"I Love You and There's Nothing You Can Do About It"
<Return to Sermon Outlines>
-Introduction
-Vacation season is here. So, we are a little “scattered” from week to week. Of course, we like it when
we have most everybody here. It’s encouraging to see the auditorium full and we like the fellowship.
But, we all need a vacation – a break along the way – a change of scenery. And, it is nice to be able to
visit with congregations while on the road and meet other brothers-and-sisters-in-Christ.
-Ronnie – preacher in Illinois – “I love you and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
-I told Ronnie, “That will preach.”
-Example of Fathers
-With today being Father’s Day, we could certainly look at this from the vantage point of fathers.
-Eph. 6:4 – As we do this, we want to instill the message, “I love you and there’s nothing you can do
about it.” That’s not an invitation or permission to go down the wrong path. It’s not
eliminating the concept of “tough love.”
-It is letting a child know, “You’re not perfect and you’ll make mistakes. But, I will continue to
be here for you because I love you and…”
-Fathers have been given an extremely important role as the spiritual leader of the family.
-Prov. 2:1-5 – Notice the connection between “my words…commands” and “the
fear of the Lord.”
-Prov. 2:6-22 – delivered from those who forsake uprightness (vs 12); making wise decisions
regarding companionship and a spouse (vs 16); walking in the way of good,
following path of righteousness with integrity (vs 20)
-But, when there are bumps along the way, I’m going to be there for you – a source of comfort,
support, help, advice/instruction and correction when needed (Heb. 12:9).
-The Prodigal Son
-two sons – younger son requested an early inheritance – father divided property between the two
-vs 13 – “not many days later” – The younger son gathers his things and journeys “into a far country”.
-You know the story: He “squandered his property in reckless living” (vs 13). He spent it all. So, he
finds himself in the position of feeding pigs– a lowly position for a Jew to whom pigs were unclean.
-He is in such difficult circumstances that the food he was giving the pigs started to look good.
He was “longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate” (vs 16).
-Here’s where he begins to turn things around. “[H]e came to himself”(vs 17), realized his
sinfulness and started thinking about how to make things right with a humble attitude (vs 18-19).
-“Father I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called
your son” (vs 18-19). What does this indicate? Had he been taught well? Should he have
“known better” than to do the things he did? Doesn’t it show respect for his father?
-My favorite verse of the whole parable – vs 20. The father was looking for him. When he
was still a long way off, his father ran to his son, hugged him and kissed him.
-But notice, the younger son doesn’t change his attitude or approach. He doesn’t quickly
reconsider his position based upon the warm welcome. He remains penitent and humble.
-Can’t we see our statement in the Father’s response? - “I love you and there’s nothing…”
-Luke 15:7
-God Loves Us and There’s Nothing We Can Do About It
-example of Hosea – Hos. 11:1-4, 8a– It pained God to punish Israel. But, they wouldn’t repent.
-Their sinfulness did not negate God’s love but it did bring unpleasant consequences.
-These people as a nation had drifted far away from the will of God and He was about to
let the Assyrians come in, defeat the nation and take the Israelites captive.
-Just think how disappointed God was with His people at times.
-Isa 5:3-4; Zeph. 3:5-7
-Yet, through it all, God continued to love His people.
-Consider Jesus
-Of course, for us to best understand the love of the Father, we need to look to Jesus.
-What more could Jesus have possibly done while here on earth? Yet, some despised Him.
Jesus loved them.
-Matt. 20:28
-As He hung on the cross, some derided Him. Some mocked Him. Others reviled Him.
-Matt. 27:39-44
-What did Jesus say in return? Luke 23:34
-Jesus loved them and there was nothing they could do about it.
-Summary and Invitation
-We make our mistakes. We fall short. We sin. Different people do so in different ways and in
varying degrees. Yet, a person cannot sin beyond the love of God. God will continue to love them.
-What we need to do is make sure we respond to God’s love. God will love us and there is nothing
we can do about it. But, there is something we must do in response to it.
-We need to “come to our senses” and realize that we have sinned. We need to understand that we
are not worthy to be children of God. But, God is waiting for us to come to Him. He wants us to.
And, upon obeying His word, He will in fact count us as a son or daughter.
