Great Love

As I begin the message this morning, I want to say that I am astounded.

Did you hear about what happened this past Wednesday?

Pentagon Courtyard Becomes Ground for Worship and Praise

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth hosted the first-ever Christmas worship service at the Pentagon on Wednesday, marking a historic moment for public faith expression within the Department of Defense. The service, held in the center courtyard, featured worship led by Christian music artists Matthew West and Anne Wilson, and a message from evangelist Franklin Graham.

U.S. Navy Admiral and Chaplain Carey Cash opened the event by declaring it a celebration of “the greatest rescue operation of all time ... the coming of Jesus into this world!" He added, “The scripture says that, ‘In Him was life, and that life was the light of the world.’ We celebrate that light today.”

Hegseth emphasized the importance of restoring the true meaning of Christmas in national institutions. “The greatest story ever told. And the best part about it is, it's a true story,” he told the crowd. “And so we rejoice today in this place, at this time 2,000 years ago, grateful for this incredible republic, for a Savior.”

Franklin Graham reminded those gathered that, “Jesus took our shame, and He died in our place, and He rose again. And this is why we celebrate ... Jesus Christ isn't a babe in a manger. He's living, He's alive, He's in heaven, and He's coming back, and He's coming back someday soon.”

The Fourth Candle

So, yes, on this 4th Sunday of Advent we celebrate the love of God, who sent His Son, Jesus into the world to rescue the world.

As the angel told Joseph in Matthew 1:21 (NASB95) “[Mary] will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

This morning if we were a liturgical church, we would light the fourth candle of Advent.

The candle of love.

Sister Cecelia comes from such a liturgical background and she was excited to provide an Advent wreath for us.

I want to encourage us to focus beyond the original Advent of Jesus...

As important as it was.

And, instead think about the second Advent of Jesus.

He told us He is coming back.

John 14:3 (NASB95) “If [SINCE] I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

Are we ready?

Are our families, neighbors, loved ones ready?

What are WE doing to help those not ready.

God has done His part

John 3:16–17 (NASB95) “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

Because of the Father’s great love … Galatians 4:4–5 (NASB95) … when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

In the birth of Jesus we see a VERTICAL love that calls us to a horizontal love.

He came; they went.

A couple of Sundays ago we watched a clip from The Chosen Christmas presentation called Holy Night.

We saw the shepherds responding to angelic messengers.

They ran to the manger...

We read it once already, let’s read it again...

Luke 2:8–18 (NASB95) In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” 15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.

He came; they went.    

“In many ways these shepherds are the first evangelists of the Bible.”

Long before there were the Twelve apostles, there was a small circle of lowly shepherds who told people about Jesus, explaining that in His coming there was now great reason for a turning toward hope and peace and joy.

The shepherds had been prepped for this work through the angel’s message to them:

“I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

While it was quite special for shepherds to hear this message, the ‘all’ clearly indicates the message is for all.

The good news is for everyone.

Not just to Jews or to Jewish shepherds.

The message of a Savior is for the Gentiles.

Even more astounding — the message is to Roman occupiers.

Even to the murderous King Herod — if only he would repent and accept Him, rather than try to kill Him.

Some translations of Luke 2:11 have the angels doubling down on this truth of salvation for all by referencing the child as “the Messiah.”

While we can’t be sure as to just how educated these shepherds were, they had surely been educated in the Hebrew scriptures in their youth.

They surely knew of the promise of the Messiah and how he would come to rescue humanity — and not just a small circle of shepherds.

The reference to ‘all’ — the reference to ‘Messiah’ — this would have prepped them for going.

Even before they rushed to Bethlehem, they knew they would eventually need to rush off into Bethlehem to tell the townspeople the good news.

Perhaps God used shepherds as evangelists because they were particularly well-suited for that role.

It was in their very nature — in their personality and posture and skill — to provide care.

That’s what shepherds do.

Maybe it was because even though they work with sheep, there are skills they can employ to help with people.

They just know how to direct and protect others.

They have the tender-but-firm voice to call out directions and warnings.

