Parrott reminds students of God’s love, encourages living in light of love

The love of Jesus is a love worth living, preached Southern Baptist pastor and ministry leader Ronnie Parrott during his September 8 chapel message at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Texas Baptist College.  

Parrott has served as lead pastor of Christ Community Church in Huntersville, North Carolina, since 2017. Before that, Parrott pastored churches in Kentucky and Arkansas. He earned three degrees from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, with a bachelor’s degree in family ministry, a Master of Divinity in evangelism, missions, and church growth, and a Doctor of Ministry in executive leadership. 

Preaching from John 3:16, Parrott, who has six kids, said, “I love being a dad. One of the most important things that I say to them is, ‘I love you.’ Those words are important for us to hear too. We need to be reminded often of God’s steadfast love.” He said John 3:16 is “a great reminder of the power and purpose of God saving and calling people just like you and me into ministry.” 

In John 3, which retells Nicodemus’ interaction with Jesus, Parrott said, “Nicodemus searches for Jesus and Jesus tells him, ‘you don’t enter God’s kingdom by being moral or good, but by being born again.’”

Parrott said the verse teaches the character of God’s love. He talked about Moses in the wilderness as mentioned in John 3:14-15. “God’s love is most seen in His first work – the people He created. John 3:16 gives us confidence in the truth of God’s love for us.” 

Parrott preached that God loves the “unlovable,” “broken,” “hurting,” and those who are “confused sexually,” “trapped in sin,” “religious,” “sinners” and “ordinary people.” He explained that Romans 5:8 portrays the “incredible” character of God’s love. “Belonging to Jesus means you are loved, forgiven, set free, and redeemed. You can know you’ve been forgiven. You can be reminded you’ve been set free and rest secure in the love of God and salvation,” he added. 

Secondly, the demonstration of God’s love, must be understood, Parrott said.

“He gave His one and only Son,” Parrott reminded the seminary community. “God gave up His Son on the cross for our sin. Have you grown numb to the bloody cross? Are we singing from a place of gratefulness? Are we thankful for the opportunity we have to serve God and His kingdom because of the cross?” 

Thirdly, Parrott said, the availability of God’s love must be understood, as salvation “is available for all but only possible for all who believe in Jesus.” He explained how humans can be caught up in a variety of sins, come to Jesus, and be saved. 

Parrott encouraged the assembly to share the Good News of Jesus and gave a reminder of the number of people in the world that are still lost. He said if a believer’s theology causes them to lose their heart for the lost or reaching out to them, then they have lost Jesus. “Every person deserves the opportunity to hear who Jesus is,” said Parrott.

Lastly, the intent of God’s love must be understood, Parrott said God does not want people to perish, but to have eternal life. Parrott explained that there are three deaths: physical, spiritual, and eternal. “God sent Jesus to die in our place. The aim of our preaching must be the salvation of men and women for the glory of God. The aim of our preaching must lead the nations to know Christ because this is the very thing Jesus came to do,” said Parrott. 

“We must live our love for God, bringing Him glory in everything we do,” Parrott preached. “Everywhere we go, there are people in need of this Gospel.”

Parrott’s entire sermon can be viewed here.

Chapel is held every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 10 a.m. (CT) in MacGorman Chapel on the campus of Southwestern Seminary and TBC. Chapel may be viewed live at swbts.live.