm 145:7-9: “They shall pour forth the fame of thy abundant goodness,   … The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made. (John 3:16; Romans 5:7-8)

An Extravagant Response An Extravagant God An Extravagant Response Our God is an Extravagant God Extravagant in Forgiveness Psalm 103:12: “As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” (Luke 23:34)

An Extravagant Response An Extravagant God An Extravagant Response Our God is an Extravagant God Extravagant in Salvation Romans 8:29: “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” (1 John 3:2)

An Extravagant Response An Extravagant God An Extravagant Response Our God is an Extravagant God Extravagant in Generosity Luke 6:38: “Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap..” (Psalm 34:7-10; 2 Corinthians 9:10-11)

An Extravagant Response An Extravagant God An Extravagant Response We should be an Extravagant People Why? Because we are called to imitate God Ephesians 5:1-2: “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

An Extravagant Response An Extravagant God An Extravagant Response We should be an Extravagant People Extravagant in Praise 7 Hebrew words for praise: Halal = to boast, to rave, to celebrate Yadah = to throw out the hands Towdah = to extend the hands in adoration Shabach = to shout, to be triumphant

An Extravagant Response An Extravagant God An Extravagant Response We should be an Extravagant People Extravagant in Praise Barak = to kneel down, to bless God Zamar = to pluck the strings of an instrument Tehillah = to sing songs of praise (See 2 Samuel 6:14ff)

An Extravagant Response An Extravagant God An Extravagant Response We should be an Extravagant People Extravagant in Love John 13:34-35: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

An Extravagant Response An Extravagant God An Extravagant Response We should be an Extravagant People Extravagant in Love The Early Church Father, Tertullian, said: “Look”, they say, “how they love one another … and how they are ready to die for each other” (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10; Acts 4:32-35)

An Extravagant Response An Extravagant God An Extravagant Response We should be an Extravagant People Extravagant in Generosity 2 Corinthians 9:6-7: “The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully … God loves a cheerful [hilarious!] giver.” (See also 2 Corinthians 9:8-11 & Philippians 4:14-19)