What Is Your Nature Series

1. Today we begin our “On Point” campaign.

a. We are going to explore some very basic teachings

b. We are going to provide opportunities to serve and to give financially

c. We are going to use the compass as out logo and the NSEW points for our lessons

2. We will begin with the “N” for our Nature (or Attitude)

a. “Yetzer Ha-Ra” (evil inclination/nature)or “Yetzer Ha Tov” (good inclination/nature) – much of it is a choice

b. I like the story of the grandparents who came to visit their grandchildren. Each afternoon the grandfather would take a nap. One day the children decided to play a joke on their grandpa. As he slept, they smeared Limburger cheese on his moustache. When he awoke he sniffed and said, “This room stinks.” He went to the kitchen and decided the kitchen smelled, too. So, he walked outside for some fresh air, found no relief and said, “The whole world stinks!”

c. Some people seem to have a nature where they are able to find good everywhere and some are just the opposite – “it stinks everywhere.”

3. Consider Three Natures/Attitudes in Luke 10:25-37

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

I. Nature #1 – What’s Yours Is Mine and I Will Take It (v. 30)

30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.

A. The Thief’s Depiction (John 10:10)

B. The Thief’s Deeds

1. Unexpected Arrival (1 Thessalonians 5.2; Matthew 25:1-13)

2. Brutal Actions – stealing money and possibly life

3. Motive – Covetousness – Exodus 20:17

4. Destruction of reputations – Motive, Envy – Proverbs 22:1

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.

II. Nature #2 – What’s Mine Is Mine and I Will Keep It (31-32)

31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.

A. Priest’s and Levite’s Description

1. Observant of Surrounding – stepped on the other side of a narrow path

2. Observant of Law – Knew they would be unclean; on way to or from Jerusalem?

B. Priest’s and Levite’s Distraction

1. Life is of greater concern than Ceremonial Cleanness –Animal in Pit on Sabbath; Healing on Sabbath

2. Life is of greater concern than inconvenience – physicians on call; Jesus on cross

3. Life is of greater concern than Personal Fear – Matthew 9:36

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

III. Nature #3 – What’s Mine Is Yours and I Will Share It (33-37)

33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’

36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

A. The Samaritan’s Relation

1. Hatred between Jews and Samaritans

2. Normally a Pharisee was the hero to a story – here a Samaritan

3. Samaritans kept the five books of Moses with slight alterations; Priests and Levites (Sadducees also kept the five books of Moses)

B. The Samaritan’s Rescue

1. Reversed the actions of the thieves

2. Expressed his nature in the compassion of:

a. Giving of Himself – Put himself in harm’s way – thieves could come back