10-26-25 Kenwood Church of Christ Live Stream

GIVING THANKS (Psalm 100:4 NIV) - October 26, 2025

GIVING THANKS (Psalm 100:4 NIV)  - October 26, 2025

INTRODUCTION

Give thanks

It was Thanksgiving season in the nursing home. The small resident population was gathered about their humble Thanksgiving table, and the director asked each in turn to express one thing for which they were thankful. Thanks were expressed for a home in which to stay, families, etc. One little old lady in her turn said, ’I thank the Lord for two perfectly good teeth, one in my upper jaw and one in my lower jaw that match so that I can chew my food.’

Evie Megginson, Sermon Central, October 31, 2003.

Who would like to give thanks right now? Please step to the mic, state your name, and share your thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving - football and food

Last week, Give Thanks in All Circumstances

There is a connection between thanksgiving and praise.

A lady purchased a parrot whose previous owner had taught him profanity and decided that she would reform him. The parrot learned a number of Christian words and Bible verses to replace the cuss words. However, the owner caught him cussing one day and grabbed him and said, "I'll teach you to never talk that way again!" So she put him in the deep freeze and slammed the door.

A few minutes later, the owner took the parrot out of the freezer and asked, "Have you learned your lesson now?" The little bird shivered and replied, "Yes', Ma'm."

After a couple of months, the lesson was forgotten and the little parrot was caught saying cuss words again. The owner returned him to the freezer and left him in there for a long time. The little parrot almost froze to death. The owner took the bird back to his cage to let him thaw out. When he began to move a little bit, she asked him again, "Did you learn your lesson this time, buster?"

The parrot said, "Yes, Ma'm, I sure did!" Then he just sat there in the cage quietly for a few more minutes shivering and thinking about what just happened to him. Then, the parrot looked at his owner and said, "Ma'm, may I ask you a serious question?" The owner answered, "Yes, you may."

The parrot thought for a moment and then said, "I thought I knew all of the bad words there were in the world . . . but just what exactly did that turkey in the freezer say?"

Dr. Larry Petton, Sermon Central, November 20, 2019.

Praise is the response of thankfulness.

Psalm 100:4 NIV

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.". 

Psalm 100:4 NIV

I.  ENTER HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING

A little boy offered up a Thanksgiving Day prayer for the family and prayed: "Dear God, this is Jimmy. Thank you for Thanksgiving and Christmas and all of the holidays. Thank you for the turkey and dressing and Mom and Dad and even for my little sister, even though some times she can be a pain. Thank you for books and TV and game boy. Thank you for loving us. Oh, yeah. And take care of yourself, God. Because without you, we’re sunk. Amen."

Joel Vicente, Sermon Central, December 27, 2003.

A. Go to God

B. Thankful worship

‭‭Psalm ‭50‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

““Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.””

‭‭ Psalm‬ ‭50‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

C. Thanksgiving

II.  ENTER HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE

“In experience, thanksgiving and praise weave themselves in and out of one another and become part of an organic whole.” 

Richard Foster

‭‭Psalm ‭96‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.”

‭‭ Psalm ‭96‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  Praise from the beginning

B.  Movement from gate to courts

C.  Movement from thanksgiving to song

III.  GIVE THANKS TO HIM AND PRAISE HIS NAME

‭‭Psalm ‭34‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.”

‭‭ Psalm‬ ‭34‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV ‬‬‬‬‬

“Praise his name” from Psalm 100:4 NIV is “bless his name"‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  God’s blessing upon us

B.  Our blessing to God

C.  Kneeling before Him

1.  Acknowledge God

2.  Honor God

The Masai tribe in West Africa have an unusual way of saying "thank you." Translators tell us that when the Masai express thanks, they bow, put their forehead on the ground and say, "My head is in the dirt." When members of another African tribe want to express thanks, they sit for a long time in front of the hut of the person who did the favor and literally say, "I sit on the ground before you." Those Africans understand well what Thanksgiving is and why it is different for us: at its core, thanksgiving is an act of humility."

