Steps to Christ in Song

God's Love For Man

Three Angels Broadcasting Network

Program transcript

Participants: Mike Lemmon (Host)

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Series Code: SCS

Program Code: SCS000001


00:32 Chapter 1: God's Love for Man.
00:37 Hello and welcome to Steps to Christ in Song.
00:40 This is the first in a 13 part series, where we will
00:43 be focusing on this little book Steps to Christ.
00:46 When this book was first released in 1892, it
00:49 became an instant bestseller. And within
00:51 the first six weeks of its publication it had to be
00:54 reprinted three times. Today this book has been
00:57 published in more than a 150 languages with well
01:00 over a 100 million copies in circulation.
01:03 I love reading Steps to Christ. I don't know how
01:06 many times that I've read it, but what I personally
01:09 like about Steps to Christ is that every time I read
01:11 it, it gives me real solid biblical truths which help
01:15 me and my walk with Jesus. You will see no
01:18 professional actors or musicians in this series,
01:21 instead it has been produced by High school
01:23 students along with their teachers and staff here at
01:26 Fountainview Academy. One of the reasons why
01:29 we have filmed this series in nature. Is because there
01:33 is something about being out in nature that makes
01:36 us feel so much closer to God, have you ever
01:39 experienced the time when you were either
01:41 walking though the woods or maybe just
01:43 working in the garden when you felt particularly
01:46 close to God. Steps to Christ says that nature
01:49 speaks to us of the Creator's love. Well today
01:53 we're gonna be looking at the first chapter Steps to
01:55 Christ entitled God's Love for Man.
01:58 Why don't you join us as we explore this incredible
02:00 book, to begin I'm gonna ask Melissa to
02:03 lead us in a word of prayer.
02:07 Dear heavenly Father, I just wanna thank you
02:10 for your unconditional love. You know being
02:13 out here in nature reminds me yet again of your
02:16 amazing love for us. And I wanna ask you to be
02:19 with us, as we talk and sing about this love,
02:22 in Jesus name we pray, Amen.
02:31 When I look at the incredible beauty around me.
02:33 I'm inclined to think that who ever made these
02:36 things was inspired. Inspired with a sense of
02:39 balance, with a sense of color, with a sense of
02:44 texture. The Bible says the God is love, that he
02:48 made all of these things for us to enjoy, just as a
02:52 Father does good things for his children.
03:34 O Lord my God! when I in awesome wonder
03:44 Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
04:06 I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
04:16 Thy power throughout the universe displayed:
04:25 When through the woods and forest glades I wander
04:33 And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
04:41 When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
04:49 And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:
05:00 Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:
05:09 How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
05:22 Then sings my soul! my Savior God, to Thee:
05:29 How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
05:59 And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
06:08 Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
06:28 That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
06:38 He bled and died to take away my sin:
06:45 When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
06:53 And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
07:01 Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
07:08 And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!
07:19 Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:
07:28 How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
07:41 Then sings my soul! My Savior God, to Thee:
07:47 How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
08:01 Then sings my soul! my Savior God, to Thee:
08:09 How great Thou art, How great Thou art,
08:21 Then sings my soul! My Savior God, to Thee:
08:28 How great Thou art, How great Thou art,
08:51 How great Thou art.
09:06 Wow! God is amazing and we see how big and
09:10 great he is through things he creates, things like the
09:14 stars, the galaxies, even small things like these
09:18 cherries that grow on these tress here.
