Love Others

We are continuing our walk through the core values of our church.

Luke 10:30-37

We are continuing our walk through the core values of our church.

· We are continuing our walk through the core values of our church.

· Thus far, we have seen that our goal as a church is love.

Thus far, we have seen that our goal as a church is love.

The love we are aiming for is a sacrificial response to and concern for another.

· The love we are aiming for is a sacrificial response to and concern for another.

This is the kind of love we see Jesus displaying for us on the cross, and we are simply reflecting the love He showed us back towards Him and out towards others.

· This is the kind of love we see Jesus displaying for us on the cross, and we are simply reflecting the love He showed us back towards Him and out towards others.

Last week, we saw that our love towards God must be all-encompassing. We must love Him with everything we are and everything we have.

· Last week, we saw that our love towards God must be all-encompassing. We must love Him with everything we are and everything we have.

· How did it go this week, by the way? Remember that our goal in these messages is not to simply inform you but to help you start thinking practically about how this love impacts your daily life.

How did it go this week, by the way? Remember that our goal in these messages is not to simply inform you but to help you start thinking practically about how this love impacts your daily life.

· Hopefully this week, you found yourself desiring God more, talking with Him more often, thinking about Him and His Word more, and trying to show your love for Him in everything you do.

Hopefully this week, you found yourself desiring God more, talking with Him more often, thinking about Him and His Word more, and trying to show your love for Him in everything you do.

· This week, we turn our eyes towards our relationships with others.

This week, we turn our eyes towards our relationships with others.

If you remember last week, Jesus said that the first and foremost commandment was to love God, but He followed that statement with this:

· If you remember last week, Jesus said that the first and foremost commandment was to love God, but He followed that statement with this:

Mark 12:31 CSB

The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.”

“The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31, NASB95)

The love we have for God is primary, but then right on the heels of that command is the command that we love our neighbor as ourselves.

· The love we have for God is primary, but then right on the heels of that command is the command that we love our neighbor as ourselves.

The love we have for God is primary, but then right on the heels of that command is the command that we love our neighbor as ourselves.

Over in the book of Luke, Jesus discussed this same passage with another religious leader.

· Over in the book of Luke, Jesus discussed this same passage with another religious leader.

Instead of agreeing with Jesus and accepting what He had to say like the man in Mark, this guy was looking to impress Jesus and others. However, he got more than he bargained for.

· Instead of agreeing with Jesus and accepting what He had to say like the man in Mark, this guy was looking for a fight.

However, he got more than he bargained for.

After they established that you should love your neighbor, the man asked, “Who is my neighbor?”

· After they established that you should love your neighbor, the man asked, “Who is my neighbor?”

· We are going to look at Jesus’ answer to that this morning.

We are going to look at Jesus’ answer to that this morning.

Open up to .

· Open up to Luke 10:30-37.

· It is a story that many in church are familiar with, but as we look at it today, we are going to find a great picture of what it means to love others around us.

It is a story that many in church are familiar with, but as we look at it today, we are going to find a great picture of what it means to love others around us.

Read it with me...

· Read it with me…

· This morning, our outline is pretty simple. As we look at the story of the loving, sacrificial Samaritan, I want us to draw out three actions we must take to love others: notice, care, and invest.

This morning, our outline is pretty simple. As we look at the story of the loving, sacrificial Samaritan, I want us to draw out three actions we must take to love others: notice, care, and invest.

That’s what we see the Samaritan doing, and that is what we need to do as well.

· That’s what we see the Samaritan doing, and that is what we need to do as well.

· Let’s look at them together. The first is…

Let’s look at them together. The first is…

1) Notice.

· If we are going to love others as Jesus loves us, we have to start by noticing them!

If we are going to love others as Jesus loves us, we have to start by noticing them!

Although it may seem obvious, I think we need to stop and talk about this.

· Although it may seem obvious, I think we need to stop and talk about this.

Jesus tells us that all three men saw the man who had been beaten.

· Jesus tells us that all three men saw the man who had been beaten.

· To be honest, I imagine we might easily miss him today!

To be honest, I imagine we might easily miss him today!

· We don’t walk everywhere like they did, and we hurry much more. Because we are afraid of sexual predators and thieves and people we might not like, we never go outside. We never meet our neighbors because they might think we’re weird. We don’t often talk to people outside those we have to because we have become so insulated as a society.

We don’t walk everywhere like they did, and we hurry much more. Because we are afraid of sexual predators and thieves and people we might not like, we never go outside. We never meet our neighbors because they might think we’re weird. We don’t often talk to people outside those we have to because we have become so insulated as a society.

· Look around next time you are at the mall or at a restaurant. How many people have any idea what is going on around them?

Look around next time you are at the mall or at a restaurant. How many people have any idea what is going on around them?

