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”
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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!
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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 …
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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.
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MOVE 3: Have you ever found that there was no room in the inn for Jesus? In other words, is there any room (in your life) for Jesus?
a. “Is there any room for Jesus in the inn of your life?”
b. I don’t know if you heard or not … But Jesus is looking for some room!
c. He ‘s looking for life to occupy and a soul to change.
d. Jesus is looking for room! .
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MOVE 4: Now, before we proceed any further, you should know that there’s a definition of Christmas that I came across in my reading that I’d like to share with you. I hope that this definition of Christmas never departs from you.
a. For Christmas is the appearance of God’s love in our displays of goodness and kindness.
b. What a wonderful time of the year. A time in which most Christian consider as one of the most important day of the year. In fact, next to Easter, it’s the Holiest Day of The Year. For we believe that it was over 2100 years ago that our Saviour and Lord - Jesus Christ was born.
c. During that particular time, many things happened. For I believe that even the universe was altered and many things changed. For there were shepherds in the field that saw a beautiful symbol that led them to the Messiah (the baby Jesus).
d. Since that period of time, we have been doing things to commemorate His birth. For instance, as we buy gifts and we give to others. We also do special things for folk.
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MOVE 5: Still, often times, during this time of the year, we somehow lose the real meaning of Christmas in the midst of celebrating and serenading. We forget about the fact that it’s okay if there isn’t a gift under the tree for us.
a. We get caught up in the commercialism. Consequently … if we don’t get a gift, we get upset. We want to hurt somebody.
b. As Christian, we can sometimes be caught saying ugly things to folks that didn’t send us a Christmas card. As if it was our birthday.
c. For “Don’t you know who I am? I’m your momma! I’m your dad! You didn’t get me a card for Christmas?”
d. As believers, we sometimes forget the real reason for the season.
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MOVE 6: For you see … my brothers and sisters … Christ didn’t come to exchange cards with us. He came so He could place the love of God within all our hearts. So we could show goodness and kindness from one to another. This goodness and kindness shouldn’t only be displayed on Christmas. It should should be displayed 365 days of the year.
a. If we confess that we are believers in Jesus Christ, the scriptures tell us that; there is something unique that should come forth out of our behaviors or actions.
b. In my reading, I came across a story that I’d like to share with you.
c. It’s a story about a lady that was caught in traffic.
d. The traffic was heavy. It reminded me of leaving Camp Walker around 7:45 in the morning and trying to be at 20th ASG by 8:15.
e. If you’re not careful, you could get caught up in traffic that will hold you back for 15 minutes.
f. This particular lady, in our story, was caught in heavy traffic honking her horn. The man, in front of her, was hesitant to move. He just looked back at her and looked forward again. The light turned green and he still didn’t move.
g. She became enraged. She honked the horn a little bit more. She said some unkind things. He looked back at her and he saw the anger identified in her face. By this time, the lady pulled back a little bit and raced around the side of his vehicle.
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MOVE 7: She looked at him and stuck up her middle finger at him. The man pulls over to the side. By this time, blue lights came rushing behind her and stopped her. The policeman came up to her and asked her to show identification. She gave the policeman her ID.
a. At this point, she was afraid. She didn’t know what to make of what was going on. She was already late for work. She has been fussing at the driver in front of her for about 20 minutes.
b. Then finally when the man pulls over, the police pulls her over. The policeman then asked her to get out of the vehicle. She gets out of the vehicle. He put handcuffs on her. He put her in the back of his vehicle. At this point, she was in shock. She couldn’t believe what was happening to her.
K. She was rushed to the police station. After three hours at the police station, someone finally comes up and tells her, “I’m sorry ma’am, we have made a mistake. You may go and pick up your bags.”
L. When she went to pick up her bags, there was a yellow envelope with all her personal items in it. The person who had it in his hands was the arresting officer. She looked at him and said, “I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY IN THE WORLD DID YOU ARREST ME IN THE FIRST PLACE! WHAT DID I DO?”
m. The Arresting Officer looked at her and said, “Ma’am I was behind your vehicle, and I saw tags on your vehicle saying: HONK if you love Jesus ; BLOW THE HORN TWICE if you know the meaning of love; JESUS IS MY LORD; JESUS DIED THAT WE MAY LIVE : and HE WAS BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY;
n. So, I just assumed that this was a stolen vehicle because of your actions.