-Gal. 3:26-29; 1 John 3:1
-Invitation
<Return to Sermon Outlines>
-Introduction
-Vacation season is here. So, we are a little “scattered” from week to week. Of course, we like it when
we have most everybody here. It’s encouraging to see the auditorium full and we like the fellowship.
But, we all need a vacation – a break along the way – a change of scenery. And, it is nice to be able to
visit with congregations while on the road and meet other brothers-and-sisters-in-Christ.
-Ronnie – preacher in Illinois – “I love you and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
-I told Ronnie, “That will preach.”
-Example of Fathers
-With today being Father’s Day, we could certainly look at this from the vantage point of fathers.
-Eph. 6:4 – As we do this, we want to instill the message, “I love you and there’s nothing you can do
about it.” That’s not an invitation or permission to go down the wrong path. It’s not
eliminating the concept of “tough love.”
-It is letting a child know, “You’re not perfect and you’ll make mistakes. But, I will continue to
be here for you because I love you and…”
-Fathers have been given an extremely important role as the spiritual leader of the family.
-Prov. 2:1-5 – Notice the connection between “my words…commands” and “the
fear of the Lord.”
-Prov. 2:6-22 – delivered from those who forsake uprightness (vs 12); making wise decisions
regarding companionship and a spouse (vs 16); walking in the way of good,
following path of righteousness with integrity (vs 20)
-But, when there are bumps along the way, I’m going to be there for you – a source of comfort,
support, help, advice/instruction and correction when needed (Heb. 12:9).
-The Prodigal Son
-two sons – younger son requested an early inheritance – father divided property between the two
-vs 13 – “not many days later” – The younger son gathers his things and journeys “into a far country”.
-You know the story: He “squandered his property in reckless living” (vs 13). He spent it all. So, he
finds himself in the position of feeding pigs– a lowly position for a Jew to whom pigs were unclean.
-He is in such difficult circumstances that the food he was giving the pigs started to look good.
He was “longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate” (vs 16).
-Here’s where he begins to turn things around. “[H]e came to himself”(vs 17), realized his
sinfulness and started thinking about how to make things right with a humble attitude (vs 18-19).
-“Father I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called
your son” (vs 18-19). What does this indicate? Had he been taught well? Should he have
“known better” than to do the things he did? Doesn’t it show respect for his father?
-My favorite verse of the whole parable – vs 20. The father was looking for him. When he
was still a long way off, his father ran to his son, hugged him and kissed him.
-But notice, the younger son doesn’t change his attitude or approach. He doesn’t quickly
reconsider his position based upon the warm welcome. He remains penitent and humble.
-Can’t we see our statement in the Father’s response? - “I love you and there’s nothing…”
-Luke 15:7
-God Loves Us and There’s Nothing We Can Do About It
-example of Hosea – Hos. 11:1-4, 8a– It pained God to punish Israel. But, they wouldn’t repent.
-Their sinfulness did not negate God’s love but it did bring unpleasant consequences.
-These people as a nation had drifted far away from the will of God and He was about to
let the Assyrians come in, defeat the nation and take the Israelites captive.
-Just think how disappointed God was with His people at times.
-Isa 5:3-4; Zeph. 3:5-7
-Yet, through it all, God continued to love His people.
-Consider Jesus
-Of course, for us to best understand the love of the Father, we need to look to Jesus.
-What more could Jesus have possibly done while here on earth? Yet, some despised Him.
Jesus loved them.
-Matt. 20:28
-As He hung on the cross, some derided Him. Some mocked Him. Others reviled Him.
-Matt. 27:39-44
-What did Jesus say in return? Luke 23:34
-Jesus loved them and there was nothing they could do about it.
-Summary and Invitation
-We make our mistakes. We fall short. We sin. Different people do so in different ways and in
varying degrees. Yet, a person cannot sin beyond the love of God. God will continue to love them.
-What we need to do is make sure we respond to God’s love. God will love us and there is nothing
we can do about it. But, there is something we must do in response to it.
-We need to “come to our senses” and realize that we have sinned. We need to understand that we
are not worthy to be children of God. But, God is waiting for us to come to Him. He wants us to.
And, upon obeying His word, He will in fact count us as a son or daughter.
-Gal. 3:26-29; 1 John 3:1
-Invitation
<Return to Sermon Outlines>
