”Husband & Wife: Bad Tah Da Bone”
12 February 2006
Galatians 6:2 (KJV);
Philippians 2:5-8 (MSG);
Acts 4:33-36 (KJV)
by
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
CP Walker, Taegu South Korea
BIG IDEA: Christian Couples Should Be Warned of The Dangers of Trying To Make The Best of Both Worlds by Clinging to Things.
REFERENCES: Galatians 6:1-3 KJV (Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself);
John 13:34-35 KJV (A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another); Acts 4:33-36 KJV (And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus); Philippians 2:5-8 MSG (Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. 6 He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. 7 Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!); Acts 5:1-11 (The Story of Ananias and Sapphira);Philippians 2:5 KJV - (Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus); Matthews 6:24 (KJV) (No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.;Matt 6:24 (KJV)
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Galatians 6:2 (KJV); Philippians 2:5-8 (MSG); Acts 4:33-36 (KJV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: Galatians 6:2 (KJV); Philippians 2:5-8 (MSG);Acts 4:33-36 (KJV)
III. READ THE TEXT: Galatians 6:2 (KJV); Acts 4:33-36 (Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ; And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus)
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate Christian Couples to avoid the SIN of clinging to their material things, and help bear the burden of caring for less fortunate believers through their financial distributions.
V. SERMONIC THEME: ”Husband and Wife:
BAD TAH DA BONE”
INTRODUCTION: ”Good Afternoon to all. On behalf of Dedra and I we wish you an early but wonderfully blessed Valentines Day. A day that most in the United States of America will be distributing chocolate candy, roses of a manifold colors, balloons, love ya cards, and teddy bears.” All to say how much we mean to one another.
Again, Happy Valentines Day to all! Let us remember to show love one to another throughout the year and not just on the day that has been “NATIONALLY” set-a-side for that purpose. In spite of the increase rate of divorce in America and overseas, the fact of the matter is the Church of Jesus Christ has not changed its standards: Building Marriages and strengthening relationships is what the Church is all about.
******************TAKE 5 BEATS*****************
MOVE 1: It’s incorrect to say that we are Christians and we love Jesus whom we have never seen; and hate one of our brothers or sisters who we see on a regular basis.
a. In fact, it was the Lord himself that said in John 13:34, A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye
also love one another.
b. This is what the Apostle Paul meant in Galatians 6:2 when he says, Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
c. The law of Christ is loving one another.
d. And when we truly exemplify love, we give of our time, talents, and treasures.
e. We (the members of MCGS) have a mantra around here that says, “LOVE ISN’T LOVE UNTIL YOU GIVE IT AWAY.”
**********************TAKE 5 BEATS*****************
MOVE 2: Our deacon ministries have embraced this mantra to the fullest.
a. We regularly practice calling and visiting folk when they’re ill which often is accompany with the dropping off of juice and even food.
b. We have regular all expenses-paid fellowship meetings with the sole purpose of eating and getting to know one another.
c. For “LOVE” is something that we firmly believe in displaying in both actions and deeds.
d. Can I get a witness in the building?
***********************TAKE 5 BEATS****************
MOVE 3: It has been said that the mark of Christian success is not activities.
a. It is not how many programs, fraternities or sororities that we belong to , or how many clubs we regularly participate in or how many personal activities that we maybe affliated with.
b. Christian Success in and of itself isn’t just morality. Now, please don’t misunderstand me, activities and morality are all a part of our Christian expression.
c. But, the sole purpose and fundamental expression of Christian Living and success is NOT that we stop doing things that are wrong ONLY.
d. But, it’s that we love one another; and we bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.
*******************TAKE 5 BEATS*******************
MOVE 4: In fact, that’s exactly where the believers in the FIRST CHURCH in THE FIRST CENTURY started.
a. For the scriptures says, in Acts 4:33, GREAT POWER AND GREAT GRACE WAS UPON THEM ALL …
b. In other words, as a result of the willingness to exemplify love, mercy and acts of giving … God was with them mightily
c. … so much so that sick and lamed folk were healed instantly.
d. Lives were changed on the spot; and gift of the spirit which is evident in both the Book of Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 were distributed unto them by God.
*******************TAKE 5 BEATS********************
MOVE 5: Because the PEOPLE OF GOD WAS loving INDEED!
a. My brothers and sisters, when we love indeed, God himself is also moved!
b. Through our acts of love we PROVIDE NURIMENT TO THE LESS FORTUNATE and God pours out his grace upon even more.
c. For who can ever forget the STORY on Acts 4.
d. For don’t you remember, there was not a needy person among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them.
e. Afterwards, they brought the proceeds of what was sold to the Apostles and laid it at the Apostles feet.
f. As a result, deacons made distributions to the less fortunate as needed.
