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The Love That Brought Him
by W. Frank Harrington
Text: Revelation 1:4–6
Topic: The love of Christ
Big Idea: The love of Christ never ends, is personal, and sets us free.
Keywords: Advent; Christmas; Christ, birth of; Christ, love of; God, love of; Love; Love, divine
Introduction:
- Illustration: A quote from Bishop Arthur Moore on the supreme test of religion.
- Throughout history, people have searched and studied in order to know, and be known by, God.
- Christians believe that Jesus fully disclosed God and his desire for a relationship with us.
Illustration: Quotes from Karl Barth and Tennyson reveal God's interest in us.
- Revelation 1: 4–6
The love of Christ never ends.
- Jesus never lets us off (he is righteous and just), but he never lets us go.
Illustration: Pope John XXIII went to a notorious prison in Rome because the inmates could not come to him.
Illustration: A Norman Vincent Peale story about a family who lost their 6-year-old daughter on Christmas Eve, but kept their faith.
- Human love is imperfect, but Jesus is always trustworthy.
The love of Christ is personal.
- Illustration: A young girl blessed Harrington with a personalized note that said, "I love you."
- Every person in the world can say with assurance, "God loves me!"
Illustration: When asked to recite what he found most profound, Karl Barth recited the words to "Jesus Loves Me."
- God's personal love for us is at the core of Christmas.
Illustration: A Gallup poll asked the question, "What does Christmas mean to you?"
Illustration: Amal and the Night Visitors tells the story of a young boy who gave his crutch to the wise men as a gift for the baby Jesus, and was healed.
- Jesus' love for us requires a personal response from us.
The love of Christ completely frees us.
- Illustration: A little girl learns what it means to shine the light of Christ, but confesses that her light has blown out when she misbehaves.
- We don't need to live in our own darkness, because Christ has set us free from our sins.
- Christ's love is full of emancipating mercy.
Illustration: Tennyson's treatment of King Arthur leaves Guinevere choked by Arthur's mercy.
Conclusion
- Illustration: A poll from Psychology Today reveals that most people are looking for happiness.
- Christmas is a happy time, but the true test of our lives comes when our inspiration has passed.
- Illustration: A poem from Joyce Kilmer reminds us that God has given us a song and a lantern to make our way through the dark world.
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