Someone once asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was. His answer, was to love God and love your neighbor. Loving God was easy. Loving your neighbor? Not so much. Luckily Jesus knew that. That’s why he gave us a road map for loving our neighbor. Let’s explore two ways we can instantly begin to make this greatest commandment a reality in our hearts and in our city and then start on a journey towards neighboring.
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” -Matthew 22: 39b NIV
(1) price check: sunday, september 6th
You know how valuable something is by what someone is willing to pay for it. What if we are way more valuable than we thought? And what if the price tag that hangs on each of us could completely change how we treated our neighbor?
Ready for a price check?
“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed (purchased) from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,” -1 Peter 1: 18 NIV
(2) Go and do likewise: Sunday, september 13th
Loving your neighbor is a rather general concept. Very easy to agree with, without ever taking action. Jesus knew this. That’s why he told us a parable that makes it so clear and so practical that none of us will ever find a loophole. In this message, we will explore a parable that will leave us all unsettled and inspired to take action.
Loving your neighbor starts with noticing a need that calls you into action while others find good reasons to walk on by.
”… so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” -Luke 10: 29b NIV
Go and Do Likewise Message Notes
(3) breaking barriers: sunday, september 20th
In his parable of the good Samaritan Jesus takes a highly controversial character to illustrate his point and make his audience uncomfortable. He used centuries of national, spiritual and racial division to illustrate that “loving our neighbor,” is more than just noticing a need but being willing to break through barriers of divisiveness. And the greatest of the barriers to breakthrough is usually not our bank account but our history.
What are the barriers you need to break through, that hold you back from “love thy neighbor?” Maybe you need to call them out, and then step out to remove them.
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” -Ephesians 4: 31-32 NIV
Breaking Barries Message Notes