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MOVE 8: My brothers and sisters … our actions should speak to who we are. If they don’t, it sends out confusing messages. Folks don’t quite understand why we display certain behaviors.
a. Likewise, this was the case in the Book of Titus.
b. Paul sent this letter to Titus to tell him about this little island called Crete. For on this particular island, there was some confusion among church folk.
c. Not only the unsaved, but among the church folk that was suppose to be saved. Paul says, “I want you to go there Titus and share my word with them.
d. Oh by the way, while you’re there, I need you to appoint some leadership. I need you to appoint some elders and pastors.
e. “There are problems at Crete. Christians are saying things and doing things that don’t quite line up with the word of God.
f. They’re hating one another. They are saying ugly things … one to another.
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MOVE 9: I need you to go TO CRETE AND TEACH the word of God. So the believers can exemplify in their actions, on the island of Crete, what is said in the word of God.
a. You see my brothers and sisters…in this particular passage; there were folk up in the church hating one another.
b. They were saying ugly things to one to another, and yet; they were suppose to be witnesses to the unsaved community of Crete.
c. There were problems because the unsaved community was calling the Christians (behind their backs) a bunch of hypocrites.
d. For they talking about Jesus, but they are not living anything. Their lifestyle is showing something different. There is no goodness being exemplified. There’s no forgiveness, no mercy, and no kindness.
e. Christians are supposed to exemplify goodness and kindness. If anybody should be forgiving, it should be Christians. ALLELUIA!
f. Turn to somebody and say, “AS A BELIEVER…WE SHOULD BE LOVING &
FORGIVING!”
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MOVE 10: For don’t you remember the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples?
a. Our Father, whom are in Heaven. Hollowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done. On earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and … FORGIVE US for our trespasses AS…AS…WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US! In essence, AS IF FORGIVE MY BROTHER, WHO OFFENDED ME … FORGIVE ME OF MY TRESSPASSES.
b. Paul REQUESTED THIS LETTER TO BE GIVEN TO CHURCH LEADERS … BECAUSE HE WANTED THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY’RE exemplify goodness ON THEIR TREE OF LOVE.
c. Turn to somebody and say, “What kind of fruit is on your tree?”
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MOVE 6: What kind of fruit is lingering off your tree this holiday season? ARE YOU EXEMPLIFYING A PERFECTLY GOOD-SHAPED FRUIT or are you rotting and dangling on the tree? Are you exemplifying that type of fruit that others don’t mind biting into? Or when you took that bite, you didn’t like it because it tasted nasty and distasteful. What type of fruit is on your tree? THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE IN THE ISLAND OF CRETE. PAUL WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THEM. YOU CAN’T BE HYPOCRITS UP IN CHURCH!
a. Judgment will begin at the house of God. Before He goes anywhere else, He’s coming to judge. He knows that in the church lie hypocrites. He knows that in the church, everyone who raises his or her hand in the air really doesn’t care. He knows that within the church walls, people will say one thing, but consistently are doing something else. AND YET, IN THAT COMMUNITY, GOD HAS CALLED THEM TO BE SOMEONE SPECIAL!
b. Paul wrote in this letter before I was saved, I did things that were not gospel. Paul once said that even the priests have a testimony saying that they are liars and need increase. There are people that SAY they love the Lord, but their ACTIONS show differently. Sometimes they get pulled over by police. Not because of their religious beliefs, but because they confuse the nonbelievers.
c. The reason why we celebrate this time of the year was because of Jesus. He came down to earth as a baby. He was born in a manger. Put on the lowest life possible that we could have the abundances of life. So we cannot only think what the book says, we have to live it. These are old folk in the Old Testament that didn’t have the power to live on. They had the laws, but nothing really to keep them from living right. SO JESUS CAME TO GIVE US THE POWER!
d. Turn to someone and say, “YOU SHOULD HAVE THE POWER.” Turn to somebody else and say, “YOU SHOULD HAVE THE POWER.”