09:21 But, you know I think there is a different side to
09:25 God's greatness. A side that's personal, that
09:29 relates to you, to me and this you an see this
09:35 through the sacrifice that God made for us.
09:40 He sacrificed everything so that
09:42 we can live with him eternally.
09:45 That's so true. You know we think of that song
09:47 Jordan, how great thou art, it sounds like God is
09:51 great, he created all these things and he's almost
09:54 like he's distant from us. But, the words when
09:58 Christ shall come to take us home, he wants us to
10:00 be home, he wants us to be close to him, how do
10:03 you think of God you know practically in your
10:05 life, a practical illustration of
10:09 how God is close to you? Well, you know that
10:14 sacrifice that Jesus showed is really what to
10:19 me shows that he really cares, my dad when he
10:25 went to high school, he skipped college and went
10:28 on with his life and then he had family and he had
10:32 my sister and I, and he really wanted to go on
10:38 and further his education, but he had to put my
10:42 sister and I through school. And for me I'm
10:47 here at high school and it's a lot to put two kids at
10:51 the same time to go to school and it shows how
10:54 much he really cares that he would put aside his
10:57 personal wants, his personal needs for us.
11:02 That he would like he put aside a better life for
11:07 himself, and make it better for us.
11:10 So, your dad made that great sacrifice and for you
11:14 that's an illustration of God's great love yeah,
11:16 for you. Thanks for sharing that experience.
11:21 There are many good reasons to accept God's
11:23 offer of salvation. But, living eternally in a place
11:27 of perfectness is not the greatest incentive we
11:30 have. Neither as escaping from the torments of hell.
11:35 You see what should really motivate you is a
11:37 thought that God is waiting to be reunited
11:40 with you in heaven. And that he loves you
11:42 more than anyone else could. When God gave
11:46 Jesus to be our substitute, he give us the greatest
11:50 gift that heaven has to offer
11:53 and he did this because he loves you.
12:24 The love of God is greater far
12:29 Than tongue or pen can ever tell
12:35 It goes beyond the highest star
12:40 And reaches to the deepest hell
12:45 The guilty pair, bowed down with care
12:51 God gave His Son to win
12:57 His erring child He reconciled
13:02 And pardoned from his sin
13:11 O love of God, how rich and pure!
13:17 How measureless and strong!
13:22 It shall forevermore endure
13:27 The saints' and angels' song
13:36 When years of time shall pass away,
13:42 And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
13:47 When men, who here refuse to pray,
13:52 On rocks and hills and mountains call,
13:58 God's love so sure, shall still endure,
14:02 All measureless and strong;
14:07 Redeeming grace to Adam's race
14:12 The saints' and angels' song.
14:20 O love of God, how rich and pure!
14:26 How measureless and strong!
14:31 It shall forevermore endure
14:36 The saints' and angels' song
14:58 Could we with ink the ocean fill
15:03 And were the skies of parchment made,
15:08 Were every stalk on earth a quill
15:13 And every man a scribe by trade
15:18 To write the love of God above
15:23 Would drain the ocean dry
15:28 Nor could the scroll contain the whole
15:34 Though stretched from sky to sky
15:43 O love of God, how rich and pure!
15:48 How measureless and strong!
15:54 It shall forevermore endure
15:59 The saints' and angels' song.
16:13 Pen or tongue can never tell everything about the
16:16 love of God. Something we just don't quite
16:19 understand, the words are inadequate to describe it.
16:24 You know here on this earth we have a distorted
16:26 view of love. Our love just ends sometimes and
16:31 our promises are like ropes of sand but God's
16:34 love never ever ends. It's so wide, it's so deep
16:38 it goes on forever. God's love goes on
16:43 forever, and that is the comfort and we hope
16:46 that we have, but in this world we still see that
16:49 there are thorns on the roses and we see a lot of
16:52 pain in people's lives. As Christians, Luke what do
16:57 you think God would have us do to alleviate this pain,
17:01 to deal with the problem of pain in this world?
17:06 I can best explain that with an example from my life.
