The children’s message today was super! Imagine an ice cream sundae with PILES of whipped cream, a jar of sprinkles, and a bottle of chocolate syrup,… the thing probably stands 1 foot tall! That’s lavish. The lavishness of God’s love is even more ridiculous than that!
“It doesn’t make sense to make a mess unless there’s a purpose.”
The parable of the sower didn’t make sense! No one in their right mind would waste precious seeds by spreading them in areas where plants could not grow. However, there was a purpose!
God desires all people to be saved! (1 Timothy 2:4)
The world’s messiness is God’s lavishness. The sun shines and rains water the evil/unjust AND the good/just. (Matthew 5:45) In Acts 14:16-17, it allowed for ALL nations. We don’t receive anything that’s not from heaven. (John 3:27) And every good gift is from God, who doesn’t change. (James 1:7)
“God is not a God of scarcity, but of generosity.”
You are blessed to bless others, generously. We can trust God’s generosity and lavish love and have a scarcity view towards ourselves (not others) because of Jesus. Jesus dies once and for ALL. (John 3:16) He didn’t just sow seeds on the field. Jesus bought the whole field (the world) for us, the treasure.
Paul’s encouragement and example – be all things to all people by all means that we might save some for the sake of the Gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)
— my sermon notes