e. You should have goodness and kindness in your life! YOU CAN DO IT, but you have to ask for it. You also have to repent your sins. That was the problem in Crete so Jesus came and he was born in a manger. You know the story. Out of all the people to chose, He chose Mary. The Bible tells us when Mary visited Elizabeth that Elizabeth’s baby jumped in her womb. When she heard the announcement, the baby in her womb JUMPED! I’ve never been pregnant before, but I can imagine the feeling. It’s one thing for a baby to move, but it’s another thing for a baby to leap. That’s what the scriptures said happened. Within Elizabeth, the baby leaped at the announcement.
f. Ladies and gentlemen, that’s the kind of power we have. We have the power to cause babies to leap in the womb. We have the power that causes folks to be eager to show goodness and kindness. We have the type of power that can cause a person who use to live a liars life; someone that use to steal; and someone that use to abuse women to change.
g. Don’t ya’ll remember the story of Saul? Do ya’ll remember Saul? God struck him down on the road to Damascus. Not only did he knock him off his horse, but He also changed his name from Saul to Paul. The man who use to abuse Christians, step on women and pull them down the street, and knock over the kids claimed to do these things in the name of God. When he finally received Jesus Christ, he started living a different life. That’s what we find in this particular scripture. Paul is giving his personal testimony saying, “I know what it’s like to live an unrighteous life!”
h. I don’t expect you to live a righteous life if you’re unsaved. You say, “Well I’m unfaithful to my wife.” I say, “Well you’re unsaved. I don’t expect you to be anything different.” You say, “I curse sometimes.” I say, “Okay…you aren’t saved and that doesn’t shock me.” I expect that of folks who are unsaved. You say, “I cheat on my income taxes sometimes.” I say, “That is not a shock to me because you are unsaved.” I expect that from you. You say, “I go to church sometimes after I party all night on Saturday and also do the wild thing after the party, but I do go to church and raise my hand in the air.” I say, “That’s okay…I expect that because you are unsaved.” I expect that to happen. You say, “I’m always late on the job and my boss always gets on my case.” I say, “That’s okay…I expect that from you because you’re unsaved.”
i. You said, “I was unfaithful to my wife.” I said, “I expect it because you are unsaved. Even if you wanted to do the right thing, you don’t have the power to do it. If you don’t want to be unfaithful, you don’t have the power not to do it. You can’t help yourself. You’ve got to get help.
j. Turn to somebody and say, “YOU’VE GOT TO GET HELP!”
k. You can’t help yourself! You are constantly doing things that you know are wrong, but you do them anyway because you don’t have the power to keep from doing it.
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MOVE 7: You must believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Jesus must give you the power to love. You can’t love without Jesus. Jesus did not come to give you a gift. That’s not the reason for the season. The reason for the season is LOVE ISN’T LOVE UNTIL YOU GIVE IT AWAY! God has given you the abundance of love in your heart so you can give it to someone else. ALLELUIA!
a. Turn to someone and say, “The love in your heart is for someone else.”
b. The more you give…the more He gives back to you. If you show kindness, He puts more kindness in your heart. If you show love, He feels you back up with love. It’s like a constant service station. If you show kindness, He gives you more of it. If you show love, He gives you more of it.
c. Do you remember the story of the Good Samaritan? Do you remember the story? Why did they call him the Good Samaritan? Did the scripture call him a Good Samaritan or did the heading of the scripture call him the Good Samaritan? What was good about him? He did what he was supposed to do. So why do we call him a Good Samaritan? We call him a Good Samaritan because he did things that most of us wouldn’t have done. He saw someone in need. He saw someone lying on a robe in a pool of blood. His eyes were rolled to the back of his head. He was breathing his last breath. He saw someone that looked like him. A human being that looked like him, had flesh like him that breathed like him. He saw someone in need and he stopped and rendered goodness and kindness unto him. The priests have already seen the brother. The priest’s assistants have already seen the brother and crossed over him to get to the other side. Someone in the unsaved community STOPPED and went over to this man, while everyone else was busy going to church, to pick him up. He carried him to an inn as he displayed goodness and kindness. He showed him love and paid the innkeeper lots of money for the brother to stay over.
