Won't You Be A Neighbor? Series

1. No Neighbors: There is a true story about a 28 year old woman who had just got off from work a little after 3:00 a.m. She drove home, parked her car and began to walk down the sidewalk and across the street to her house. About 30 feet from her door she noticed a man standing in the shadows. When he started toward her; she turned and ran in the opposite direction. She fumbled through her purse to find her keys; she tried to reach a phone to call the police, but did not make it. The man caught her and stabbed her. She started screaming that she’d been stabbed. Lights came on in the house across the street. Windows opened. One man called out, "Leave that girl alone!" The attacker heard it and walked away. But the windows closed and lights went out. So he came back and attacked her again. This time she screamed "I’m dying!” More windows opened and more lights went on. The attacker went to his car and drove off, leaving the young girl. Somehow, she managed to drag herself inside. But he came back a third time and finally succeeded in killing her. During the attacks that happened over the course of almost an hour, not one of this young woman’s neighbors came outside to try to help. After the third attack someone called the police who arrived there within minutes, but by this time it was too late. Neighbors who were later interviewed were asked why they did nothing to help. The simplest answer was, “I didn’t want to get involved.”

2. Jesus tells us to BE neighbors – Luke 10:25-37

a. I wonder if the Samaritan “liked” the man he helped or just loved him anyway?

b. The Samaritan practiced the great commandment by reversing the order of attack:

1) Healing – oil; wine; bandages

2) Transportation

3) Providing rest and recovery

4) Paying for the man’s stay

3. What if we applied the principles of being a neighbor to spiritual issues?

I. We Know and Often Practice Giving to Those in Physical Need

A. We Want to:

1. Help the Helpless

2. Correct Injustice

3. Feed the Hungry

4. Heal the Sick

B. Our Efforts Are Similar to the Samaritan’s

1. Free Food; clothing; shelter; utilities

2. Fix-up Missions to the Inner City, etc.

3. Pay Medical Bills

C. These Are Noble and Good, with an Eternal Impact – “Final Judgment Matthew 25:31-46” Matthew 25:31-40 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

1. We feel for those in physical need

2. Wait, there’s more!

II. There is Another Level of Poverty and Need

A. Jesus Sees Differently Than We See

1. We look on the outside – He looks on the Inside – 1 Samuel 16:7b For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.

2. Jesus is Filled with Compassion – weeping over Jerusalem; teaching a woman at a well and spending days with Samaritans (enemies); For ALL of us – Luke 22:34 (“Father, forgive . . .”)

3. What if WE Could See Like HE Sees? What if we were filled with compassion for physical and spiritual distress?

B. There Are People in Need of:

1. Daily Bread – Matthew 4:4 cf. Deuteronomy 8:3

2. Spiritual Clothing – Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.