Sermon Study #248 – SECRETS TO LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS
Illustrate: Who is my neighbor?
Luke 10:25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Luke 10:26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" Luke 10:27 He answered: "’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ ; and, ’Love your neighbor as yourself.’" Luke 10:28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." Luke 10:29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Luke 10:30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 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. Luke 10:32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. Luke 10:33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. Luke 10:34 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. Luke 10:35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ’Look after him,’ he said, ’and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ Luke 10:36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" Luke 10:37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
SEVEN SECRETS TO LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS
(1) LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR – IS GREATER THAN SACRIFICES
Mark 12:33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
(2) LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR - DOES NO HARM
Rom 13:8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. Rom 13:9 The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Rom 13:10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
(3) LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR - BUILDS UP THE WEAK
Rom 15:1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Rom 15:2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
(4) LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR - SERVES ONE ANOTHER
Gal 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love. Gal 5:14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
(5) LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR - DOES NOT LIE
Eph 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
(6) LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR - DOES NOT CHOOSE FAVORITES:
James 2:8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. James 2:9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
Note: referencing those who favored the rich over the poor.
(7) LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR - DOES NOT PASS JUDGMENTS:
James 4:11 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. James 4:12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?
