Sermon Title: "God Loves Us Because God Is Good"
Scripture: Luke 13:1–9
Rev. David Hockett
🪷 Main Point
God doesn’t love us because we’re good—God loves us because God is good.
📖 Key Reflections
Our image of God deeply shapes how we see ourselves, how we treat others, and how we live in the world.
Believing God is judgmental and conditional in love leads us to be judgmental and conditional in our own love.
Believing God is gracious and patient helps us become more gracious and patient with others.
💬 Jesus’ Challenge
Jesus pushes back against the belief that suffering is a punishment from God or a sign of someone's sin.
He invites us to stop assigning blame and instead reflect on our own hearts and growth.
🌱 The Fig Tree Reminder
The parable of the fig tree shows God’s patience—giving us space and time to grow and bear fruit.
“Let’s give it a little more time” — a beautiful picture of God’s mercy.
💡 What Fruit Looks Like
Bearing fruit isn’t just about doing good deeds—it’s about becoming more loving, more Christ-like in character.
A transformed life reflects a transformed heart.
❤️ Take This With You
God loves you—at your best and at your worst—because that’s who God is.
Don’t rush to judge others based on their circumstances.
Let your view of God move you toward compassion, not condemnation.
🙏 Questions to Reflect On This Week
How has your image of God shaped how you treat others?
Are there people you struggle to see as loved by God? Why?
What kind of “fruit” is God calling you to grow in this season?
Let these truths soak in as we continue our Lenten journey toward Easter. You are deeply loved. So is your neighbor. Let’s live like we believe it.