Ajai Prakash, “Thankful Worship”, 11/19/2009.

CONCLUSION

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.

10-19-25 Kenwood Church of Christ Live Stream

GIVING THANKS (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Give Thanks in All Circumstances - October 19, 2025

GIVING THANKS (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Give Thanks in All Circumstances - October 19, 2025

INTRODUCTION

Thanksgiving - football and food

“Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence.” 

Erma Bombeck

The Associated Press, New York, carried this short piece on the first Thanksgiving:

"This time of year, classrooms across the United States are filled with tales of the first Thanksgiving feast. But children might not be getting the whole story, says Kenneth C. Davis, author of the 1990 best-seller "Don’t Know Much About History."

In "Don’t Know Much About the Pilgrims," Davis sheds new light on the Pilgrims’ voyage and their lives in the New World:

- The Pilgrims would not have identified themselves as such -- they were known as "saints" or "First Comers," and they made up only about half of the passengers on the Mayflower. The rest were members of the Church of England who sought property and were called "Strangers."

- The Pilgrims thought it was dangerous to wash their bodies and did not change clothes or bathe during the 66-day journey aboard the Mayflower.

- Children aboard the Mayflower stayed below deck, out of the sailors’ way, most of the time. After the boat landed, though, one young boy nearly blew up the ship while his father was out exploring by setting off firecrackers and firing a musket.

- A true "thanksgiving" for the Pilgrims would have involved fasting and prayer. What is now called the first Thanksgiving was actually a harvest festival in 1621. Wild turkey was served at the three-day feast, along with ducks, geese, cod, salmon, lobster, mussels, eels and clams.

Shedding light on Thanksgiving THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, NEW YORK. The Olympian, Olympia Washington. Wednesday, November 19, 2003. http://www.theolympian.com/home/news/20031119/living/152982.shtml.

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I.  REJOICE ALWAYS

A retiree in Florida phones his daughter in New Jersey and says, “Honey, I have bad news for you. Your mother and I have decided that 52 years of marriage is enough. We’re calling it quits and getting a divorce.”

His daughter yells, “Are you crazy? What the heck are you saying? We're not going to let you do that!”

The father says, “No, we’ve had enough. We’re getting tired of the same old routine and looking at each other every day. I don’t want to talk about it, so call your brother in Detroit and let him know.” And the Father hangs up on his daughter.

Panic sticken, the daughter phones her brother and drops the bomb about their Mom and Dad.

“No way, no WAY!” shouts the brother. “This will NOT happen! Stay by the phone. I’ll talk to them and handle this. I''ll call you back as soon as possible!"

The brother phones his father and says, “Dad, Sis just told me you’re getting a divorce. That’s CRAZY! No way we’re gonna let this happen to you and Mom. We’re both booking planes tonight and flying down there to Florida in the morning to sort this out. Listen, don’t do anything till we get there and you hear me out! Promise me, Dad. Don’t do ANYTHING!”

The old man agreed. He turned his cell phone off with a smile and then said to his wife, “Ok, It’s all arranged, Sweetheart. The kids will be here tomorrow for Thanksgiving and, best of all, they’re buying their own plane tickets!”

Dr. Larry Petton, Sermon Central, November 18, 2021.

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

‭‭ Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  Rejoice

B.  Joy

C.  Always

“Gratitude produces deep, abiding joy because we know that God is working in us, even through difficulties.” 

Charles Stanley

II.  PRAY CONTINUALLY

Two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an angry old bull who wanted them out of his pasture. Instantly, they darted toward the nearest fence. The storming bull followed in hot pursuit and it was soon apparent that they wouldn't make it.

Terrified, one man shouted to the other, "Put up a prayer right now, John! That bull is about to catch up to us!

But John answered right back, "I can't. I've never made a public prayer in my entire life!"

