Bandages Of Love Iv Series

Bandages of Love IV

Luke 10:25-37 (NIV)

9 September 2007

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris

Saint James C.M.E.

Salinas, California

BIG IDEA: Anyone in need is your neighbor.

References: Luke 18:18-27(RSV) Story of The Rich Young Ruler; Luke 10:25-37 (NIV); John 15:1-17 “Fruit Bearing”; 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 loving kindness 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 affirm to others that anyone in need is their neighbor.

V. INTRODUCTION:

To the Angel of this great church – Dr. Darryl Wesley; and to the faithful ministers, deacons, members and friends of Saint James … Christian Methodist … Episcopal Church … Good Morning!

I’m indeed … honored … to be given an opportunity to … even stand … where your great pulpiteer stands … on a regular basis.

For (Dr.) Wesley … is known throughout the bay area for being a great preacher.

I’ve even heard … that some of God most gifted preachers have stood where … I now stand …

So, let me kindly request your forgiveness upfront …. for not measuring up …. to the preaching standard … that you have grown accustomed to …

…. I’m indeed … humbled to stand before you … in an attempt … to OPEN, READ and SHARE … with you … the most powerful MAIL … known to humankind … THE WORD OF GOD!

Can someone say AMEN?

Recently during my sermon preparation time, I came across a humorous story entitled, “Helping Hand”:

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.

However, the doorbell was too high for the boy to reach.

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

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

Crouching down to the little boy’s level, the pastor smiled … benevolently and asked, “And now what, my little man?”

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

Although … I found this story to be humorous, Helping can be SERIOUS.

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

MOVE 1: In fact, helping someone in need is SERIOUS AND IMPORTANT MINISTRY!

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

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

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

d. 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.

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

f. It’s also … true … that Cain had no previous knowledge of what death … on a human being looked like.

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

MOVE 2: In fact, he probably wondered why his brother lied …. lifeless before him. As if he was a dead dog.

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

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

c. NOW … we all know that helping doesn’t always mean the older is helping the younger; or the younger is helping the older;

d. And it doesn’t always mean … a brother is helping another brother … or a sister is helping another sister …