17:10 At my previous school during my junior high
17:13 years, there was one girl an particular that always
17:16 sticks out in my mind. She was very emotionally
17:19 unstable, she was physically abusive,
17:21 verbally abusive and was rejected by everyone.
17:26 I can imagine that. But, my dad had been
17:30 teaching me something, he said be kind to unkind
17:34 people they need it the most. So, I decided to do
17:38 just that, then one day she grabbed me, pulled me
17:46 aside and said Luke I need to show you something.
17:48 So, this is the same girl, and you've been very
17:50 kind to her, that's not an easy thing, when
17:54 someone is unkind to you. It wasn't. No?
17:58 She pulled me aside and sat me down and she
18:01 rolled up her sleeves and there were just scars
18:08 everywhere. And she said these are all the time I've
18:11 cut myself from all the pain I've been
18:12 experiencing. And not one inch on her arm
18:16 was left unscaved. That must have been shocking.
18:21 Then she looked at me and said Luke thank you
18:27 for all the kindness you've shown me.
18:30 I never truly seen any type of love really in my
18:35 life, then she got up and just walked away.
18:43 And, just this flood of emotions overcame me
18:48 and just we were in a private school, we were
18:51 in a Christian school. But, no one had
18:55 shown her the love of Christ.
18:58 That reminds me of that verse in the scripture
19:01 where it says that we love because he first loved us
19:05 and that love it casts out all fear. And certainly in
19:11 her case she was able to feel love because you
19:16 showed kindness towards her. And I think that's
19:19 what God wants us as Christians to do, to
19:21 elevate the problem of pain that we find in this
19:24 world, thanks for sharing that Luke.
19:27 God is good, but our enemy Satan has made
19:32 him out to be a stern and severe judge watching
19:35 over our shoulder and taking notes of our
19:37 mistakes in order to punish us.
19:40 But, in Exodus 34 verses 6 and 7, God told Moses
19:44 that he was merciful and gracious, long suffering
19:48 and abundant in goodness and truth.
19:51 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving
19:54 iniquity and transgression and sin. I believe God is
19:58 on our side, but how can we know for sure who is
20:02 telling the truth about his character. God knew that
20:06 there was confusion about the subject, so he send his
20:09 son Jesus to represent him, Jesus went about
20:13 showing compassion for those in need.
20:16 He healed the sick, cast out demons, forgave sins
20:19 and lived a life of self denial. His life proved
20:24 that God really is love. Jesus did more and that
20:28 simply showed that God is love, he come to rescue
20:31 us from the slavery of sin. By paying the penalty for
20:35 our transgressions. He come to exchange his
20:38 righteous life for our sinful lives.
20:42 This exchange was so incredibly difficult and
20:44 costly that God himself in a person of Jesus had to
20:49 made the sacrifice, this he willingly did.
20:54 Jesus himself said in John 3:16 that God so loved
20:58 the world that he gave his only begotten son that
21:02 whosoever believes in him should not perish,
21:06 but have everlasting life.
21:13 In my darkness Jesus found me
21:20 Touched my eyes and made me see
21:26 Broke the chains that longed had bound me
21:33 Gave me life and liberty O glorious love that
21:42 Christ my Lord, divine That made Him stoop to
21:49 save a soul like mine Through all my days and
21:55 then in heaven above My song will silence never
22:04 I'll worship Him forever
22:07 And praise Him for His glorious love
22:14 Oh amazing truth to ponder
22:21 He whom angel hosts attend
22:27 Lord of Heaven thou somewhat wonder
22:34 He became the sinners friend
22:41 O glorious love of Christ my Lord, divine
22:48 That made Him stoop to save a soul like mine
22:54 Through all my days and then in heaven above
23:01 My song will silence never
23:04 I'll worship Him forever
23:07 And praise Him for His glorious love
23:14 My song will silence never
23:16 I'll worship Him forever
23:20 And praise Him for His glorious love
23:26 And praise Him for His glorious love
23:33 And praise Him for His glorious love
23:48 You know that song O glorious love reminds
23:51 me of a verse in the Bible. Romans 5 verse 8
23:56 says, While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