"But you must!" yelled his companion. "The bull is catching up to us. Just use a prayer you have heard before!"

"All right," panted John, "I'll say the only prayer I know, the one my father used to repeat at the table at Thanksgiving: 'O Lord in Heaven, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful. Amen!'"

Dr. Larry Petton, Sermon Central, November 15, 2023.

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

‭‭ Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A. Pray

B.  Prayerfulness

C.  Continually

“When we choose thankful prayer over wallowing in anxiety and worry, we are demonstrating an unwavering trust in God.” 

Priscilla Shirer

III.  GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES

Here is a list of things housewives are most thankful for:

"For automatic dishwashers because they make it possible for us to get out of the kitchen before the family comes back in for their after-dinner snacks.

For husbands who attack small repair jobs around the house because they usually make them big enough to call in the professionals.

For children who put away their things & clean up after themselves. They’re such a joy you hate to see them go home to their own parents

For teenagers because they give parents an opportunity to learn a second language.

For Smoke alarms because they let you know when the turkey’s done."

Melvin Newland, Minister, Central Christian Church, Brownsville, Tx.

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬b-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

‭‭ Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬b-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  Thanksgiving

B.  Grateful

C.  In all circumstances

CONCLUSION

“Thanksgiving is nothing if not a glad and reverent lifting of the heart to God in honour and praise for His goodness.”

Robert Casper Lintner

Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.

10-12-25 Kenwood Church of Christ Live Stream

5 THINGS: Love Yourself - October 12, 2025

5 THINGS: Love Yourself - October 12, 2025

INTRODUCTION

Do you have good neighbors? Are you a good neighbor?

Can you name some famous neighbors?

*Mr. Rogers Neighborhood in his sweater and sneakers … “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood … won’t you be my neighbor?”

*Dennis the Menace … “Helloooo Mr. Wilson!”

*Ricky & Lucy Ricardo … Fred & Ethel Mertz.

*Tim “the Tool Man” Taylor … Wilson.

Have you ever had trouble with a neighbor?

The story of the Good Samaritan is about neighbors, and it has all the elements of a movie: violence … crime … racial discrimination … hatred … neglect … unconcern … love … mercy.

Who says the Bible isn’t relevant to the modern world?

Ray Scott, “The Good Samaritan”, Sermon Central, October 26, 2004.

In this sermon series, I will be sharing with you thoughts on these issues.

The love of God - September 14, 2025

Love according to the Word - September 21, 2025

Love in the Kingdom - September 28, 2025

Love and righteousness - October 5, 2025

Love yourself - October 12, 2025

In Timothy Keller’s book, King’s Cross, he tells this story.

John Sommerville currently teaches history at the University of Florida. He has been carrying out an exercise with his students for years. He challenges his students with the following thought experiment.

Imagine that you see a little old lady coming down the street at night and she is carrying a great big purse. It suddenly occurs to you that she very little and frail and it would be incredibly easy just to knock her over and grab the purse. But you don’t. Why not?

There are only two possible answers. The answer of "shame and honour" culture is that you don’t do it because it would make you despicable person unworthy of respect. It would dishonor your family or tribe. People would despise you for picking on the weak. It would not be a strong thing to do and it is critical that strength be respected. That approach, the professor says, is self regarding. You are thinking almost entirely of yourself and your tribe. You are thinking only of honour and reputation.

The second option is that you would imagine how painful it would be to be mugged and how hard it would be for the woman if she depended on the money in her purse and it was taken from her. You ask youself, if I mug her, what will happen to her and what will happen to the people who depend on her. All else being equal you want her to have a good life that is safe, so you don’t do it. This is called the "regards for others" ethic which is utterly different from the "shame and honour" culture.

Professor Sommerville would ask his class, "All right, how many of you would take the purse and why not." No one would take the purse, and the reason almost totally is the regards for others ethic.

Then he would point out that they had choosen the Christian way of life.

