SERMON NOTES

Extravagant

Nothing More 

Text:  John 1:1-3,14 (p.886 )

Extravagant means to exceed the limits of   or necessity, to lack in moderation, balance or restraint.

John is connecting Christmas to  

Nothing is more extravagant than     for us.

God's primary purpose in creation wasn't to demonstrate his   or abilities.

God created because He desired to love us. (Eph. 1:4)

For love to be love it must be     So, when God created, He built choice into the equation, the choice to say yes to His love, the choice to say no to His love.

The babe in the manger - the Word becoming flesh - the cross - the resurrection, were all written into the     of creation. (1 Pet. 1:18-20)

Greater than all the consequences of the brokenness and fallenness of its world - things which make us     - is a baby in a manger. (Rom. 8:31-32)

The longer we are around that which is extravagant, the more the extravagant just seems  

Often what we need isn't something  ; what we need is  

I encourage us to actually do what John implored us to do at Christmas.

  on the grandness of creation and the glory of the Creator, and then meditate on the manger and the cross and the empty tomb.

    for the power to know deeper than you ever have the height, width, breadth and depth of His love. (Eph. 3:17-19)

Nothings bring peace, imparts joy, creates security deep within like an ever-deepening knowledge that nothing is as extravagant as     for us.