Series: Beyond Belief
Sermon: Service (6.1.25)
Watch the messages HERE.
“Go and do likewise.”
After Jesus told the narrative of what we call the Good Samaritan, He instructed the expert in the law to “...go and do likewise” - go and show mercy to those in need.
Let’s wake up every day and keep our eyes open for people we can serve; see people in need and meet their needs.
The Priest and the Levite “saw the man” beaten and did nothing.
Luke 10:31: A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
Don’t be in the habit of passing by on the other side of the road. Too often, we have turned our heads and shut our eyes to the needs of others because we didn’t have the emotional energy to deal with another thing.
We can be shocked that the religious men of God didn’t help a fellow citizen in desperate need.
I need to pause and be disturbed by my own lack of empathy for people in need.
I need to follow the example of the Samaritan. I need to see the man - really see him - and have mercy on him.
Luke 10:33: But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.
We often don’t take pity on others because we don’t have enough margin in our lives. We are too busy and don’t have time to stop and help. Busyness is not a Christian virtue. Busyness is an American virtue.
The Christian virtue, the discipleship virtue, is serving those in need.
Matthew 25:31: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you as a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
When we serve others, we are literally serving Jesus.
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
The Apostle Paul told the Christians in Philippi to have the same attitude as Jesus. We need to have the attitude of Jesus.
Philippians 2:5-8: Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who…made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant…he humbled himself and became obedient.
Let’s humble ourselves each day and become servants. Evaluate your attitude so you can become like the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).
Possible attitudes:
1. What is yours is mine.
2. What is mine is mine.
3. What is mine is God’s.
The robbers had the first attitude: “What is yours is mine.” They didn’t care; they were going to take what they wanted, no matter who it hurt. “I will seize it.”
The Priest and Levite - the religious - had the second attitude: “What is mine is mine.” They refused to share what God had blessed them with. They were selfish with their time and resources. It’s mine and I am going to use it for myself. “I will keep it.”
The Samaritan had the third attitude: “What is mine is God’s.” He was on a business trip but still had enough margin and compassion to stop and give what he had. “I will give it.”
“Go and do likewise.”
Let’s cultivate the third attitude in our family, our neighborhood, our congregation, and our workplace.
What is mine is God’s. I will give it.
- Pastor Jim
Sermon: Service (6.1.25)
Watch the messages HERE.
“Go and do likewise.”
After Jesus told the narrative of what we call the Good Samaritan, He instructed the expert in the law to “...go and do likewise” - go and show mercy to those in need.
Let’s wake up every day and keep our eyes open for people we can serve; see people in need and meet their needs.
The Priest and the Levite “saw the man” beaten and did nothing.
Luke 10:31: A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
Don’t be in the habit of passing by on the other side of the road. Too often, we have turned our heads and shut our eyes to the needs of others because we didn’t have the emotional energy to deal with another thing.
We can be shocked that the religious men of God didn’t help a fellow citizen in desperate need.
I need to pause and be disturbed by my own lack of empathy for people in need.
I need to follow the example of the Samaritan. I need to see the man - really see him - and have mercy on him.
Luke 10:33: But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.
We often don’t take pity on others because we don’t have enough margin in our lives. We are too busy and don’t have time to stop and help. Busyness is not a Christian virtue. Busyness is an American virtue.
The Christian virtue, the discipleship virtue, is serving those in need.
Matthew 25:31: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you as a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
When we serve others, we are literally serving Jesus.
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
The Apostle Paul told the Christians in Philippi to have the same attitude as Jesus. We need to have the attitude of Jesus.
Philippians 2:5-8: Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who…made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant…he humbled himself and became obedient.
Let’s humble ourselves each day and become servants. Evaluate your attitude so you can become like the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).
Possible attitudes:
1. What is yours is mine.
2. What is mine is mine.
3. What is mine is God’s.
The robbers had the first attitude: “What is yours is mine.” They didn’t care; they were going to take what they wanted, no matter who it hurt. “I will seize it.”
The Priest and Levite - the religious - had the second attitude: “What is mine is mine.” They refused to share what God had blessed them with. They were selfish with their time and resources. It’s mine and I am going to use it for myself. “I will keep it.”
The Samaritan had the third attitude: “What is mine is God’s.” He was on a business trip but still had enough margin and compassion to stop and give what he had. “I will give it.”
“Go and do likewise.”
Let’s cultivate the third attitude in our family, our neighborhood, our congregation, and our workplace.
What is mine is God’s. I will give it.
- Pastor Jim
Posted in Teaching Tuesdays
Recent
Theology Thursday: Why did the Jews reject Jesus?
June 5th, 2025
Teaching Tuesday: Beyond Belief - Service
June 3rd, 2025
Theology Thursday: Idols of the Heart
May 29th, 2025
Teaching Tuesday: Beyond Belief - Fasting
May 27th, 2025
Theology Thursday: What's the point of the Old Testament?
May 22nd, 2025
Categories
Archive
2025
January
Theology Thursday: What is the purpose of Scripture?Teaching Tuesday: What Are We Doing Here? - God's BlessingTheology Thursday: Son of God, Son of ManTeaching Tuesday: What Are We Doing Here? - Knowing GodTheology Thursday: Buffet 2Teaching Tuesday: What Are We Doing Here? - Alive in ChristTheology Thursday: Murder is wrong, but...Teaching Tuesday: What Are We Doing Here? - Unity in ChristTheology Thursday: God and "Natural" Disasters
February
Teaching Tuesday: What Are We Doing Here? - Church MembershipTheology Thursday: Evil and SufferingTeaching Tuesday: What Are We Doing Here? - Experiencing God's LoveTheology Thursday: God Is Into the Details (Exodus 25-30)Teaching Tuesday: What Are We Doing Here? - Church GrowthTheology Thursday: About those Jesus adsTeaching Tuesday: What Are We Doing Here? - Christian Living
March
Teaching Tuesday: What Are We Doing Here? - Christ-centered RelationshipsTheology Thursday: Where We Come FromTeaching Tuesday: What Are We Doing Here? - Spiritual ConflictTheology Thursday: In essentials, unity...and so onTeaching Tuesday: Dying Breaths - Forsaken?Theology Thursday: Christians Only, but Not the Only ChristiansTheology Thursday: Where Scripture speaks...
April
Theology Thursday: No Creed but ChristTeaching Tuesday: Dying Breaths - Mission AccomplishedTheology Thursday: MCC Member ExpectationsTeaching Tuesday: Dying Breaths - Hosanna to the Humble KingTheology Thursday: This is our homecomingTeaching Tuesday: Easter 2025 - The Ragman Theology Thursday: Are all sins the same?Teaching Tuesday: Beyond Belief - "Come, follow me."
May
Theology Thursday: The state of the churchTeaching Tuesday: Beyond Belief - PrayerTeaching Tuesday: ScriptureTheology Thursday: What's wrong with health and wealth?Teaching Tuesday: Beyond Belief - SolitudeTheology Thursday: What's the point of the Old Testament?Teaching Tuesday: Beyond Belief - FastingTheology Thursday: Idols of the Heart
2024
March
April
May
June
July
August