The ethical system that dominated the world before Jesus was the "shame and honour" ethic and it did not work out for the poor very well.

The world is critical of the church but in the end we all want more of the other first ethic that Jesus is teaching here. In fact, most of us would say that the reason the world is a mess is because we have stopped putting others first. We have made all kinds of expections to treating people like Jesus taught here. We have fallen back into the shame and honour ethic and it is not working.

Don Berry-Graham, Sermon Central, January 24, 2012.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭34‬-‭40‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭34‬-‭40‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Love your neighbor as yourself.

I.  GOD LOVES US

A.  God demonstrates His love through Jesus.

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

‭‭ John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

‭‭ Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

B.  God loves us in our imperfection.

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

‭‭ Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

‭‭ 1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

II.  WE MUST LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR

Josh Hunt tells this story.

I stepped outside my hotel room yesterday and saw a thin elderly woman taking small steps in a circle. She seemed to be mumbling. Our eyes connected. She said, "They left me here and I don't know where they have gone. I don't know what room I am in."

I held out my hand. She grabbed mine. I said, "Let's walk down to the office and see what we can find out." As we walked into the office, an elderly man was walking out. He began to gently scold her, "I told you to stay in the van. You were supposed to be in the van. What are you doing out here?" He thanked me and then explained that she had Alzheimer's.

Was she my responsibility? Was it my moral obligation to stop and help her? She wasn't my mother. Would I have been sinning to just get in my car and drive off?

I wouldn't want to live in a world like that, would you? I see in this passage the dream of a heavenly Father whose children are reasonable and kind and simply do unto others as we would have done unto us. You can't make enough rules to work for every situation. Just be reasonable. Just be kind. 

Just be decent. Just follow the golden rule.

Josh Hunt, Sermon Central, April 16, 2012.

A.  Loving our neighbor is part of the royal law.

James‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.”

‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

B.  The whole law rests on this ideal.

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”

‭‭ Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”

‭‭ 1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

III.  WE MUST LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS OURSELF

A.  We are not what we once were.

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

‭‭ Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

B.  We are lovable because of Jesus.

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

‭‭ 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

C.  We fear because we lack love.

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

‭‭ 1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

CONCLUSION

Romans 12:9-20 NIV

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.””

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I have heard some say that we should do good to those who do us harm to bring pain and sorrow upon them (“heap burning coals on his head”). We are not to “repay anyone evil for evil.” This passage reminds us that vengeance is God’s, not ours. What are we to make of this “heaping of burning coals” then? We are to place the burning coals of love upon those who wrong us. Not so that we get back at them, but that they might get right with God.

A preacher named Mark Opperman tells this story.

Someone in Elgin, IL, once had a neighbor named Jack. Jack was a tough man. He worked hard, he drank hard, he fought hard, and he was harsh and gruff in his manner. Most people were afraid of Jack.

But this one neighbor got brave and said hello to him over the fence one day. He started a conversation with him, which was pretty one-sided at first. However, every chance he got, the neighbor started talking to Jack, and even went over and visited him in his house. He would sometimes bring him a fresh loaf of homemade bread that his wife had made, or a batch of cookies. He just tried to be neighborly and share the good things he had with him.

One day the neighbor, who was a Christ-follower, brought up the subject of heaven. He asked Jack if he believed in heaven. At first Jack said he didn’t want to talk about religion, and that was the end of the conversation. But a couple years later, Jack’s son was killed in a boating accident. The neighbor came over to tell Jack how sorry he was about the loss of his son. Overcome with grief, Jack just broke down and cried like a baby in front of his neighbor. The neighbor didn’t know what to do, so he just put a hand on his shoulder and let him cry.

Eventually, Jack started talking. He said that his son was the only child he had, and that he felt like he had failed him as a father. His son had tried to talk to him before about God and religion, but Jack told him religion was for people who were weak and who needed something to make them feel good about themselves.