· How many of us spend all our time so absorbed in ourselves that we wouldn’t even notice if someone around us needed help?

How many of us spend all our time so absorbed in ourselves that we wouldn’t even notice if someone around us needed help?

In military, police, and self-defense circles, they often talk about situational awareness. It is the Jason Bourne-esque way of knowing what is going on around you so that if anything goes wrong, you are ready to respond.

· In military, police, and self-defense circles, they often talk about situational awareness. It is the Jason Bourne-esque way of knowing what is going on around you so that if anything goes wrong, you are ready to respond.

I read a book on developing that kind of awareness, and in it, the authors talked about times they take people out to teach them to be aware.

· I read a book on developing that kind of awareness, and in it, the authors talked about times they take people out to teach them to be aware.

At first, they people watch and try to make discrete gestures and talk quietly because they don’t want anyone to know they are being watched. Eventually, though, they just start pointing people out and talking in a normal voice because no one is paying attention.

· At first, they people watch and try to make discrete gestures and talk quietly because they don’t want anyone to know they are being watched. Eventually, though, they just start pointing people out and talking in a normal voice because no one is paying attention.

I’m not saying you need to be Jason Bourne and be able to recite every license plate number in the parking lot or know how far you can run at this altitude without getting winded, but I am saying we need to be aware!

· I’m not saying you need to be Jason Bourne and be able to recite every license plate number in the parking lot or know how far you can run at this altitude without getting winded, but I am saying we need to be aware!

You need to look around, not for potential threats, but for the lives where God is at work and is inviting you to join him.

· Who hasn’t been to church in a few weeks? How did the last cashier you saw look? Tired or happy? What about the people in the waiting room at the doctor’s office?

Who hasn’t been to church in a few weeks? How did the last cashier you saw look? Tired or happy? What about the people in the waiting room at the doctor’s office?

What about your spouse or your kids? Have they been more distant and you haven’t noticed? What is going on in their lives?

· What about your spouse or your kids? Have they been more distant and you haven’t noticed? What is going on in their lives?

· I’m not saying be nosy, but I am saying you should notice!

I’m not saying be nosy, but I am saying you should notice!

Don’t try to sleuth your way into their lives so you can get juicy bits of gossip. Instead, try to help them open up so you can bring the Gospel

· If you take time to get off your phone and out of your own bubble, you will notice the people who are hurting.

If you take time to get off your phone and out of your own bubble, you will notice the people who are hurting.

· Remember, you have the Holy Spirit living inside you! He can and does impress upon you that someone needs help if you will slow down, pull away from what you are doing, and let Him lead.

Remember, you have the Holy Spirit living inside you! He can and does impress upon you that someone needs help if you will slow down, pull away from what you are doing, and let Him lead.

· You can’t actively, intentionally, and sacrificially love someone if you don’t notice that there is something wrong.

You can’t actively, intentionally, and sacrificially love someone if you don’t notice that there is something wrong.

· We have to do more than just notice, however. All three noticed, but only the Samaritan did something about it.

We have to do more than just notice, however. All three noticed, but only the Samaritan did something about it.

· That’s why once we notice the need, we must…

That’s why once we notice the need, we must…

2) Care.

I love the parallel way Jesus describes the reaction of the three.

· I love the parallel way Jesus describes the reaction of the three.

· The priest saw the man and immediately goes to the other side of the road so he didn’t have to mess with him and wouldn’t be unclean for touching a corpse in case the guy didn’t make it.

The priest saw the man and immediately goes to the other side of the road so he didn’t have to mess with him and wouldn’t be unclean for touching a corpse in case the guy didn’t make it.

The Levite saw the man and did exactly the same thing.

· The Levite saw the man and did exactly the same thing.

The Samaritan, though, just as quickly as the other men crossed the road, felt compassion on him.

· The Samaritan, though, just as quickly as the other men crossed the road, felt compassion on him.

The word translated “had compassion” comes from one of my favorite Greek words.

· The word translated “felt compassion” comes from one of my favorite Greek words.

It comes from the word “splagchna”, which literally means “bowels,” “entrails,” or “intestines.”

· It comes from the word “splagcna”, which literally means “bowels,” “entrails,” or “intestines.”

So, the Samaritan saw the man and boweled him!

· So, the Samaritan saw the man and boweled him!

· No…just like we said last week that their seat of emotions was different than ours, where we say that we would love you with all our heart, they would say they love you with all their entrails!

No…just like we said last week that their seat of emotions was different than ours, where we say that we would love you with all our heart, they would say they love you with all their entrails!

· Doesn’t that make for some lovely Mother’s Day cards?

Doesn’t that make for some lovely greeting cards?

Think about it, though—when you feel deeply for someone, your stomach feels like it gets tied up in knots and you get butterflies, right?