d. Turn to somebody and say, “That’s love!”
e. The Christian community was so busy going to church that they missed church in action.
f. Turn to somebody and say, “Are you too busy going to church?”
g. Are you too busy going to church where you are not speaking to your neighbor? Are you too busy going to church and you don’t have time to stop and give somebody a hug? You don’t have time to stop and show kindness. Yet you say MERRY CHRISTMAS! WHAT IS SO MERRY ABOUT IT when I’m lonely? WHAT’S SO MERRY ABOUT IT when I can’t get anyone to talk to me? WHAT’S SO MERRY ABOUT IT when I don’t get any phone calls any time to say how are you? WHAT IS SO MERRY ABOUT IT? Is this the Christ you serve?
h. That was the problem at Crete. So Paul said, “Titus…you go and tell them what the word of God says. I want you to teach them how to show goodness. Show them how to exemplify God within their lifestyle. I perceive that the reason why they have the issues in the church they have is because folks have not been showing goodness and kindness.”
i. Some of the worst folks at loving are the ones sitting in the pulpit. AMEN. Some of the folks, who are the greatest critics, are the greatest abusers. We don’t love like we should. We were called to love. DO YOU WANT TO GIVE SOMEONE A GIFT? DO YOU WANT TO GIVE SOMEONE A GIFT? Give them the gift of love. It’s a gift that they can never forget. It’s a gift that can’t be unwrapped. It’s a gift that stays with us. Show someone kindness. Help somebody that’s in need! THAT’S A GIFT. That’s something we’ll never forget.
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MOVE 8: Last evening, we were at the brotherhood meeting at Minister Stinson’s house. As the brothers were mentioning some of the evils in their lives, someone mentioned the idea of not identifying Christmas as a wonderful moment. He said that it wasn’t all that and a bag of chips for him. He didn’t have fun memories. Everybody doesn’t have fun memories of Christmas! While you’re celebrating, there are some folks crying. There are some folks grieving because Christmas doesn’t only represent the birth of Jesus to them. It represents other issues such as ABUSE and NEGLECT in their lives. Their lives weren’t all that and a bag of chips! What is it representing in your life?
a. Are you thinking about your dad? Are you thinking about your mom that’s no longer with us? Are you grieving? What about that marriage? You know…you got married on Christmas and now that you both are no longer together, you always think about that during Christmas. You are so busy thinking about that you can’t even think about the season. What about that? Has anyone ever challenged you to tell you that they love you and God loves you too in spite of what you are going through? There was somebody that came not to just give you a gift, but to uplift breakthrough within you. Has anyone told you that? No matter what you are going through, He still loves you.
b. Turn to somebody and say, “No matter what you are going through, Christ loves you.”
c. That is right! He loves you. He loves you so much that He didn’t come here just as a baby. He volunteered to come. That is right! He volunteered to come because He saw what we would be going through today.
d. Turn to somebody and say, “God feels your pain.”
e. That’s right some of us in here are not as joyful as we look. Some of us in here are going through some pain right now. Some of us in here are hurting on the inside. We just got our best foot forward but IF THE TRUTH WERE TO BE TOLD, many in here would stand up and say OH GOD HELP ME! HELP ME GOD. I’m hurting on the inside. I need a job. GOD HELPS ME! My finances aren’t all that. Somebody show me some love and kindness.
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MOVE 9: In the book of Titus, that’s exactly what Paul exalts. As you look at this theological season, you will see that Titus Chapter 3 is the scripture that needs to be read on Christmas. Somehow GOD REALIZED THAT THERE’S A NEED FOR US to show continuing love. Not only that, but the scripture in Luke that’s identifiable in this verse identifies itself as overseeing consistently good work.
a. You don’t do it just for Christmas, but YOU DO IT EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR. GOD INTENDED YOU TO BE SAVED! GO INTENDED FOR YOU TO HEAR THIS MESSAGE! GO INTENDED FOR YOU TO SHOW SOMEBODY GOODNESS AND KINDNESS! I DON’T CARE IF IT’S YOUR BOSS! I DON’T CARE IF IT’S YOUR SUBORDINATES! God intended for YOU to hear the message Love Isn’t Love Until You Give It Away.