**********************TAKE 5 BEATS*****************
MOVE 6: Now, my brothers and sisters, this type of giving is NOT COMMUNISM.
a. This is not a forced abandonment of goods, making them all common property.
b. Quite the contrary, this sharing of one’s abundance OUT OF THE CHANGED ATTITUDE THAT comes with indwelling of the HOLY SPIRIT.
c. The attitude that causes a man that own things to say that it’s not his alone;
d. and he doesn’t want to hold on to his funds for his own purposes ONLY.
e. But, he’s glad to give unto those that are less fortunate.
********************TAKE 5 BEATS******************
MOVE 7: For who can ever forget what Paul shares with us about Jesus, in Philippians 2:6-7: “…who, He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. 7 Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!
a. Livewise, AS WE COUPLES APPROACH VALENTINES DAY, we need to be more like Jesus and STOP CLINGING, AND
WORRYING ABOUT MAKING OURSELVES A REPUTATION.
b. IF WE ARE GOING TO HELP THE LESS FORTUNATE, WE CAN’T HAVE BOTH WORLD. WE WILL EITHER CLING TO ONE AND HATE THE OTHER.
c. For the Bible says in Matthew 6:24 - No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
d. As couples or individuals, are we clinging to anything today?
e. Are you clinging to a material standard of living that you insist on having no matter what?
f. You know, someone else is need but you clinging!
g. Someone else needs food, but you’re clinging!
h. Someone else need clothing, BUT YOU’RE CLINGING!
i. Someone else is waiting for you to retired, so they can be promoted … BUT YOU’RE CLINGING!
j. IS IT ALL ABOUT YOU?
j. What are you clinging to?
l. For my brothers and sisters, we will never be able to enter into the richness of this Christian Life UNTIL WE STOP CLINGING!
*********************TAKE 5 BEATS******************
MOVE 8: In our scriptures today, we first find a brother by the name of JOSEPH.
a. Now, although his name is Joseph – he was never called his name in the early church, instead, he was known by his NICKNAME.
b. If I tell you his nickname, you will know him immediately … BARNABAS.
c. The one who took his cousin (young John Mark) under his wings when the Apostle Paul and no one else wanted anything to do with John Mark.
d. Barnabas … was also the one who took Paul in initially when everyone else was afraid to trust his testimony of having been saved by Jesus Christ …
e. His name, Barnabas, means the Son of encouragement for he had the gift of exhortation, comfort and encouragement!
**********************TAKE 5 BEATS*****************
MOVE 9: The Bible says, in Acts 4:37, that it this Barnabas that having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
a. Then we come to Chapter 5, which begins with a subordinating conjunction … BUT…
b. I have said it before, and I will say it again, …
c. … the word – BUT indicates that we’re about to read the OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE’VE JUST READ;
d. BUT … IMPLIES that we’re DEALING WITH THE SAME SUBJECT, BUT THE REVERSE SIDE OF THE COIN.
e. In other words, we have turned a CORNER; and we are now looking at the danger of TRYING TO MAKE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS …
*******************TAKE 5 BEATS*******************
CELEBRATION: TELL THE STORY OF Ananias—his wife,
Sapphira,
a. THEY WERE PHONES AND SHAMERS.
b. THEY PRETENDED TO DO SOMETHING THAT THEY HAD NOT
DONE – “GIVEN ALL”
c. ARE YOU PRETENDING TO HAVE A GOOD MARRIAGE TODAY?
d. ARE YOU PRETENDING TO BE A DEACON OR MINISTER IN
THE CHURCH?
e. ARE YOU PRETENDING TO BE SOMETHING OR SOMEONE
THAT YOU’RE NOT?
f. PETER … TOLD ANANIAS … IN ESSENCE …
g. YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO LIE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT …
h. HE ALREADY KNOWS WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU NEED …
YOU SHOULD HAVE COME CLEAN WITH GOD …
i. HE DIDN’T ASK YOU TO LIE WITH YOUR ACTIONS ….
j. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS … LETS US NOT BE LIKE
THIS HUSBAND AND WIFE: BAD TAH DA BONE …
k. OR SHOULD I SAY … BAD TAH DEATH!!
