"Love Isn't Love Until You Give It Away"

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris, Jr.

Camp Walker - Taegu, Korea

BIG IDEA: A wonderful definition of Christmas is the appearance of God’s Love in our display of Goodness and Kindness.

REFERENCES: Titus 3:1-8; Island of Crete (just South of Greece); Isaiah 62:12 ( And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken); Romans 13:3 (For rulers R626 are not a cause of fear for good F215 behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same); 1 Peter 3:21 (Corresponding R187 to that, baptism now saves you--not R188 the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for F65 a good R189 conscience--through the R190 resurrection of Jesus Christ,); 2 Corinthians 8 (The giving of the poverty-stricken Macedonians…); Hebrews 10:5-10 (Note: Jesus gave up everything to do God’s will by coming to man the most humble way possible ..); Mark 12:42-44, Luke 21:2-4 (The Widow that gave all that she had in the offering); 2 Corinthians 8:16-19 (Titus giving kudos for his giving);

I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Isaiah 62:12, Titus 3:4-8

II. READ THE PERICOPE: Titus 3: 4 - 8

III. READ THE TEXT: Titus 3: 8 (This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God

might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.)

IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the HEARERS to affirm to others that (as believers during The Christmas Season) we should be anxious to SHOW God’s Love through our Goodness and Kindness to OTHERS.

V. SERMONIC THEME: “LOVE Isn’t Love until you “GIVE IT AWAY”

**********************TAKE 5 BEATS**************

INTRODUCTION: My brother and sisters … sometimes as believers we look at our outer appearance and everything looks good. The clothes look good. We can even smell the aroma of the perfume and cologne which smells good too. But, that’s the outside … still … deep down on the inside … we know that God is doing a work; a work (ON US INDIVIDUAL) which started inwardly and will ultimately show outwardly. And when God gets that thing, in us, just right (you know, the way He wants it) … Wow … something happens which makes us all think about the goodness of the Lord. And all that he has done for us … all of which causes us to break-out in a praise. CAN I GET A WITNESS?

IT MAKES YOUR FEET COME TOGETHER! IT MAKES YOUR HANDS COME TOGETHER! IT MAKES YOU CUT UP A LITTLE BIT! YOU FORGET ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE! YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT WHO’S WATCHING!

YOU JUST WANT TO GIVE HIM THE PRAISE! CAN I GET A WITNESS IN THE BUILDING? SOMEBODY SAY … YES! ….. SAY YES!

********************TAKE 5 BEATS***************

MOVE 1: Do we have anybody here, who wants to give God some praise? Do we have anybody, who can testify that God has brought you FROM a mighty long way? DO WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE, who had been down in the dungeon and the Lord picked you up?

a. CAN I GET A WITNESS? EVERBODY SAY YES!

b. When the anointing of God falls on you from prayer, you too will BREAT-OUT with a little dance.

c. Turn to someone and say, “If you ever feel the anointing of God … YOU’LL KNOW IT … BECAUSE you will forget about yourself and YOU’LL GIVE HIM PRAISE!”

d. Give the Lord some praise!

e. Turn to someone else and say, “Neighbor…Oh Neighbor! You had all week long to be sophisticated. You had all week long to look astute. You had all week long to wear those dry clothes and now it’s time to give God some praise!” Get your clothes wet …

**********************TAKE 5 BEATS****************

MOVE 2: My brothers and sisters … some of us will spent an entire week going out and buying gifts. We were trying to get the right gift. We were laboring and crying because we’re hoping to have a little bit more money to get the right gift.

a. Turn to someone and say, “Love isn’t love until you give it away.”

b. Over two thousand years ago, someone reached down and got the right gift. He wrapped it up in swaddliing clothes. Isn’t that alright? Afterwards, He went to an ungrateful world and He gave His gift away. Can I get a witness?

c. I’m told that it occurred on cool night when all the animals were still. It was so cold that some of the travellers were shivering a little.

d. The Bible tells us that Jesus’ parents didn’t make reservations in advance. And when they arrived at the hotel, there were no vacant rooms in the inn.