How Do I Know God Loves Me? | Ben Stuart | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

How Do I Know God Loves Me?

Fresh Life Church • Jun 9, 2025 • 43 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this encouraging sermon on 1 John 4, Pastor Ben Stuart tackles the foundational question of how believers can know and rest in God's love. True understanding of God's love frees us from anxiety and self-absorption, empowering us to live with fearlessness and extend selfless love to others. Because the Father sent His Son, Jesus sacrificed His life on the cross, and the Holy Spirit stays permanently within us, the entire Trinity is mobilized to secure us in divine love.

Themes

God's LoveFearlessness and ConfidenceThe TrinitySacrificial LoveAbiding in GodFreedom and Generosity

Pastor's Points

1.

Love Initiates (God sends His Son)

2.

Love Sacrifices (Christ becomes our propitiation)

3.

Love Stays (The Holy Spirit abides within us)

Key Points

1.
Believing and knowing God's love produces genuine fearlessness rather than anxiety, empowering believers to navigate life with confidence.
2.
Embracing God's love liberates believers from self-absorption, freeing them to genuinely care for and extend love to others.
3.
Scarcity leads to desperation and exploitation, but having a secure source in God's love allows believers to act as generous fountains rather than needy drains.
4.
God demonstrated His love objectively by initiating movement toward humanity, sending His Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
5.
True love is defined by self-sacrifice; Jesus became the propitiation for our sins, bearing our guilt and absorbing our debt on the cross.
6.
God's love is faithful and permanent; through the Holy Spirit abiding within us, God stays with believers through every trial.
7.
The entire Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is mobilized to display God's love, anchor us in His grace, and secure our salvation.
8.
God's capacity to love His children vastly surpasses any earthly parent's love, refuting the enemy's lie that we are unwanted, burdensome, or unlovable.

Sermon Moments

“Pastor Ben's repelling illustration: Students professed confidence in the safety gear before descending, but panicked when leaning over the cliff edge, demonstrating how our actions betray what we truly believe.”

“Scuba diving incident: A partner panicked underwater when oxygen ran out, illustrating how perceived scarcity leads to desperation and exploitation, whereas having a source enables us to be a source to others.”

“Adoption from India story: Parents telling their adopted daughter that while her start was vulnerable, they crossed oceans and descended into her circumstance to bring her home and make her theirs forever.”

“The movie Taken comparison: Liam Neeson employing his skills to rescue his daughter illustrates how true love initiates and goes to great lengths to bring the beloved home.”

“The roommate paying credit card debt: A financially meticulous roommate joyfully marrying his bride and taking on her debt, illustrating Christ's joy in paying our debt on the cross.”

“Navy SEAL Michael Mansour: Diving onto a thrown grenade in Ramadi to absorb the blast for his teammates, showing how sacrificial love willingly dies so others can live.”

“Wedding with MS diagnosis: A husband promising love in sickness and health after his bride's aggressive diagnosis, demonstrating that true love stays when life takes a downward turn.”

This Week

Make war on the lie that God views you as a burden or hassle by fixing your mind on 1 John 4.

Approach your week with holy fearlessness, actively surrendering your anxieties and worries to God in prayer.

Shift your posture in social and church settings from seeking validation (acting as a drain) to offering care and encouragement (acting as a fountain).

Look to the cross whenever you experience insecurity or doubt, reminding yourself of Christ's sacrificial love for you.

Rest intentionally in the permanent presence of the Holy Spirit who abides in you through every difficult circumstance.

Examine any areas of perceived emotional or material scarcity in your life and choose generosity, knowing God has fully supplied your needs.

Confess your daily shortcomings honestly to God without fear of rejection, receiving His fatherly love and forgiveness anew.

Remember This

Because the Father sent His Son, the Son sacrificed His life, and the Spirit abides within us, we can live with complete fearlessness and extend genuine love to others.

A Challenge for You

Lord, help me go to bed tonight knowing I am loved, and find that in that realization I have the resources to love those around me.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.