· Think about it, though—when you feel deeply for someone, your stomach feels like it gets tied up in knots and you get butterflies, right?

· That’s what happened here!

That’s what happened here!

The Samaritan was moved with compassion as soon as he saw the man and realized what was going on.

· The Samaritan was moved with compassion as soon as he saw the man and realized what was going on.

Let me ask you: what is your first reaction when you see someone lying in a metaphorical ditch?

· Let me ask you: what is your first reaction when you see someone lying in a metaphorical ditch?

Let me ask you: what is your first reaction when you see someone lying in a metaphorical ditch?

· Sure you may not see them in a physical ditch, but what about the guy who can’t hold down a job because of an addiction he can’t shake or the woman who is trying to raise three kids on her own because the men who fathered those children walked out on her?

Sure you may not see them in a physical ditch, but what about the guy who can’t hold down a job because of an addiction he can’t shake or the woman who is trying to raise three kids on her own because the men who fathered those children walked out on her?

“Serves them right. They should have made better choices.”

· “Serves them right. They should have made better choices.”

What do you feel when you see the kids on TV in other parts of the world or even those in our own community who are going to bed hungry tonight with little hope that will change tomorrow?

· What do you feel when you see the kids on TV in other parts of the world or even those in our own community who are going to bed hungry tonight with little hope that will change tomorrow?

· “How many more of these sappy commercials do we have to see before the game comes back on?”

“How many more of these sappy commercials do we have to see before the game comes back on?”

· What about a marriage in our church that is on the rocks or someone in your own family who is in a tough spot?

What about a marriage in our church that is on the rocks or someone in your own family who is in a tough spot?

“I don’t want to get involved. It’s too messy.”

· “I don’t want to get involved. It’s too messy.”

Do you move to the other side, or are you moved with compassion?

· Do you move to the other side, or are you moved with compassion?

· You and I need a change of heart! We don’t deny personal responsibility, but at the same time, the people in our family, church, community, and world are hurting and they are made in the image of God just like we are.

You and I need a change of heart! We don’t deny personal responsibility, but at the same time, the people in our family, church, community, and world are hurting and they are made in the image of God just like we are.

Shouldn’t we care about how they are doing? Shouldn’t we want to invest in their lives and see them come to know the God who will ultimately heal every hurt?

· Shouldn’t we care about how they are doing? Shouldn’t we want to invest in their lives and see them come to know the God who will ultimately heal every hurt?

· Sometimes, we pray that God will give us a burden for the lost. I heard a pastor correct that one day by saying, “We don’t need a burden; we need a love for the lost!”

Sometimes, we pray that God will give us a burden for the lost. I heard a pastor correct that one day by saying, “We don’t need a burden; we need a love for the lost!”

· The Samaritan man cared about this Jewish man who probably would have hated him if he had been conscious.

The Samaritan man cared about this Jewish man who probably would have hated him if he had been conscious.

· Not only did he notice, but he cared.

Not only did he notice, but he cared.

· We can’t stop simply with caring, however. If we are really going to love others in our family, church, community, and world, we must…

We can’t stop simply with caring, however. If we are really going to love others in our family, church, community, and world, we must…

3) Invest.

· Look at the response of the Samaritan in verses 34-35.

Look at the response of the Samaritan in verses 34-35.

If we are going to love others, we are going to have to invest in them.

· If we are going to love others, we are going to have to invest in them.

It isn’t enough to simply look at someone and say, “Well, bless your heart.”

In illustrating the importance of acting out our faith, James condemns that very idea:

James 2:15–16 CSB

If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it?

The Samaritan invested at least three things here, and I believe we will have to do the same:

· The Samaritan invested at least three things here, and I believe we will have to do the same:

A) Time –

o Time –

Don’t forget that Jesus told us that the Samaritan was on a journey. He had places to go and people to see, yet he slowed down and gave this man the gift of his time.

§ Don’t forget that Jesus told us that the Samaritan was on a journey. He had places to go and people to see, yet he slowed down and gave this man the gift of his time.

§ He took time to bandage his wounds.

He took time to bandage his wounds.

§ He took time to put him on his donkey and walk him to the inn.

He took time to put him on his donkey and walk him to the inn.

§ He cared for the man when they got to the inn.

He cared for the man when they got to the inn.

Perhaps in our busy world today, this is the hardest part. It takes us back to the beginning doesn’t it?

§ Perhaps in our busy world today, this is the hardest part. It takes us back to the beginning doesn’t it?

You have to slow down long enough to notice, but you also have to put aside your plans so you can invest time in someone else.

§ You have to slow down long enough to notice, but you also have to put aside your plans so you can invest time in someone else.

Who is God calling you to invest time in?

§ Who is God calling you to invest time in?

We also invest…

§ We also invest…

o Money

B) Money

The Samaritan gave up his own money to pay for the care the man needed.

