"When Giving Everything Means Nothing"

“When Giving Everything Means Nothing”

1 Corinthians 13:1-13(KJV)

1 John 3:18 (KJV)

28 January 2007

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris

Presidio of Monterey (ORD Military Chapel)

Monterey California, 93940

BIG IDEA: On God’s Love Scale, if two Christians weigh-in and one has all of his CHRISTIAN WORKS combine with SACRIFICING AND GIVING-UP his CHIRSTIAN LIFE against another who ONLY HAS SINCERE CHRISTIAN LOVE in his HEART, the Christian with sincere love in his heart WEIGHS THE MOST.

References: Romans 12:1(KJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (KJV) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing; John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life; 1 Corinthians 16:1 (KJV) Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the curches of Galatia, evn so do ye.; Matthews 25:31-46 (KJV) The Parable of The Last Judgement (Jesus sets his seal on the grace of charity in his vivid parable fo the last assize.

I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (KJV)

II. READ THE PERICOPE: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (KJV)

III. READ THE TEXT: 1 Corinthians 13:3 (KJV) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to sincerely love one another from the heart.

V. INTRODUCTION:

Paul says, …when I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. The greatest of the three (faith, hope, and love) is LOVE.

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

MOVE 1: My brothers and sisters, On God’s Love Scale, if two Christians weigh-in and one has all of his CHRISTIAN WORKS ….

a. … combined with SACRIFICING AND GIVING-UP his CHIRSTIAN LIFE …

b. …. against another who ONLY HAS SINCERE CHRISTIAN LOVE in his HEART, the Christian with sincere love in his heart WEIGHS THE MOST.

c. Love out weighs anything and everything we do.

d. For God so loved the word, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16);

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

MOVE 2: Humankind has many and multiple expression of LOVE, because TO US love is fascinating.

a. It grips US and it moves US.

b. Love is the compendium of the heart.

c. It causes one to sally forth and another to do nothing.

d. Love is an emotion.

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

MOVE 3: It’s responsible for one hearing the phrase, I love You over and over again;

a. And another being victimize, by physical or mental abuse, over and over and again. Love is quixotic;

b. It can be driven by romantic idealism.

c. It’s something we can feel and ultimately see or desire to see.

d. It’s something that humankind has always been fascinated with, but is yet UNABLE to master.

e. Theologians have tried to explain it, but words along doesn’t do it justice.

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

MOVE 4: Our literary expressionist have have written thousands of books on love;

a. And we have produce an unbelievable number of movies, songs, and poems on the topic of LOVE.

b. Yet, in my humble opinion, we are today as far apart from God’s intent and definition of love as we have ever been.

c. As most of you can attest to, the New Testament is written in Greek, and in the Greek language the word LOVE is broken down into three parts:

d. The first part is Agape. It’s the strongest of the three.

e. It’s basically love that emanates or derives from God Himself.

f. When this love is sincerely connected to any of the others, it breaks barriers and builds and motivates individuals, communities, cities, states, and countries.