Curry's Chapel Church
20251228 The 3:16 Thread
  • TITLE
    Speak >>> Theme: A Gospel Woven Through Scripture”
    SLIDE: Scripture 9:31
    John 9:31 NLT
    31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will.
    SLIDE:

    Introduction: The Power of Numbers

    Good morning, church! Today, I want to talk to you about a number. Not just any number — but one that seems to show up again and again in Scripture with surprising power: 3:16.
    Now, I know what some of you are thinking: “Pastor, are we about to do numerology?” No, no! We’re not cracking Bible codes or trying to predict the end of the world. But I do want to show you something beautiful: how God, in His divine orchestration, has allowed several “3:16” verses— chapter 3, verse 16 — to carry profound truths that, when woven together, tell the story of redemption.
    It’s like finding a golden thread running through a tapestry. You don’t notice it at first, but once you see it, you can’t unsee it. So today, we’re going to follow that golden thread through Scripture and discover how God’s heart beats in 3:16 rhythm.
    Let’s begin with the most famous of them all.

    Main Teaching

    SLIDE:

    1. John 3:16 — The Heart of the Gospel

    SLIDE: Scripture John 3:16
    John 3:16 NLT
    16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
    This is the Mount Everest of Bible verses. If the Bible were a symphony, this would be the crescendo. It’s the verse that shows up on signs at football games, on bumper stickers, and in the hearts of believers around the world.
    Let me tell you a story. A little boy once asked his Sunday school teacher, “Why did God love us so much?” The teacher replied, “Because He’s God.” The boy thought for a moment and said, “That’s a good reason.”
    Indeed, it is.
    John 3:16 tells us four things:
    God loves.
    God gives.
    We believe.
    We live.
    It’s the gospel in a single sentence. But what if I told you that this message isn’t just in John? What if it’s echoed in other 3:16’s across the Bible?
    Let’s keep going.
    SLIDE:

    2. Genesis 3:16 — The Cost of the Fall

    SLIDE: Scripture Genesis 3:16
    Genesis 3:16 NLT
    16 Then he said to the woman, “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.”
    This is the first 3:16 in the Bible, and it’s not exactly a feel-good verse. It’s the aftermath of the fall. Sin has entered the world, and with it comes pain, broken relationships, and a fractured creation.
    But here’s the connection: John 3:16 is God’s answer to Genesis 3:16.
    In Genesis, we see the curse. — In John, we see the cure.
    In Genesis, humanity is separated from God. — In John, God bridges the gap.
    In Genesis, pain enters the world. — In John, love enters the world.
    The first 3:16 shows us why we need the gospel. In John 3:16we are shown how God provides it.
    SLIDE:

    3. Exodus 3:16 — God Sees and Acts

    SLIDE: Scripture Exodus 3:16
    Exodus 3:16 NIV
    16 “Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers — the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt.
    Here, God is speaking to Moses. He’s saying, “I’ve seen the suffering of My people. I’ve heard their cries. And I’m about to do something about it.”
    Sound familiar?
    John 3:16 isn’t just about love in theory — it’s about love in action. Just like God saw the Israelites in bondage and sent Moses, He saw us in bondage to sin and sent Jesus.
    God doesn’t just observe — He intervenes.
    Illustration: Imagine a lifeguard at the beach. If someone is drowning, the lifeguard doesn’t just shout, “I love you!” from the shore. He dives in. That’s what God did. He dove into our mess to rescue us.
    SLIDE:

    4. 2 Timothy 3:16 — The Power of Scripture

    SLIDE: Scripture 2 Timothy 3:16
    2 Timothy 3:16 NLT
    16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
    This verse reminds us that the Bible isn’t just a collection of ancient writings — it’s the living, breathing Word of God. And guess what? It’s through this Word that we come to understand John 3:16.
    Without Scripture, we wouldn’t know the story of redemption. We wouldn’t know about the fall in Genesis 3:16, the rescue in Exodus 3:16, or the love in John 3:16.
    Application: If you want to hear God’s voice, open His Word. Don’t wait for a sign in the sky when you’ve got a book on your shelf that’s full of His promises.
    Joke: Someone once said, “If you want to hear God speak, read your Bible. If you want to hear Him speak out loud, read it out loud.”
    SLIDE:

