
Who’s My Neighbor?
The seemingly benign moral lesson of the parable of the Good Samaritan is much harder to apply to our lives than what we think. This sermon examines the need for balance between devotion and service.
Notes from the message:
- a priest - religious leader
- a Levite - a temple worker
- a Samaritan - worthless, despised
- Activity can usurp devotion.
- Devotion can "inertialize" ministry.
- Our ministry should be covered in and flow from love.
- True love requires spiritual maturity.
- Loving ministry doesn't happen on a schedule.
- Matthew 22.37 - the great commandment
- Galatians 5:14 - law is summed up in love neighbor.
- Galatians 6:9 - don't grow weary in serving... reaping will come
Both of these passages reveal the heart of God. Jesus is not only teaching us how we should be. He's teaching us who He is. He Himself stepped from a position of privilege to bring help and healing to us who were helpless in sin.
Jesus modeled a love relationship with the Father, spending time in adoration and allowing His service to flow from His relationship with the Father.
John 5:19-20: So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.
John 15:8-11: By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
Being loved by God propels us to love others. Don't get caught up "being" the church so much that you don't do what the church should do.