Bandages Of Love Ii

“Bandages of Love II”

Luke 10:25-37 (NIV)

11 March 2007

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris

Fort Ord Chapel

Seaside, California

BIG IDEA: Christians should be compassionate to their neighbors.

References: Luke 10:25-37 (NIV); Romans 15:1-2 KJV - (We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification); Genesis 4:9 KJV - (And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?); Deuteronomy 7:9 (ASV) - Know therefore that Jehovah thy God, he is God, the faithful God, who keepeth covenant and lovingkindness with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; Deuteronomy 11:1 (ASV) - Therefore thou shalt love Jehovah thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his ordinances, and his commandments, always; Matthews 19:19 (KJV) Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; Romans 13:8 (KJV) -Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Luke 10:25-37 (NIV)

II. READ THE PERICOPE: Luke 10:25-37 (NIV)

III. READ THE TEXT: Luke 10:34(NIV) “He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.”

IV. PURPOSE: Motivate the hearers to show compassion for their neighbors.

V. INTRODUCTION:

Recently, while I was TDY in San Antonio, I was blessed to witness some pretty awesome presentations. I heard presentations that were geared towards empowering others to salvage lives through various health-oriented methods. Methods, such as “how to lift and carry someone who could not help himself;

Methods involving the importance of detecting hypotension and hypertension early on, with the assurance that life can co-exist with those diagnosis’ … with proper treatment and …continuous care.

Someone here should say AMEN!

In addition, I learned how to detect early signs of colon cancer; and how important it is for Veterinarian Technicians … to have equipment that works properly.

Wow! My learning curve was amazing. It was great to see the CARING medical professionals up front … and in person.

******************TAKE 5 BEATS*******************

MOVE 1: Now, recently during my sermon preparation time, I came across a humorous story entitled, “Helping Hand”:

a. According to the story, a pastor was walking down the street one day when he saw a very small boy … trying to press a doorbell on a house across the street.

b. However, the boy was very small and the doorbell was too high for him to reach.

c. After watching the boy’s efforts for some time, the pastor moved closer to the boy’s position.

d. He stepped smartly across the street, walked up behind the little fellow and, placed his hand kindly on the child’s shoulder … and gives the doorbell a solid ring.

e. Crouching down to the child’s level, the pastor smiles benevolently and asks, “And now what, my little man?”

f. To which the boy replied, “Now we run?”

g. Although I found the story to be humorous, Helping can be SERIOUS!!

*****************Take 5 Beats *******************

MOVE 2: For who can ever forget the story of Cain and Abel (in Genesis 4:1-16)?

a. For don’t you remember, God asked Cain if he knew his brother’s whereabouts;

b. …and Cain replied, I know not: Am I My Brother’s Keeper?

c. Now, my brothers and sisters, most theologians and students of the Bible agree that there aren’t any scriptural indications, that Cain intentionally killed his Brother.

d. But he was definitely responsible for the health and welfare of his brother.

e. It’s a fact that Cain had no previous knowledge of what death on a human being looked like.

f. And he probably wondered why his brother lied lifeless before him. As if he was a dead sheep.

g. But, in his anger, he refused to help his brother; instead, he walked away.

h. If his brother wasn’t initially dead, he eventually died because his BROTHER DIDN’T HELP HIM.

i. STILL … we all know that helping doesn’t always mean the older is helping the younger; or the younger is helping the older; And it doesn’t always … mean a brother is helping another brother.

j. Sometimes HELPING … simply means … one human being is HELPING OUT ANOTHER Human being.

******************TAKE 5 BEATS********************

MOVE 3: Many years ago, while I was a graduate student at - the country’s largest African American Graduate Seminary,

a. … dubbed I.T.C.: Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia - a crime against humanity was committed on campus.

b. It’s victim was a cafeteria worker.