    5. 1 John 3:16 — The Call to Imitate Christ

    SLIDE: Scripture 1 John 3:16
    1 John 3:16 NLT
    16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.
    Now we move from theology to ethics. From what God has done to what we must do.
    John 3:16 tells us that Jesus died for us. 1 John 3:16 tells us what that means for our lives: we’re called to love like Jesus.
    This isn’t just about dying for someone — it’s about living sacrificially every day.
    Illustration: A young man once asked a pastor, “Would you die for your wife?” The pastor said, “Of course!” The young man replied, “That’s great, but would you do the dishes for her?”
    Love isn’t just about grand gestures. It’s about daily sacrifice.
    SLIDE:

    6. Malachi 3:16 — God Remembers

    SLIDE: Scripture Malachi 3:16
    Malachi 3:16 NIV
    16 Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.
    This verse is a hidden gem. It tells us that God listens when we talk about Him. He even keeps a record — a scroll of remembrance.
    Think about that. Every time you speak about God, every time you encourage someone in faith, every time you gather in His name — He notices. He remembers.
    Application: Your faithfulness is never wasted. Even when no one else sees, God does.
    Encouragement: Some of you feel unseen. You serve, you give, you pray — and it feels like no one notices. But Malachi 3:16 says God does. He’s writing it down.
    SLIDE:

    7. Colossians 3:16 — Let the Word Dwell in You

    SLIDE: Scripture Colossians 3:16
    Colossians 3:16 ESV
    16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
    This verse brings it all together. It’s about letting the Word — the message of Christ, the gospel of John 3:16 — take up residence in your life.
    Not just visit on Sundays. Not just peek in during a crisis. But dwell. Live. Abide.
    And when it does, it overflows in worship, wisdom, and community.
    Illustration: Imagine your heart as a house. Is the Word of God a guest or a resident? Does it have a room, or does it own the deed?
    SLIDE:

    The Thread Comes Together

    SLIDE: Recap

    Let’s recap the 3:16 thread:

    Genesis 3:16 The Fall — Why we need saving
    Exodus 3:16 God sees and acts
    John 3:16 The Gospel — God gives His Son
    2 Timothy 3:16 The Word — Our foundation
    1 John 3:16 Our response — Love like Christ
    Malachi 3:16 God remembers our faithfulness
    Colossians 3:16 Let the Word dwell richly
    SLIDE: Gospel Arc

    Together, these 7 verses form a gospel arc:

    We fell (Genesis).
    God saw (Exodus).
    God gave (John).
    We learn (2 Timothy).
    We love (1 John).
    God remembers (Malachi).
    We worship (Colossians).
    SLIDE:

    Application: Living the 3:16 Life

    SLIDE: Living the 3:16 Life

    So what does it mean to live a “3:16 life”?

    Humble yourself before God — Acknowledge your need for grace (Genesis 3:16).
    Cry out to Him — Trust that He sees and hears (Exodus 3:16).
    SLIDE: Prayer

    Closing Prayer

    Lord, we thank You for the thread of grace You have woven through Your Word and through our lives. From the brokenness of Genesis to the hope of the Gospel, from Your faithfulness remembered to Your truth dwelling richly within us, You have shown Yourself to be a God who sees, who speaks, who saves, and who stays.
    As we leave this place, help us carry these 3:16 promises into our week. Let Your love shape our choices, Your Word anchor our steps, and Your Spirit guide our hearts. Teach us to live as people formed by Your truth and transformed by Your Son.
    Make our lives a reflection of the story You are still writing — a story of redemption, mercy, and unfailing love.
    In Jesus’ name, Amen.

      • John 9:31NKJV

      • John 3:16NKJV

      • Genesis 3:16NKJV

      • Exodus 3:16NKJV

      • 2 Timothy 3:16NKJV

      • 1 John 3:16NKJV

      • Malachi 3:16NKJV

      • Colossians 3:16NKJV

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