So Jack asked his neighbor, "Do you think my boy is in heaven right now?" The neighbor replied, "If he was trusting in Jesus for forgiveness and was living His life for God, then he is certainly in heaven right now." Jack thought about that for a moment and said, "I hope he sees his mother there." The neighbor said, "Jack, there is no reason why he cannot see his father there too."

A few months later, Jack came over to his neighbor’s house and said, "I’m ready!" "Ready for what?" asked the neighbor. "I’m ready to get right with God," Jack said. They talked and the neighbor was able to lead him into a relationship with Jesus.

This neighbor had been praying for Jack for over three years. You can imagine his joy when he finally saw the answer to his prayers.

Mark Opperman, "The Joy of the Harvest" 1/12/2009, Sermon Central, February 10, 2009.

Only when we understand how much God loves us will we take seriously how much God loves our neighbor.

God loves you. God wants you to love your neighbor.  God wants us to love your neighbor as yourself

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.

10-5-25 Kenwood Church of Christ Live Stream

5 THINGS: Love and Righteousness - October 5, 2025

5 THINGS: Love and Righteousness - October 5, 2025

INTRODUCTION

Would you say that people know you are a Christian by your love?

In this sermon series, I will be sharing with you thoughts on these issues.

The love of God - September 14, 2025

Love according to the Word - September 21, 2025

Love in the Kingdom - September 28, 2025

Love and righteousness – October 5, 2025

Love yourself – October 12, 2025

Love is righteousness.

Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

‭‭ Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Love showed us righteousness.

C. S. Lewis captured the Cross event in a poem:

"Love’s as hard as nails,

Love is nails:

Blunt, thick, hammered through

The medial nerves of One

Who, having made us, knew

The thing He had done,

Seeing (with all that is)

Our cross, and His."

I.  LOVE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS

A.  The Old Testament frequently places “love” and “righteousness” in the same context.

Psalm 85:10-13 NIV

“Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭85‬:‭10‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Psalm 89:14 NIV

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.”

‭‭ Psalm‬ ‭89‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

B.  Love and righteousness bring blessings.

Proverbs 21:21 NIV

“Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.”

‭‭ Proverbs‬ ‭21‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

C.  God’s love and righteousness fill the earth with His love.

Psalm 33:5 NIV

“The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.”

‭‭ Psalm ‭33‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

For Love of Jim

Jim and Jack were the best of friends. Devoted. Inseparable. So when Jim lost both his legs in a railroad accident, Jack did everything he could to help. At first Jim was certain his career with the railroad was finished. Then the company gave him another job, signalman. His outpost was to be a lonely little stop more than 200 miles from anywhere. Jack went along to be whatever help he could be. After all, what are friends for?

Jim had barely recovered from the trauma of a double amputation when the RR had given him the new assignment. He would live in a little wooden shack about 150 yards from the signal tower. It was going to be lonely out there. And there would be many difficult adjustments. But Jack would help long enough for Jim to overcome those initial adjustments.

In the beginning Jack stuck around mostly for company. He swept out the shack and pumped water from the well and tended the garden - all things that Jack could not do. There was a little trolley, a single seater that led from the shack to the signal tower. Jack pushed Jim on that trolley several times a day and stood there while Jim operated the big levers in sequence. Eventually, Jack got so familiar with Jim's routine that he began to walk out and operate the signal system himself.

Sure enough, pretty soon, in addition to house-cleaning and the rest, Jack gradually began to take over all the duties for the railroad - though officially he was not an employee! There was a lot to remember on that job, a lot to be done. Daily responsibilities at the signal tower included working the levers as well as the tower controls that opened and closed siding switches. But Jack never complained. After all, Jim was his friend. It was the least Jack could do.

For more than nine years Jack kept house for Jim. For more than nine years he made the daily trip to the tower to operate the heavy equipment - until one day when he died of tuberculosis.

