Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Loving Your Neighbor

In two weeks – on October 6 – Hebron’s Beyond Campaign will commence!  What a perfect time to examine Luke 10:25-37 and Jesus’ call to love our neighbors.

Tim Keller writes, “It’s a mistake to think that you must feel love to give it.  If, for example, I have a child, and I give up a day off to take him to a ballgame to his great joy, at a time when I don’t particularly like him, I am in some ways being more loving to him than if my heart were filled with affection.  When you feel great delight in someone, meeting their needs and getting their gratitude and affection in return is extremely rewarding to your ego.  At those times you may be acting more out of the desire to get that love and satisfaction yourself, rather than out of a desire to seek the good of the other person.”

This Sunday the topic before us is LOVE – specifically loving your neighbor.  This topic follows seamlessly from the first two weeks in our Beyond series.  In week one, we examined Acts 26 and the divine interruption of Saul’s life by the Lord Jesus Christ.  Unless He interrupts our lives with His grace, none of us will ever reach beyond ourselves and our own self-interest.

Then last week we were in Luke 1:67-80 and 2:39-40 to see the biblical foundation for our engagement with the world.  Remember the points of that message?

·         The Wilderness (v. 80) – With the coming of Christ all walls of separation are broken down.  “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth”  John 1:14.  And Jesus calls us to break down walls of separation and connect in a deeper way with others.

·         The Works (v. 72) – Why would anyone abandon his isolation for the world around him?  Because that’s exactly what Jesus did for you.  By His works we are free to do His work.
 
·         The Witness (vvs. 76-78) – Why does anyone ever want to go beyond himself and his own needs?  Because he knows what it’s like to experience the satisfaction of God’s grace in Jesus Christ.
 
On Sunday we move inexorably toward our Beyond kickoff by turning to Luke 10 and the story of the Good Samaritan.  Eleven years ago, on Christmas Eve, I first preached this text at Hebron.  For many, it was the first time they were to see themselves in the story not as one of the two passersby, or the Samaritan, but as the guy in the ditch.  You see, Jesus is the true Good Samaritan, and He’s the One who has compassion on us, healing our wounds and paying all costs.
 
But this week I want to focus on another aspect of this incident by looking at how it is possible to do what Jesus tells this teacher of the law to do in verse 28.  How is it possible to love my neighbor when I don’t like him?  Why go Beyond myself to meet the needs of another in the name of Jesus when I don’t even know him?  Moreover, if love is an emotion, how can it be commanded?

These are the questions before us this Sunday.  In preparation for our study you may wish to consider the following:

1.      Note the immediate context of Luke 10:25-37.  Read Chapter 10:1-24.

2.      In what way is the lawyer’s question a test?

3.      What is the SHEMA?

4.      How does this lawyer prove that he understands the essence of God’s law?  (Note: Deut. 6:5 and Leviticus 19:9-18.)

5.      On what grounds does Jesus command love in verse 28?

6.      How does the “eternal life”, referenced by the lawyer, relate to the words of Jesus in verse 28(b)?

7.      In what way was the lawyer wishing to justify himself in verse 29?

8.      How does the Good Samaritan do what Jesus commands in verse 28?

9.      How does loving your neighbor imply real life?

10.  How does the cross vividly demonstrate Jesus loving His neighbor?

See you at His table this Sunday!