Their heart beats to pull the hurting from thickets.

The shepherd imagery is enormous in Scripture.

Maybe like that wonderful moment in the Matthew 4:19, when Jesus called His disciples from being fishermen into being ‘fishers of men.’

God is calling some ordinary shepherds to be ‘shepherds of men.’

Yes, the shepherds rushed to Bethlehem, and then they rushed off into Bethlehem.

Jesus came, and so of course they went…

… To the people.

To tell them about everything.

It’s just who they were as shepherds.

It’s what they did.

They cared and provided care for those in need.

This was what it meant for them to love others.

In the video clip we saw a couple of weeks ago, the shepherds keep saying:

‘People must know. People must know.’”              

He came; we go — to the ones nearest us.

Our text starts with the words…

In the same region...

Nearby

The shepherds went to see nearby...

And they went to tell nearby.

They didn’t go far, because Vs.20 tells us they return to waching the sheep that were their responsibility

We, too, don’t have to go far to tell people about Jesus.

There are people all around us who need to hear.

This coming year I challenge us to be more intentional, more proactive in telling those near us about Jesus.

To invite them to a church who will not only TELL them about Jesus...

But show them Jesus.

This is often part of the ‘going’ pattern in the New Testament.

It always seems to start with the ones who are near.

Jesus sent His disciples first to, as He said it in Matthew 10:5 & 6, to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.

He sent them to the towns and villages that were nearby.

After His resurrection, just before His ascension, Jesus told His disciples and us In Acts 1:8 , to be witnesses in Jerusalem, where they already were,

and even from there, they first made their way out into the nearest areas (Judea and Samaria).

And hovering above all of this is the clarion call to “love your neighbor.”

The Greek word for “neighbor” quite literally means ‘the one nearest you.’

When we go in love with the news of a Divine love, we go first to 'the one nearest you.’

This has always been our call.

As we think about those who are nearest us.

What kinds of struggles do they face?

Wednesday, my granddaughter was telling me about a student in her class who is a bully.

I told her to pray for him.

He may be a bully because he is hurting — because hurt people, hurt people — they inflict pain on others.

I told her she is a missionary to her school.

Pray for other students, for teachers, for other school staff.

And then TELL them about the love of Jesus.

Yes it starts with our Jerusalem.

Maybe just inviting family, coworkers neighbors to come to our Christmas Eve service to hear about the first coming of a Savior.

So they can prepare for His second coming .

So, close to us is where sharing the message starts...

But it doesn’t stay there.

Again, in Acts 1:8 (NASB95) [Jesus told His disciples and us] … you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Because He came; we go to the ones nearest us.             

He came; we go to ones at the ends of the earth. 

“But not only do we go to the nearest...

But because He came; we go the ones at the ends of the earth.”   

Luke 2:10 (MSG) The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide:

Our 2026 Missions Theme

We go to those who have never heard the Gospel

To people who are far from our front door — folks who lives on streets in countries halfway around the world.

This is often part of the ‘going’ pattern in the New Testament.

It always seems to start with the ones who are near, but then grows ever expansively.

Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19 (NASB95) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, …

We move from Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, to the work that will spread the Gospel to the “very ends of the earth.”

When we go in love with the news of a Divine love, we go first to 'the one nearest you.’

But then we push outward, outward, outward.

This has always been our call.

Because He came; we go to the ones at the ends of the earth.

And then, as a way to simply transition to the Conclusion, we’d encourage you to repeat the more general suggested teaching point of the sermon: He came; we go. Maybe even say it a few times in a row, as a way to show the rhythm of that pattern set forth in Scripture: He came; we go. He came; we go. He came; we go.          

Let Us Tell Everyone of the Love of Jesus

As thew Worship Team returns to the platform...

Have you heard of the love of Jesus?

Have you responded by repenting of your sins and surrendering to His Lordship over your life?

Are you telling your neighbors — those closest to you?

Are you participating in taking the message around the world?

Prayer

Giving

Has God called you to go?

I don’t believe He will call you to go far, until you are faithful in telling those nearest.

Altar