Spreading God’s Love!, an exclamation point should come first, because you and I are told to do this by God. There are a number of scripture verses which I could use to support this statement, such as:

Matthew 28:19 Jesus said,

"Go and make disciples of all nations.."

or Matthew 25: 40 Jesus said,

"Whatever you did for one of the least of these people, you did for me."

The scripture stories which I chose to focus on are Jeremiah’s call and the start of Jesus’ ministry.   Both stories confirm and affirm God’s call to spread His love! Jeremiah was called to be a prophet to Judah, to faithfully confront the leaders and people with their sin. Jesus was called to preach the good news, to seek the lost, to bind up the broken, to bring reconciliation and healing.

Both Spread God’s Love!

"Before I formed you in the womb
I knew you, before you were born I set you apart, I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Do you believe that you are called by God to be His servant, His disciple?

Do you believe that God has known you, even before your mother gave birth to you?

Do you believe that God has set you apart for a particular task, a particular purpose?

Do you know what God has appointed you to do?

This morning we commissioned people as Sunday School teachers.  Two Sunday’s ago we participated in the ordination of Jacqueline Rotteveel into the ministry.  The week before we participated in the ordination and installation of elders and deacons.   Do you think all these people were called by God, that they were appointed by God to that ministry?   Do you believe that every Christian’s purpose is to love, obey and serve God?

What ministry are you being appointed to?

What is your purpose in this congregation, this body of Christ?

This body of Christ has a lot in common with the Giants' football team which will take the field later today in Superbowl XXXV.   Every player and person on the Giants' sideline has a purpose, an assignment.   Each person is expected to do his job to the best of his ability, from the person who runs out onto the field to pick up the kicking T, to the athletic trainers, to the defensive lineman, to the running backs.  No one player will be called upon to do something they can’t. The quarterback will not be asked to be a linebacker. The defensive tackle will not be asked to kick field goals.  Each player will be asked to do their appointed task.

That is all God asks of you and me, to do your appointed task in spreading His love.   Do you know what your task is: in this church; in your family; in your place of employment?   Why don’t you know?   What is your excuse?

Jeremiah had his excuse, "Ah, Sovereign Lord, I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." In twenty-five years of ministry I have heard many excuses.  The church is great at making excuses.   Excuses for not growing, excuses for not tithing, excuses for not supporting world missions, excuses for not being the body of Christ.

God doesn’t want to hear our excuses.   Look at what He said to Jeremiah,

"Do not say, I am only a child.  You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.  Do not be afraid of them, for I am sending you and will rescue you, declares the Lord."

God isn’t promising Jeremiah a hassle free ministry or life.  There will be trials and tribulations.  Jesus, God’s Son wasn’t exempt from trials.  One minute the people He had been worshipping with are in awe of Him and the next minute they have brought Him to an edge of a cliff to throw Him off.  WHY?,  Because He was spreading God’s love, Because He spoke of a God whose love is boundless.   A God whose love is not exclusive to a particular nation.  A God whose love seeks to redeem people and unite people into a community of love.

Yet what God promised for Jeremiah, God did for Jesus. God rescued Jesus, for no other reason, than it was God’s will, Jesus walked right through the middle of the angry crowd.

Jesus was willing to lose the friendship and the respectability of his own village for the sake of embracing the fullness of God’s unconditional love.  What are you willing to lose for the sake of being embraced by the fullness of God unconditional love?

Perhaps you have heard and seen the following story on the internet.  One Sunday morning, in a very traditional church, where the members all came to church wearing their Sunday best, a college age man, in need of a haircut and shave, wearing clothes that looked like he slept in them, walked down the center aisle of the sanctuary.  He walked down seeking a seat.  It was apparent that no one was going to move so he could sit down in a pew, so he promptly sat down on the floor of the center aisle.

At that point a long time member and respected elder got up from his seat.  With the help of his cane, he slowly proceeded down the center aisle.  All eyes were on him as he made his way to the young man. When he reached the young man he said, "May I join you?" and without waiting for the young man’s reply sat down next to him.

What would you do?  Would you be offended?  Would you welcome the stranger in your pew?  Would you give your seat to him?  Would you join him on the floor?

You and I are no different than Jeremiah. God says to you and me,

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart, I appointed you..."

God has appointed you and me to love Him, to obey Him, and to serve Him. to be agents of His unconditional and reconciling love.

The question is not, "Should I spread God’s love?".  The answer is ABSOLUTELY.  The question each of us has to answer for ourselves is "HOW?".

amen