THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRISTIAN WORSHIP

 

Chapter 18​

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God as the Greatest Giver

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Text

Acts 17:16, 22-25 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. 

Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:

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TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.

 

Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshipped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 

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​​​​Memory Verse

Acts 17:24-25 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshipped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 

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Introduction

God’s love for us moved Him to give us Jesus for our salvation. Before that, He was already meeting our material needs through creation.

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Even an enemy can give something as a trap. But you cannot truly love without giving.

 

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

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If we want to love like God, it is not just about doing services. It is about having a heart that looks for opportunities to meet needs, no matter what life throws at us.

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Objective
To see how Jehovah demonstrates His love toward us and the characteristics of that love.

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Presentation

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1. How God Demonstrates His Love for Us

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(1) He gave creation for our material wellbeing.

Everything we need for life - air, food, water, the earth itself - was given before we ever asked. This is love built into the way He made things (Eph. 1:3-4; Acts 17:25).

 

(2) He gave Jesus for our spiritual wellbeing.

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8). Again, we never asked. He gave because love demanded it.

 

2. Characteristics of God’s Gift of Love

 

(1) It is good and pleasing.

Everything God made was called “good” (Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25). His gift in Christ is also good and acceptable to Him (Rom. 8:32; Eph. 5:2).

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(2) It is indescribable.

No words can fully capture it. “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15)

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(3) It is need-oriented.

God gives what we actually need. Jesus came at the right time, for our exact need (Gal. 4:4-5).

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(4) It is priceless.

We were not redeemed with silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ (1 Pet. 1:18-19). You cannot put a price on it.

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(5) It is inventive.
It was the first of its kind. No one else thought to redeem the world in this way (Eph. 1:3-4; 5:12).

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(6) It is freely given, not forced.
God chose us in love before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4-5). He gives out of love, not obligation.

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Conclusion
A giving God is a reigning God. If we are like Him, we will arm ourselves with the same spirit - giving to meet the needs of others for His sake. When we do, we reign with Him (1 Cor. 3:9).

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Let us ask for grace to let His heart of generosity shape ours, so that we can live out His love in every situation.
 

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​​Evaluation Questions & Answers

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1. If a materially rich person only keeps friends who are rich like himself, does he have any opportunity to demonstrate God’s love? How?

   • Yes, but he would be missing most of it. God’s love reaches down to meet real need, not just to relate with equals.

   • To demonstrate God’s love, we should look for the needy, the poor, and the helpless, and give without expecting anything back. Love is proven in giving to those who cannot repay (Luke 14:12-14).

2. How does the gift of the Bible demonstrate His love for us?

   • The Bible is God speaking to us. It reveals who He is, what He has done in Christ, and how we can live and be saved. It is a need-meeting gift - giving us truth, direction, correction, and hope. It shows that He does not leave us in the dark but communicates so that we can know and follow Him (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

3. If a person lived alone all their life without seeing another person, is the preaching of Jesus still for them? Yes or No? Why?

   • The preaching of Jesus is for every person God has made, even if they never see another human. God’s love and salvation are for the individual. If that person hears and believes, Jesus is for them. God’s gift of salvation is not limited by location or relationships (John 3:16; Acts 17:24-25).

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Prayer

Father, thank You for Your generosity to us in every way. Teach us to imitate You by giving freely to meet the needs around us. Let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, starting with us. Amen.

 

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