Go And Do Likewise

Matthew Eyerman

July 11, 2004

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

I. Introduction

1. the Park District has done redone Meyering Park

a. named after one of our members

b. a WW II veteran

2. lots of new park equipment

3. one piece missing: the seesaw

II. Connection

1. what makes this board and this rock a seesaw

a. might say a big imagination

b. or might say Damon and 4 hours of professional carpentry

c. but in reality: it is the action

2. what makes the Parable powerful

3. more than just the teachings

4. it is the action

5. call this sermon: Go and Do Likewise

III. too complex --- #1

1. first temptation is to stand on one end of the seesaw

a. is this a seesaw

b. just standing here?

2. first temptation in the parable is to be too complex

a. take a simple point

b. add all kinds of ifs, ands, buts, if onlys, possibilities

3. suddenly simple thing is very complex

4. lawyer ask the age old question: What do I have to do to get to heaven?

5. Jesus simple answer a. combines two pillars of Old Testament (Dt 6:5 NRSV) You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. (Lev 19:18 NRSV) You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. 6. that is it: simple enough 7. lawyer: a. looking for a loophole b. making simple into complex c. well d. “what do you mean by neighbor”

IV. too complex ---- #2

1. simple things need not be complex

2. story

a. tried to assemble the new keyboard this week

b. has legs that needed attaching

c. direction went on for 25 pages

d. in English, Spanish, and French

e. so complex I had to get Dave our maintenance man

f. took one look at it

g. and put it together

3. simple things need not be complex

V. summary of complex:

1. Christianity is simply not that complex

2. someone has published a book

a. in the same series

b. Mathematics for Idiots

c. Computers for Idiots

d. Christianity for Idiots

3. all the person had to do was write down Luke 10:27

a. Love God

b. Love your neighbor

4. is it just not that complex

5. stop standing on the end

6. move to action

7. go and do

VI. Result #1

1. Good Samaritan story pushes us to middle

2. to the action 3. away from a. who is my neighbor b. once defined c. can tell who can avoid and what neighborhoods can be overlooked 4. to Genesis neighborhood (Gen 1:27 NRSV) So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 5. all humans are our neighbors

VII. too simple --- intro

1. the other mistake is the stand on the other end of the seesaw

a. is this a seesaw

b. just standing here?

2. make things too simple

3. either ---- or

4. things, people, places, food, etc.

a. either good

b. or bad

5. no middle ground

6. it is the Wild, Wild, West

a. good guys

b. bad guys

VIII. too simple --- Samaritan

1. thus

2. priest & Levi = bad

3. Samaritan = good

4. only one way to see things

5. end of story

IX. reality: not either --- or

1. reality is not as simple as either --- or

2. return to the scripture

3. the Priest and Levi

a. perhaps good men

b. to come within a few feet of a dead body

c. ritually impure

d. could not do church service

e. on the one hand: once a year opportunity

f. on the other hand: perhaps no one to assist at church

g. no associate pastor

h. without them no church service

4. Samaritans

a. no angels

b. hated the Jews

c. remember Luke 9

d. Jesus not welcomed in Samaria because He was going to Jerusalem

5. life is not simply yes or no

6. stop standing on the end

X. Result -- #2 1. Good Samaritan story pushes us to the middle

2. to the action 3. away from a. the Wild, Wild West b. good guys and bad guys c. either ---- or

4. also away from finding fault without knowing entire story (Mat 7:1 NRSV) "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.

XI. action

1. title of sermon is Go and Do Likewise

2. the purpose of the Parable is to inspire action

3. don’t stand on the ends

4. go and do

5. move the seesaw

6. move the faith