In all those years, Jack never made a mistake, never threw a switch incorrectly, never sided a car in error. Not one accident or even a narrow miss was reported on that line.

Jack is buried in Cape Colony, South Africa, not far from the outpost where he worked for almost a decade because of  his love for a friend. His grave is a silent testimony to selflessness. Oh, by the way, I don't think I mentioned that Jack, Jim's devoted friend, who cleaned house and pumped water and tended the garden and manned the switch tower was not a man at all. He was a baboon.

Now if an ape can demonstrate that kind of love, can't we who call ourselves Christians be known for our love more than anything else? Love blesses. Love demonstrates the righteousness of God.

Bruce Howell, Sermon Central, February 5, 2005.

II.  LOVE AND THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD

A.  We know God’s righteousness through His love.

John 3:16-17 NIV

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

1 John 4:7-12 NIV

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

B.  We can know God’s righteousness by loving.

Romans 13:8-10 NIV

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

John 14:15-21 NIV

““If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.””

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭15‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Pastor Joel Gregory tells the story of a seminary professor who taught the Christian graces of love and forbearance for forty years until he retired.

Occupying himself in his retirement years, he poured a new concrete driveway to his house. 

Finished, he went in to rest and get a glass of ice tea. Returning later to view his proud achievement, he discovered that the neighborhood kids were putting their footprints all in the wet concrete. The angry professor chased the kids down in a rage and beat the tar out of the ones he could catch.

Hearing the commotion, the professor’s wife rushed into the yard, saw the angry professor thrashing the kids, and began to reprimand him: "What a shame," she said. "For forty years you have taught love, forgiveness and forbearance. Now look at you. You’ve lost your testimony." To which he replied: "That was all in the abstract. This is in the concrete."

III.  LOVE AS RIGHTEOUSNESS

A.  No love for people, no love for God

1 John 4:19-21 NIV

“We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

B.  No love, no righteousness

Galatians 5:6 NIV

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NIV

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

C.  The righteous fruit of love

John 15:9-16 NIV

““As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭9‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I want to tell you of a modern day Damascus road experience that some of you may find hard to believe. It is reported in an article by Fred Markert in the current issue of Pray Magazine. Fred is the International Director of YWAM’s Strategic Frontiers, a group that focuses on witnessing for Christ among mostly Muslim nations where it is not always easy for Christians to go.

Fred is living in Afghanistan, & he relates this story about a Muslim woman, a university professor, attending an English class taught by YWAM volunteers. Listen as she later tells her story to one of them:

“I started to go to sleep & suddenly my bedroom filled with light. At the foot of my bed stood Jesus, & I knew He had come to kill me!”

You see, the day before, she had stormed out of the English class after the teacher had begun to answer questions & to speak about Jesus to his students. As she stormed out she cursed the teacher.

“I cursed you all the way home,” she told him. “I went home & I lay in bed & I was praying, ‘Allah, I want you to kill those people because they are not English teachers – they are missionaries & I want them out of my country! Kill them!’”

It was then that she saw the vision of Jesus standing at the foot of her bed. “I knew He had come to kill me because I was asking Allah to kill His workers. So I got out of bed on my hands & knees. I was trembling & I crawled to the feet of Jesus, waiting for Him to slay me.”

“As I was trembling at His feet, I started to feel warm all over. I started to feel love wash over my body – love & mercy. I looked up at Him,” she said. “Jesus was so beautiful, I had to give Him my heart.”

Pray Magazine, Sept-Oct, 2002, pg 17.

CONCLUSION

Romans 12:9-20 NIV

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.””

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I have heard some say that we should do good to those who do us harm to bring pain and sorrow upon them (“heap burning coals on his head”). We are not to “repay anyone evil for evil.” This passage reminds us that vengeance is God’s, not ours. What are we to make of this “heaping of burning coals” then? We are to place the burning coals of love upon those who wrong us. Not so that we get back at them, but that they might get right with God. Love

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.