b. If you hold on to it, that’s not love! YOU HAVE TO GIVE SOMEBODY SOMETHING. YOU HAVE TO STEP OUTSIDE YOURSELF. YOU HAVE TO BLESS SOMEBODY ELSE! THAT’S THE REAL REASON for the season.
c. Last night at the brotherhood meeting, we asked all the brothers to bring a gift. For whatever reason, some did not bring gifts and that was okay. The purpose was not to receive, but to be a blessing to somebody. So we waited till the end of the meeting and then we passed out gifts. Then we played this little fun game (The Present Swap). As we passed left and right, in the reading of the game, folks ended up with gifts that didn’t even bring a gift.
d. Isn’t that the real reason for the season? To show goodness and kindness to folks you hadn’t thought about lately. Isn’t that the real reason why we are Christians? ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN JUST TO SAY THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HEAVEN? ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN JUST TO SAY, “WOW! I MADE IT IN. ALLELUIA. ALL THOSE DEVILS WENT STRAIGHT TO HELL, BUT I MADE IT.”
e. Are you a Christian because you will help somebody else across the street? Are you a Christian because you want to bless somebody else’s marriage? God has delivered you and your marriage. DO YOU WANT TO BLESS SOMEBODY ELSE? God brought you out of drugs. DO YOU WANT TO BLESS SOMEBODY ELSE? God helped you to stop lying. DO YOU WANT TO HELP SOMEBODY ELSE? That’s the real meaning of the season.
f. Just because you are poor, it doesn’t mean that you want your kids to be poor does it? You want your kids to do a little better right? Well guess what? God didn’t only bring you through that thing that you’re going through so you can say, “I got the victory!” He also wanted you to help somebody else say I got the victory!
g. Turn to somebody and say, “It’s not about you baby. It’s about helping somebody else.”
h. This sermon won’t be a blessing to anybody unless you show somebody some goodness and kindness. You go and shake somebody’s hand that you’ve never shaken before. You go and hug somebody that you’ve never hugged before. You call somebody and give a kind word that you’ve never called.
i. You should always tell your wife that you love her. That’s a regular thing at my house. As a matter of fact, she probably gets tired of me saying it. I say, “Girl…I love you so much. I can’t tell.” She says, “You can’t tell what?” I say, “How much I love you. It’s so buoyant. It’s so much. It’s so descriptive that words alone can adequately describe the way I feel on the inside and the expressions coming on the outside. It’s just indescribable how much I love you.”
j. Do you feel like that about anybody? Or do you have some dislike in your heart about somebody? When you see him, you just turn your head. You can be delivered from that! Ask me how I know you can be delivered from this. God delivered me! I use to see folks and run the other way. YES SIR! YES SIR! I FOUND OUT THAT HE STILL LIVES. THE LORD IS THE HEAD OF MY LIFE. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THERE ARE NO SPECIAL PERSONS IN HIS LIFE. WHAT HE DOES FOR THE PASTOR, HE WILL DO FOR YOU. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK FOR IT. He’ll give it to you because he LOVES! LOVE ISN’T LOVE UNTIL YOU GIVE IT AWAY.
k. Turn to somebody and say, “You’ve got to give it away.”
l. You say, “I GOT LOVE IN MY HEART! Go ahead…reach out and touch somebody. Let them know that they’re special. Let them know that God sent them here for a reason. Let them know that you love them! Let them know that you are willing to help them … now.
M. For don’t you recall what Jesus said, “You should love unconditionally.”
o. “Love isn’t love until you give it away!”
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Celebration: I’ll be honest with you. I don’t have a gift for everybody in here tonight. In fact, I can’t even afford the gift that you really deserve. I can’t. But this is the God’s honest truth; if I could, I would because I love you.
If I could afford to buy all of you something uniquely special, I would. I would get you something that you’ve always wanted. You know…something that you always dreamed you had.
My brothers and sisters … this is precisely why some of us could never be rich and I’m probably one of the ones that could never be rich. Because, if I were rich, I’d probably use kindness with my funds – primarily because I don’t think anybody should be poor in the church. It’s my presuppostion that if God blessed me with financial riches, I should bless my parishioners.