§ The Samaritan gave up his own money to pay for the care the man needed.

Jesus doesn’t give us details about how wealthy or poor either man was, but we do know that it cost the Samaritan more than he intended to spend.

§ Jesus doesn’t give us details about how wealthy or poor either man was, but we do know that it cost the Samaritan more than he intended to spend.

Do you see how open-ended his investment was? (verse 35) How many of us would be willing to give a blank check like that?

§ Do you see how open-ended his investment was? (verse 35) How many of us would be willing to give a blank check like that?

However, sometimes investing in someone to show them love costs money. It may cost a cup of coffee or a lunch or money to build a handicap ramp or money to furnish an orphanage in Africa.

§ However, sometimes investing in someone to show them love costs money. It may cost a cup of coffee or a lunch or money to build a handicap ramp or money to furnish an orphanage in Africa.

Loving others requires our money.

§ Loving others requires our money.

One last thing that the Samaritan put on the line:

§ One last thing that the Samaritan put on the line:

C) Reputation

o Reputation

§ As we mentioned, the Jews hated Samaritans, and the feeling was largely mutual.

As we mentioned, the Jews hated Samaritans, and the feeling was largely mutual.

§ He didn’t seem to care; all he saw was someone who needed help.

He didn’t seem to care; all he saw was someone who needed help.

He didn’t care who saw him or who got mad at him for rescuing a Jew.

§ He didn’t care who saw him or who got mad at him for rescuing a Jew.

§ He loved his neighbor, regardless of what it might cost his reputation.

He loved his neighbor, regardless of what it might cost his reputation.

Are you willing to do the same?

§ Are you willing to do the same?

Listen, I know this is difficult.

· Listen, I know this is difficult.

· Loving others by investing in them is messy and frustrating and disappointing.

Loving others by investing in them is messy and frustrating and disappointing.

· There will be many, many times when you are pouring your life into someone, sacrificially loving them, and they walk away.

There will be many, many times when you are pouring your life into someone, sacrificially loving them, and they walk away.

You may come alongside a person struggling with an addiction, and despite you faithfully demonstrating God’s love to them, they turn back to what they had been doing.

· You may come alongside a person struggling with an addiction, and despite you faithfully demonstrating God’s love to them, they turn back to what they had been doing.

You may come alongside a person struggling with an addiction, and despite you faithfully demonstrating God’s love to them, they turn back to what they had been doing.

· Loving people can hurt when your motives are misunderstood or they never seem to appreciate what you are doing.

Loving people can hurt when your motives are misunderstood or they never seem to appreciate what you are doing.

If we’re not careful, we keep pouring ourselves out into others and find ourselves dry and empty because they may not respond with the love you expect.

· If we’re not careful, we keep pouring ourselves out into others and find ourselves dry and empty because they may not respond with the love you expect.

Hurting people hurt people, and so you may well find yourself hurt by someone as you try to love them.

· Think about the Samaritan – nowhere does Jesus say that the man who was beaten ever did anything to repay the Samaritan for what he had done.

Think about the Samaritan – nowhere does Jesus say that the man who was beaten ever did anything to repay the Samaritan for what he had done.

· How can we keep loving when we feel like we are pouring out and have no one pouring back in return?

How can we keep loving when we feel like we are pouring out and have no one pouring back in return?

It looks something like this… <bucket slide 1>

· It looks something like this… <bucket slide 1>

The solution is to stop pouring out your love!

· The solution is to stop pouring out your love!

“Wait, doesn’t that go against everything you have been saying?”

· “Wait, doesn’t that go against everything you have been saying?”

· Stop pouring out your love, and start pouring out Jesus’.

Stop pouring out your love, and start pouring out Jesus’.

· You see, if you are in a vibrant, growing love relationship with Christ, then you are growing in your awareness of His love for you.

You see, if you are in a vibrant, growing love relationship with Christ, then you are growing in your awareness of His love for you.

· You continuously grow in seeing yourself and others correctly. You see that you are completely and totally loved and that nothing can take that away.

You continuously grow in seeing yourself and others correctly. You see that you are completely and totally loved and that nothing can take that away.

· As you grow more convinced of that, you learn to depend less on affirmation from others, so you can continually pour out that love to others and keep coming back to Christ to be refilled!

As you grow more convinced of that, you learn to depend less on affirmation from others, so you can continually pour out that love to others and keep coming back to Christ to be refilled!

· See, here’s what it should look like: <bucket slide 2>

See, here’s what it should look like: <bucket slide 2>

· I love the way the Jesus Storybook Bible describes God’s love. It says it is His

I love the way the Jesus Storybook Bible describes God’s love. It says it is His

“Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love” (Jesus Storybook Bible)

· You see, Jesus is the ultimate Good Samaritan…

You see, Jesus is the ultimate Good Samaritan…