Like a Good Neighbor

For Fort Mill

Like A Good Neighbor

Luke 10:25-37

Many people are more familiar with what the Church is Against than what the Church is For

Many people have concluded that Church is not for them because the Church isn’t FOR them

FOR Foundations

• God sent Jesus to Prove He is FOR you

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

• God has Surrounded you with people who are FOR you

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,” (Ephesians 2:19)

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13:34)

• God has Created you to be FOR other people

Understanding This Parable

1. Legal questions about inheriting eternal life (10:25–28)

• The lawyer’s question (10:25)
• Jesus’ question (10:26)
• The lawyer’s reply: the great commandment—love God and neighbor (10:27)
• Jesus’ commendation (10:28)

2. Call to be a neighbor: the Good Samaritan (10:29–37)

• The lawyer’s question about neighbors (10:29)
• The parable of the priest, Levite, and compassionate Samaritan (10:30–35)
• Jesus’ question about the neighbor (10:36)
• The lawyer’s recognition of the Samaritan (10:37a)
• Jesus’ command to do like the Samaritan (10:37b)

Note:

1. The lawyer’s Motivation:

• To Test Jesus
• To Justify himself

2. Jesus’ Commands

• Faith that is genuine doesn’t just Know the right things, it Does the right things

3. Two ways to Harm another

• Through harmful Intent
• Through harmful Neglect

“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” (James 4:17)

Too often the church’s relationship with those who are far from God and not part of a church family could be described as:

• Adversarial
• Nonexistent

We are called to be For people because God created people For Himself

4. The Cost to the Samaritan

• The cost of Convenience
• The cost of Safety
• The cost of Time
• The cost of Energy & Effort
• The cost of Money

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Question: If our church went out of business, would the community even notice?

“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” (Jeremiah 29:7)

What If We Started Acting Like We Are…

• FOR Fort Mill Families
• FOR Fort Mill Neighborhoods
• FOR Fort Mill Community Leaders
• FOR Fort Mill Teachers and Schools
• FOR Fort Mill Businesses

Making It Personal:

• What would it look like for you personally to live like you were FOR people? How might you live like a good neighbor where you live, work and play?

• What would it look like for us as a church to live like we were FOR our community and the people around us?

• Who can I share these truths with?