23:59 And you know we didn't deserve it, but Christ
24:02 loved us so much he came down from heaven
24:04 to this world to save us.
24:08 That shows us that God's love is permanent,
24:12 it eternal, its unlimited. You've earned in your life
24:18 can you think of a person who has clearly revealed
24:22 the love of God to you.
24:24 Yeah, my Father, God has blessed us with so many
24:29 thing that we take for granted and growing up
24:33 my father was a huge blessing in my life.
24:36 I had so many far-fetched ideas, impossible dreams
24:40 and an obsession for animals. And I remember
24:44 the day he joined our nice town golf course and
24:48 every time he wanted to go golfing, I would want
24:51 to come along with my net and my jar. And while
24:54 he was focusing on getting a putter, I would
24:56 just be wading through the creeks getting filthy.
24:59 And to top it off, after that I would run through
25:02 the sprinklers, but when he was done and he
25:04 wasn't embarrassed of how, how horrible
25:08 I looked, and dirty. He just took me by the hand
25:11 and led me to the car and took me down the road to
25:13 get a Popsicle. And I remember another time
25:16 I wanted him to build me a tree house. And he had
25:19 so many stuff going on, he just didn't really have
25:22 the time, but one day I looked out my window
25:24 and he was out there on his 14 foot ladder in the
25:28 humid weather, it was just horrible outside and
25:31 he was up there building it for me. And another
25:34 time I wanted to raise baby turkeys
25:36 to give away as pets. Why would you do that?
25:39 I just loved animals and I thought that would
25:41 just be coolest thing, so. To have turkeys? Yeah, okay.
25:46 So, my dad was like okay it's your responsibility,
25:51 but he was out there with me every night, building
25:53 stuff for them watching them run around, he
25:56 wanted me to be there with him to enjoy every
25:58 thing and he made my dreams reality, he left the
26:02 world of business and seriousness and came
26:05 down to my child like level and became a kid again.
26:09 And it reminds me of Jesus because he left
26:12 heaven and everything perfect and he stepped
26:14 down here to be one of us, to go through what we
26:17 go through and showed us how much he loved us.
26:20 And I think God knew that my father had what it
26:23 takes to make my life heaven on earth.
26:26 And to show me a reflection of my heavenly
26:27 Father. And even though my father was a great
26:32 example there were times when he marred God
26:34 image to me. When we argued and when we had
26:37 disagreements but he always came and asked
26:39 my forgiveness. And I just think that we need
26:43 to really look and notice all the beauty around us
26:45 that God has given us. Because he didn't have
26:47 to put it there, it might not always be there.
26:50 It's like a little note from our heavenly Father that
26:53 it says dear son or dear daughter, I love you, Jesus.
26:57 Wow! That's a clear picture and that's a
27:01 special experience that you have with your
27:04 father, to show you how much God loves you.
27:10 Thanks for sharing that with us.
27:14 You know God is so good to us, he's revealed his
27:17 love to us in so many different ways, through
27:19 family relationships, through friendships,
27:23 the clearest revelation though of his love we
27:25 find in the Bible in the story of Jesus Christ.
27:29 In the story of the Cross. Let's pause for a moment
27:33 to thank him for his great love for each one of us.
27:37 Heavenly Father, I think you Lord for the way in
27:40 which you've shown your love to us, through family
27:43 members, through friends and through the Bible.
27:46 Most of all I thank you for Jesus and his death on
27:48 the Cross, so that we can live with you eternally.
27:52 We thank you and we praise you. In Jesus name, Amen.
28:02 Steps to Christ in Song is a 13 part series
28:04 from Fountainview Productions
28:06 designed to be an easy non-threatening way
28:08 to share the good news about Jesus Christ
28:11 with friends, relatives and co-workers.
28:13 Order your copies now
28:17 by calling 1-877-490-4141
28:20 or visit us online at www.fountainviewproductions.com
28:25 Steps to Christ in Song is also available at your local
28:30 ABC Christian Bookstore.


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Revised 2014-12-17